A pair of top defensive back recruits for the Katy Tigers, junior Bobby Taylor and senior Hunter Washington, announced they will sit out the team’s first scrimmage and regular-season opener at the end of this month and follow in the footsteps of professional athletes’ protests in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. They became the first Texas high school football players to announce protest plans.

Taylor, an uncommitted prospect with Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas Christian in his top 12, made his announcement in an Aug. 28 tweet and Washington, a Florida State commit, said he would join him. Both said they discussed their decision with Katy head football coach Gary Joseph.

“In America, people of skin color, like myself, have been the face of social injustice for hundreds of years and it will continue if we don’t do something about it,” Taylor said in his tweet. “As a young Black man, my parents shouldn’t have to worry if I’ll make it home every day, especially in the hands of a police officer who is supposed to protect me. If we don’t do something about it now, it’ll never change when we make it. I love my skin color and stand by it.”

Washington was named to “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” preseason Super Team and recently landed on the publication’s Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year preseason watch list as well. Taylor was honored as a one of DCTF’s top 100 recruits for the Class of 2022 and also has Alabama, Oklahoma and Louisiana State in his top colleges.

The Tigers’ preseason scrimmage will be Sept. 17 at home against Klein Collins before the season-opening contest Sept. 25 on the road at Challenger Stadium in League City against Clear Springs.