The countdown to Friday nights has officially begun.
With the 2026 Carroll Dragon football season quickly approaching, Southlake Style is kicking off a summer full of coverage celebrating the tradition, talent, and legacy that have made Dragon football one of the most respected programs in the country.
Since its first issue in 2006, Southlake Style’s Dragon Pride Football issue has chronicled the tradition, talent, and championship moments that have defined Carroll football and one of the greatest runs in Texas high school history. Now, as Southlake Style prepares to release the 20th edition of Dragon Pride Football in 2026, we’re looking back at the players who shaped the era.
Beginning this week, we’ll reveal our Top 20 Greatest Dragon Football Players of the Dragon Pride Era, releasing five players each week across our social media channels before publishing companion stories on SouthlakeStyle.com.
One important note: this ranking celebrates the players who helped define the Dragon Pride Era — the 20-year history of Southlake Style’s football magazine. Because of that timeline, some incredibly difficult decisions had to be made.
Carroll legends like McKay Jacobson, Greg McElroy, and Chase Daniel are not included — not because of their accomplishments, but because they graduated before the first Dragon Pride Football issue was published. Their impact on Dragon football history is undeniable, and their omission is simply a reflection of the era this list was created to celebrate.
With that, here’s what’s coming to Southlake Style this summer:
July 17
July 24
July 31
Aug. 7
Aug. 14
- Top 20 Dragons: #3 + #2
- Companion Top 20 feature: #3 + #2
Aug. 21
- Top 20 Dragons: #2 + #1
- Deep dive on #2 + #1
- District / team preview
Aug. 24-27
- Top 20 Recap - Who Did We Miss?
- All-Time Offense + All-Time Defense (2006 - 2026)
- Football Magazine preview
- Carroll vs. Jenks Preview
The summer countdown leads into the 2026 Carroll Dragon football season, which kicks off Thursday, Aug. 27, when the Dragons take on Jenks at the Cotton Bowl.
From legendary quarterbacks and record-setting receivers to dominant defenders and unforgettable playmakers, this summer’s coverage celebrates the players, moments, and traditions that have made Carroll one of the premier high school football programs in the country.
Follow along each week as we reveal the names — and see which Dragon legends made the cut.