Jermaine Bishop Jr. named 2025 Mr. Texas Football

Texas early enrollee and Willis (Texas) standout Jermaine Bishop Jr. was named the 2025 Built Ford Tough Mr. Texas Football by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football on Thursday. Bishop, ranked as the No. 58 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking, was a two-way standout for the Wildkats and ended his prep career as one of the most prolific players in Texas high school football history.

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His varsity stats from his four-year career are mind-blowing. He finished with 4921 receiving yards with all but two coming from his final three seasons. He logged 55 receiving touchdowns on 284 catches. He also had 81 carries in his career for 913 yards and 17 scores.

Bishop’s 2025 season brought things to a whole new level. He logged 120 catches for 1940 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also logged 45 carries for 424 yards and eight touchdowns.

He made a considerable impact on defense, too. Eighty-six of his 198 career tackles are from his 2025 campaign. He tallied 9.0 TFL in 2024, part of his 13.0 TFL career total. He had at least three interceptions in all four varsity seasons, finishing with 17 at WHS. In 2025, he logged four interceptions, 14 passes defended, a fumble recovery, and four forced fumbles.

While his special teams impact was somewhat muted his senior season in the return game, Bishop helped the Wildkats as a punter. He logged 12 punts and averaged 40.8 yards per kick.

During a December press conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian doted on Bishop’s two-way ability.

“He’s an electric player with the ball in his hands,” Sarkisian said. “The guy scores touchdowns, almost like that’s what he does for a living. Yet you watch him play DB, and he can guard people. He can guard people, he’s physical, and he can play the game.”

Bishop was ranked as the No. 58 overall prospect, the No. 2 athlete, and the No. 7 player in Texas in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Rivals ranked Bishop as the No. 139 overall prospect, the No. 2 athlete, and the No. 18 player in Texas.

His position designation is not something Sarkisian was worried about in December.

“He has the ability to do either,” Sarkisian said. “I’m not so consumed with is he better at one than the other. Somewhere in his heart, which one is it going to be for him? We’re going to give him the opportunity to do that, and I’m going to give him my honest assessment. I’ve got to see him live, work with him, and feel where he’s better suited early on in his career and navigate him down one road to do the bulk of what he does. Then, offset that with some of the things he does on the other side of the ball.”

Here’s what Inside Texas wrote about Bishop’s projection on the first national signing day in December.

One thing that immediately stands out about Bishop on film is the physicality he plays with, especially for a prospect listed at just 155 pounds. He’s a willing blocker, fearless working the middle of the field as a receiver, and fully capable of playing safety when needed.

His elite athletic traits jump off the screen—he can change direction on a dime, accelerate effortlessly, and run past nearly anyone on the field. But the physicality is the key trait when projecting where he may ultimately thrive.

If Bishop starts his career as a wide receiver, he gives Texas another dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands—someone who can swing a game in an instant with a single touch. He also brings real value to the return game, whether on kickoff or punt return, with the ability to flip the field or take one the distance.

Other former Longhorns to take home the Mr. Texas Football honors from DCTF include Jonathon Brooks in 2020, Johnathan Gray in 2011, and Garrett Gilbert in 2008.