We've reached the Top 5.
After celebrating 15 standout Carroll football players who helped define the Dragon Pride Era (2006-2026), the countdown has reached its most elite territory. These final five players represent the very best of Carroll football — athletes whose accomplishments, leadership, and impact helped shape one of the most successful programs in Texas high school football history.
We're continuing our countdown with Nos. 5 and 4 — two running backs who carried the Carroll legacy forward in completely different eras but shared the same qualities: toughness, consistency, and the ability to take over a football game.
Yes, Carroll had some of the most talented quarterbacks in the state during its championship era in the early to mid-2000s. But behind each of those elite signal callers was Newton, the exciting, versatile playmaker who gave the Dragons' offense its balance and electricity.
Playing alongside legends such as Chase Daniel, Greg McElroy, and Riley Dodge, Newton helped lead the Dragons to a remarkable 59-2 record and three consecutive UIL Class 5A state championships (2004-2006). But Newton's was no supporting character.
Running between the tackles with power and toughness, Newton also had the speed and receiving ability to create mismatches in space. During his Carroll career, the eventual University of Texas alum rushed for 4,728 yards and 49 touchdowns while adding 56 receptions for 784 yards and six receiving touchdowns. His versatility made him one of the most difficult players in Texas to defend, and his ability to contribute in every phase of the offense made him a foundational piece of Carroll's early championship era.
Newton earned three all-state selections during his high school career before continuing his football journey in the burnt orange. But his legacy in Southlake was already secure as one of the first true stars of the Dragon Pride Era — a player who helped set the standard for excellence that Carroll football would continue to chase for years to come.
Few players in Texas high school football history have carried the workload — and produced the results — that Owen Allen did during his Carroll career.
A rare four-year varsity starter and a two-year team captain under head coach Riley Dodge, Allen became the definition of an elite high school running back. Every defense knew the Dragons wanted to put the ball in his hands, but stopping him was another challenge entirely.
Allen combined patience, vision, balance, and physicality in a way that made him nearly impossible to bring down. Whether he was finding a crease between the tackles, bouncing outside, or finishing runs through contact, he consistently found ways to move the chains and change games.
Over his career, Allen rushed for more than 7,600 yards, including the remarkable accomplishment of recording three consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons. That level of sustained production is nearly unheard of at the high school level and cemented his place among the most prolific rushers in Texas football history.
His accomplishments earned him national recognition, including being named a MaxPreps All-American, while his leadership helped guide Carroll through another successful chapter of Dragon football.
From his freshman season to his final game in a Dragon uniform, Owen Allen was the engine of the Carroll offense — and one of the most dominant players to ever wear the green and white.