Before the Headlines: NexGen Is Finding the Valley’s Next Football Stars

What began during COVID has grown into an eighth-grade All-Star showcase giving the Rio Grande Valley an early look at its future football talent.

Before they’re making plays under the Friday night lights, some of the Valley’s future stars are already competing against each other.

For six years, NexGen has brought together some of the 956’s top eighth-grade football players. Former participants have become All-State athletes, earned college opportunities, and made names for themselves across Valley football.

Now entering Year 7, the NexGen 8th Grade East vs. West All-Star Game is preparing to introduce another group worth watching.

During a DITV interview, founder Mark Lopez and West Team head coach Mark Lozano discussed the event’s beginnings, former standouts, and what separates promising young players from future Friday night stars.

A Lost Season Created Something Bigger

NexGen started when COVID disrupted youth football, leaving an entire class of eighth graders without a season.

Lopez, whose youngest son was among them, helped organize an East vs. West showcase in La Villa featuring two 25-player rosters.

It was supposed to be a one-time event.

Instead, the response from families and coaches helped turn it into an annual opportunity to recognize eighth-grade football talent before those players enter high school.

Finding Talent Before the Headlines

The names coming through NexGen tell part of the story.

Former participants include San Benito’s Zaylen Graham, now an offensive lineman at Lamar University, and PSJA High quarterback Myles Lopez, who continued his career at Stephen F. Austin. Both went from competing as eighth graders to earning opportunities at the Division I level.

Brownsville Veterans quarterback Storm Montoya went on to Eastern New Mexico, while Los Fresnos standout Robert Pineda is now at Southwestern University. Jordan Brewster also developed into an All-State offensive lineman at PSJA North before earning a college opportunity.

That’s a strong collection of Valley talent identified before reaching the varsity spotlight.

But recognizing talent at 14 isn’t simply about finding the biggest or fastest athlete.

Lozano, who also works with athletes through RGV Line Academy, emphasized mentality, technique, work ethic, and playing together.

“It’s the mentality, the mindset, the work ethic, the heart to do what you have to do to be successful and do it as a team,” Lozano explained.

That philosophy extends throughout the coaching staffs, where experienced Valley football minds help identify and develop the next wave of talent.

The West is led by Mark Lozano, alongside Jorge Mata, Armando “AJ” Rodriguez, and Jordan Brewster.

On the East side, Kilyn Munoz, Angel Ortiz, and Javier Villa bring their own football experience and knowledge of the Valley's young talent.

Together, these staffs evaluate players through eighth-grade games, youth programs, film, and tryouts, looking beyond athletic ability to find competitors ready for the challenge of an All-Star environment.

And that’s where the showcase becomes valuable.

A running back might dominate his district, but what happens when the linebacker across from him can run just as well? Can an offensive lineman maintain leverage against someone his own size?

NexGen gives them an opportunity to find out.

The Next Wave Is Coming

The seventh NexGen 8th Grade All-Star Game is tentatively scheduled for January 30, 2027, with November tryouts and a December 1 roster target.

For DITV, this is about following players before the headlines arrive.

Some will become All-District. A few might become All-State. Others could eventually play on Saturdays.

Right now, they’re eighth graders trying to prove they belong.

NexGen is giving them the field.

And DITV plans to remember their names.

Editor’s note: Event dates and participation details remain subject to official confirmation.