The Snyder News All-Decade series

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The best defensive football players to play for the Snyder Tigers from 2010 to 2019

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  • 2018 Snyder High School graduate Leshun Burns (left) recorded over 300 tackles and earned All-State honors during his career as a Tiger.
    2018 Snyder High School graduate Leshun Burns (left) recorded over 300 tackles and earned All-State honors during his career as a Tiger.
  • Snyder sophomore Bryce Ford is the only active member on The Snyder All Decade Series, earning Second Team honors at linebacker.
    Snyder sophomore Bryce Ford is the only active member on The Snyder All Decade Series, earning Second Team honors at linebacker.
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This week’s All-Decade team installment looks at some of the best defensive players to take the field in a Snyder Tiger uniform since the 2010 season.
Defensive Linemen
First Team
Luis Cruz (2015-2016)

A two-year starter, Cruz’s ability to rack up tackles from his defensive end position landed him on the list. In his two seasons as a starter, Cruz made 85.5 total tackles, including three tackles for loss.
Cruz also had a knack for taking the ball away, recovering three fumbles as a junior.
Cruz had 55 tackles, two sacks and earned first team all-district honors in 2015.
He went on to earn second team honors as a senior in 2016.
Casey Coward (2010-2011)
Coward was a steady presence along the defensive line for head coach Chad Rogers and his team.
In his two seasons as a starter in 2010 and 2011, Coward was named first team all-district twice. Coward, alongside nose guard Darius Biggers and linebackers Josh Sandoval and Jason Mendoza, made up one of the the most dominant defenses in 3A football in 2011. The Tigers went 11-2 in 2011 and claimed bi-district and area titles.
Jake Villanueva (2013-2014)
This last spot on the first team defensive line goes to Jake Villanueva for his ability to wreak havoc on opposing teams’ offenses.
Villanueva spent the majority of his time in the opposing teams’ backfield. As a junior in 2013, Villanueva recorded 51 tackles with four sacks, establishing himself as a playmaker in the district.
As a senior in 2014, Villanueva recorded 30 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 81 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two all-district honors.
Second Team
Diego Lopez (2016-2017)

Another two-year starter, Lopez had his best year as a junior in 2016.
As a defensive end, Lopez made 13.5 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in district play. Lopez made enough of an impression on his opponents in 2016 to earn first team all-district honors.
As a senior Lopez earned honorable mention honors.
Jason Mendoza (2009-2011)
Another member of the early decade Tiger teams, Mendoza was a steady presence along the defensive line. Mendoza earned all-district honors in 2010 and 2011.
Kyler Saenz (2017-2018)
Saenz liked to spend his time behind enemy lines. Saenz recorded two sacks as a junior in 2017. He then anchored the defensive line as senior in 2018 and played a big role on a team that went 8-3 and reversed two years of losing records.
Honorable Mentions
Brenon Brunson (2014), Andrew Porter (2013) and Nate Villanueva (2012).
Linebackers
First Team
Leshun Burns (2014-2017)

You would be hard pressed to find a better defensive player in the past decade. A four year starter, Burns was a model of consistency at linebacker.
Burns started his career with a solid freshman campaign, earning second team all-district honors in 2014.
In his sophomore season, Burns eclipsed 100 tackles for the first time in his career with 114, earning first team honors. He then recorded 60 tackles and nine tackles for loss as a junior in 2016, earning first team honors again. Burns turned it up a notch as a senior.
He was a force for the Tigers in 2017, racking up 132 tackles and seven sacks.
His efforts earned him his third first team distinction and landed him on the first team all-state team. Burns finished his career at Snyder High School with 350 career tackles.
Brian Hernandez
(2012-2014)

Hernandez burst onto the scene in a big way as a sophomore in 2012.
In his first year as a starter, Hernandez made 58 tackles and snagged his first career interception. His breakout season netted him honorable mention all-district honors.
As a junior in 2013, Hernandez recorded 65 tackles and two sacks, good for first team honors.
His best season came as a senior when Hernandez led the Tigers with 124 tackles and five tackles for loss. He also recorded four sacks and earned first team all-district honors. He finished his Snyder career with 247 career tackles.
Second Team
Josh Sandoval (2009-2011)

A three year starter, Sandoval was solid in his junior season, earning second team all-district honors.
As a senior, Sandoval led the Tigers with 87 tackles and recorded 10 sacks, the second highest single season total in school history. Sandoval was named the District 5-3A Defensive MVP.
Guillermo Rodriguez (2011-2013)
Rodriguez put it all together in his senior season.
He led the Tigers with 90 tackles and recorded three tackles for loss and a sack. Rodriguez was named first team all-district.
Bryce Ford (2018-present)
The only player on the Snyder Tiger All-Decade team still playing for the Tigers, Ford was the best defensive player on the Snyder roster in 2019. He recorded more than 100 tackles and was named to the 4A all-state honorable mention team. Ford is expected to be a leader as a junior and senior.
Honorable Mentions
Alex Rubio (2017-2018), Roland Morin (2017-2018) and Kabren Willis (2015-2016).
Cornerbacks
First Team
Jarrett Reneau (2014-2016)

Snyder Tiger fans saw a lot of Reneau from 2014 to 2016 as an athletic quarterback and cornerback.
As a sophomore in 2014, he recorded 37 tackles and snagged a pair of interceptions, establishing himself in the Tiger secondary.
Reneau earned a rep one of the best cornerbacks in the region as a junior. He racked up 78 tackles with four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He was named first team all-district and earned all-state honorable mention honors for his efforts. As a senior in 2016, Reneau put up solid numbers in the secondary, earning second team all-district honors.
Reneau finished his high school career with over 100 tackles and six interceptions. He is currently playing football at Hardin-Simmons University.
Chris Depaz (2015-16)
Depaz was a takeaway machine. In his two years as a starter, he recorded two fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
Depaz also made 62 career tackles and earned all-district honors twice.
Second Team
Jayden Samaniego
(2016-2019)

A four-year varsity player, Samaniego started in the secondary as a freshman in 2016, earning honorable mention honors.
He then spent the next three years splitting time as a wide receiver on offense and a corner on defense and in 2019, earned first team honors at both positions.
Timothy Sosa (2016-2018)
Sosa spent three years on the varsity squad. Sosa, like Samaniego, could be found on both sides of the ball, but shined in the secondary. After earning honorable mention honors in 2017, Sosa had his best season as a senior in 2018, leading the Tigers in solo tackles and earning first team honors.
Honorable mention
T.J. Villa (2012)
Safety
First Team
Nathan Kendrick
(2016-2018)

One of two players on our list to have won Defensive MVP, Kendrick was unstoppable as a senior in 2018.
He first appeared as a sophomore in 2016, recording 37 tackles and an interception on his way to first team all-district honors.
As a junior, Kendrick missed the back half of the season due to an injury but still earned first team honors with 21 tackles. Whatever time he missed in 2017, he made up for in 2018.
Kendrick recorded 88 tackles and an interception and was named the District 1-4A Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
His 53 solo tackles were second only to teammate Timothy Sosa.
Kendrick finished his career with 146 career tackles and two interceptions.
Second Team
Jonathan Garcia
(2011-2013)

A three-year varsity starter, Garcia made his presence felt as a junior in 2012, earning honorable mention honors. As a senior, Garcia recorded three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery and was named first team all-district.
Honorable Mentions
Abram Smith (2016-2018) and Shade Roemisch (2010).
Up next in The Snyder News All Decade series, we will look at the most prolific football players for the Ira Bulldogs and the Hermleigh Cardinals since 2010.