North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. named Fort Worth Area Player of the Year

Introducing the Fort Worth area’s Player of the Year: North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr.

The Star-Telegram is releasing awards for Texas high school football players daily until the Fort Worth All-Area Team is announced on Sunday. Jimerson head coach Ray Gates was named coach of the year on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Aledo quarterback Hauss Hejny was named Offensive Player of the Year. On Friday, Byron Nelson linebacker Eze Osondu was named Defensive Player of the Year.

North Crowley represented Fort Worth football, and Jimerson led a record-setting offense that averaged 56 points. The North Crowley Panthers won 14 straight games before losing in the semifinals to Duncanville, the eventual Class 6A D1 state champions.

Jimerson, who has committed to TCU, said it feels good to represent Fort Worth football, especially given the rigors it takes to succeed in the region. The Panthers have continued to build their brand and reputation as one of the elite programs in Texas’ largest classification with their exceptional season.

“Growing up in Fort Worth, there aren’t that many people who really make it in football,” Jimerson said. “Making it to Fort Worth makes me feel good because I put a lot of work into it.”

Insights into Jimerson’s impressive season

Jimerson averaged 202 yards per game, threw 40 touchdown passes, and had just three interceptions. He totaled over 3,000 passing yards. He also averaged 73 rushing yards per game and scored 12 rushing touchdowns.

The star quarterback threw passes of over 100 yards in every game, including seven touchdowns and 359 yards in his performance of the year against Chisholm Trail.

Jimerson showed outstanding improvement since his sophomore year, improving his rushing and passing yards by 40 and 43 yards, respectively. He significantly increased his efficiency and threw seven fewer interceptions en route to winning the District 3-6A MVP award.

Jimerson also led North Crowley to playoff victories over Allen and Prosper, two top teams in the Dallas area.

In the 2022 season, Prosper knocked North Crowley out of the playoffs. Jimerson and the Panthers held the upper hand in the 2023 season, defeating a Prosper team that remained undefeated in District 8-6A play.

Before the season began, Gates said it can be challenging for players as good as Jimerson Jr. to continue to improve their game. Jimerson has certainly found a way and made another big leap.

“I felt like I made better decisions on the field,” Jimerson Jr. said. “I read the defense and got the ball to the open spots where it needed to go.”

Jimerson thanked his parents, Gates, offensive coordinator Eli Reinhart and his teammates for putting him in a position to succeed, saying “everyone” in the North Crowley family played their part.

North Crowley’s offense was extremely versatile, which made Jimerson’s job as quarterback and manager of the offense a little easier. Playing alongside athletes like running back Ashton Searl and receivers Dekoryian West-Davis, Mason Ferguson and Lamarcus Davis “meant a lot to Jimerson.”

“That took a huge weight off my shoulders,” Jimerson said. “I put the football in their hands and they could play with it. That helped me a lot this season.”

In 2021, Jimerson was named to the All-District second team as a freshman. In his sophomore season, Jimerson was named to the All-District first team. He is now the District 3-6A Most Valuable Player and the Fort Worth Area Player of the Year.

“What he’s accomplished in two years has put him in the conversation,” Gates said of the elite quarterbacks of the 2025 graduating class. “It will put him at the top of the list of quarterbacks in the state. … We’re really excited about him.”

The future of Fort Worth football

Eventually, Jimerson will showcase his talents at Amon G. Carter Stadium to play for head coach Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs. In 2024, however, Jimerson still has a score to settle with North Crowley.

“Next year, it’s going to be more of his team,” Gates said of Jimerson. “A lot of the guys coming back are going to be his peers. His age. They’ve been playing football together since they were young.”

To conclude the 2023 season, North Crowley suffered a decisive 52-10 loss to Duncanville that will stay with them throughout the offseason.

How do you beat a program with so much talent? For Jimerson, North Crowley’s program is becoming more successful as time goes on. He said the team needs to stay persistent and keep working hard.

“Do more than we did this year,” Jimerson said. “Obviously it wasn’t good enough to win this year, so we need to go back to the lab and do better.”

Gates said now is the time for Jimerson to “speak up a little more” and “raise his voice.” He added that Jimerson’s teammates will follow his example.

Jimerson echoed Gates and said he wants to focus on his leadership role so North Crowley can take the next step.

“I want to be more of a leader for my team,” Jimerson said. “I want to build them up. When things aren’t going well, I want to be a better teammate.”

Gates said the next group of players are arguably the most talented athletes North Crowley High School has produced. With a player of Jimerson’s caliber, there’s no telling what the Panthers will accomplish.