Why DeSoto coach Claude Mathis is telling his players to ignore agents pushing NIL deals

When it comes to the world of Texas high school football, there might not be anything like it in the country as the Lone Star State is crazed about Friday night lights. At the 2026 Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Convention and Coaching School media session, DeSoto (TX) head coach Claude Mathis spoke about NIL and how he wants to push his players towards the best for for them on the collegiate level. [ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ] “Certain agents may push their players a certain way to another school, and me, I want them to go to the best fit,” Mathis said at the media day about NIL. “That’s why now I’m more vocal than I’ve ever been with my guys about where they should go because I think it’s important that they pick the right school because of them. Not because somebody wants to get a percentage of their contract.” What also can never be underscored is the vibe that comes with Texas high school football around the state and Mathis went in depth about the feeling coaching on any given Friday night in the Lone Star State. “What makes it different is when you play in a stadium, and you pack the stadium out, and it’s sold out, and you’re fighting, at the very end of the game, to go to a state championship, and you hit the quarterback and your players, and people go crazy because you get a goal line stop. This Texas high school football,” Mathis said. “The state is all about that. You got kids, you got families, the sidelines are full. It’s crazy. The towns shut down because Texas high school football is so great because we got so many great teams in the state of Texas, but we love it.” “It’s passion. It’s something that I wish every coach can endure in the state of Texas, and what parents, what other folks don’t understand about it is the love for the game that we have here in the state of Texas. It’s a passionate game that we love about football, and it’s a game. I think it’s the best game that’s out there. I know FIFA’s going on right there. Everybody loves FIFA right now. They’re futbol, but football around the state of Texas is unbelievable. I mean when we’re talking about Friday night lights, that’s Friday night lights. Sometimes it can be Saturday night lights too, as well, in our instance.” Mathis and his DeSoto Eagles will open up the 2026 high school football season with a historic appearance down in South Florida to take on the 17-time Florida state champion Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders at the Broward County Classic High School Football Classic on Aug. 29. DeSoto is coming off winning the 2025 UIL Class 6A, Division II state championship after defeating C.E. King, 55-27. The Eagles return 2027 four-star defensive lineman K’Adrian Redmond (Texas Tech commit), three-star EDGE D.J. Rumph and three-star running back SaRod Baker, who rushed for 3,081 yards and scored 41 touchdowns last season. The Eagles ended last season with a 13-3 record and finishing ranked No. 3 in the final 2025 Texas High School Football Massey Rankings. More about DeSoto High School “DeSoto High School, located in DeSoto, Texas, is a prominent public high school known for its strong academic programs, robust athletics, and vibrant extracurricular activities. The school offers a wide range of AP and dual credit courses, preparing students for college success. DeSoto High’s athletic teams are frequently state contenders, fostering school spirit and community pride. Emphasizing leadership, innovation, and community service, the school cultivates well-rounded students ready for future challenges.”