Cedar Hill Football Coach Nick Ward Lost No. 1 Recruit Jalen Brewster to Buford (Ga.) Cedar Hill football coach Nick Ward was blindsided by the transfer of five-star defensive lineman Jalen Brewster to Buford (Ga.) for his senior year, learning about the move only after media reports surfaced Saturday night. Ward confirmed the transfer was orchestrated by Brewster’s father, who withdrew the player without prior notice. “Dad said it’s nothing against the football program. We had nothing to do with it. It had something to do with some credits,” Ward told The Dallas Morning News on Monday. “Beyond that, I haven’t even found out from our counselors what really happened.” Brewster’s transfer stemmed from academic challenges as he pursued early graduation to enroll at Texas Tech in January. According to sources close to the situation, an issue arose with Brewster’s academic counselors, prompting the move. Buford, ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, is coming off a 15-0 season in 2025. Brewster, who did not immediately respond to a comment request, sent a statement to Rivals on Saturday, stating, “Transferring to Buford came down to what was best for my future. This move allows me to reach my goal of graduating in December while staying on track academically and athletically.” The transfer highlights a growing trend of elite Texas recruits leaving the state for opportunities outside their attendance zones. Brewster is the fourth Dallas-area top-10 recruit who will not play high school football in Texas this season. This raises questions about whether the University Interscholastic League (UIL) should revise its transfer rules to allow athletes to transfer without penalty.#jalen_brewster #cedar_hill #nick_ward #buford_ga #texas_high_school_coaches_association
