Seguin’s Jackson, Neumann, Pond and Cray sign college football commitments

(Seguin) — Four Seguin High School football athletes put pen to paper on college letters of intent on Wednesday at the high school.

Running back John Jackson signed his letter to play football at NCAA Division I UT-Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV is a start-up program helmed by former Seguin High School head coach Travis Bush. The Vaqueros will start play in 2025. Jackson, a three-year football, and four-year basketball letterman at Seguin, will play on the gridiron and the hardwood at the Edinburg school.

Jackson broke numerous football records at Seguin and is the school’s leader in career rushing yards. He is a McDonald’s All-American nominee on the court scoring over 2000 points in his career.

Jackson says he’ll remember how he and his teammates at Seguin High School fought through adversity.

“The best memories are the pain with my teammates,” Jackson said. “That’s what makes us who we are, the tough losses and stuff. Because the good still came out of it. And that was really the best part for me. To just go through it with your brothers.”

Center Cooper Neumann inked his commitment to Division II East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Neumann was a three-year letterman on the Seguin football team. He was named to all-district and academic all-district teams. Neumann was selected to the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Team in 2023 and he played in the Hawaii Tiki Bowl with teammate Evrin Contreras in January.

Neumann will study business management and aspires to go to grad school to be a project manager. He says he’ll miss the times hanging with his Seguin teammates on and off the field.

“On the field, being with all my brothers and off the field just being around everybody because Seguin is just amazing.”

Tight end Jackson Pond ended up at Division II Sul Ross State in Alpine. A three-year letter, Pond was a second team all-district selection in both his junior and senior years. Off the field, Pond is a member of FFA. He plans to study land management or kinesiology at Sul Ross and either get into coaching or land surveying after college.

Pond says the coaching staff at Sul Ross was instrumental in his decision to sign with the Lobos.

“The coaches treated me like family,” Pond said. “I wasn’t a stranger when I went there. They just accepted me with open arms whenever I showed up.”

Safety Donovan Cray, a Matador team captain and three-year letter, signed his letter of intent with perennial Division III power Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. Named the Matadors Defensive MVP this past season, Cray will study kinesiology and has plans to get into coaching after graduation.

Cray says he will remember the friendships he made at Seguin High School.

“The bonds we made were special,” Cray said. “Being all together with the team and coaches was special and I’m gonna miss it.”

The Seguin Matador football program is led by head coach Craig Dailey. Ernesto Garcia is the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Lady Matador softball pitchers Schultze and Hurt also ink college commitments