2026 Getting to know Joshua Belanger from Wimberley, Texas

 

Name: Joshua Belanger

School/town: Wimberley High School, Wimberley, Texas

Positions played: Running Back, Outside Linebacker

Class of 2027

Height and Weight: 6'0, 190

Jersey Number: 24

Awards won or earned:

2024 First Team All-District Defensive End

2025 first-team all-district defensive tackle

HUDL LINK: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16658426/Joshua-Belanger/highlights

Other sports played:

Track

Please post something from last season that sticks out to you. It can be from a game, practice, or something funny on the bus ride to or from the game. Any moment that sticks out to you.

Our head coach retired last season, and Coach Lambert was promoted to head coach, and Coach McNeely got the OC spot. They did a great job, and our team likes and respects them along with our other coaches. The team was missing a few key players due to seniors graduating, but we had a decent run in the playoffs, so it ended up working out for us.

Who or what got you started playing football?

We lived in Canada when I was a kid, and I thought I was going to play hockey, but when we transferred to Texas, I started playing football with the kids in our neighborhood, and when they had youth football tryouts, my dad signed me up.

What are the goals you will set for your team this season?

We are all focused on getting bigger, stronger, and faster this offseason. We have all been playing together for 6 years, and our group is like a band of brothers, so we’re going to focus on teamwork. Also, we're looking to make a deep playoff run, so a state championship is looking like a solid possibility.

What has been your biggest moment as an athlete, in any sport, at any age?

I played some varsity playoff games in 9th grade and had some great plays; I was happy to know that I could hang with the big boys.

Which part of your game do you feel is the strongest?

Good vision, explosive closing burst, cuts. Real routes

RB or LB: Of the two positions that you are listed at playing, which one do you feel you are better at?

Running Back

Would you share with the readers some of the camps you plan on attending along with what you are hoping to learn from the camps?

DFW Showcase, UTSA, Texas State, SFA, Midwestern.

Any advice on my game would be great, but I’m really trying to create and build relationships.

With this being your final high school season, are you preparing any differently than you have in the past? Explain

I’m more focused on gaining some size and strength while maintaining speed.

Many of the athletes at the next level are 20, 21, and 22 years old, and that makes a difference when you’re 17, so you better be able to compete.

What is the best part of being a student-athlete at Wimberley High School?

Our school is 4A, so there’s a family feel, and the entire town is very supportive of football.

Our coaches would knock down walls for us, and we would do the same for them.

What makes you a good teammate?

I’ve always made friends easily, and my teammates trust me. My play sets me apart; I lead by example.

Who is the best player that you have faced in a game, as well as the team they played for?

Mikah Green, from Sinton, is with UTSA now.

What is your favorite part of practice?

Challenging myself to get better and learn new plays, supporting my teammates whether it’s running the ball or lead blocking from the backfield—that's one of the fun parts of playing running back.

Would you share with the readers how the recruiting process has gone and let them know of some of the schools that you have heard from?

It’s been mixed. I was getting a lot of looks sophomore year, but then I had an injury and spent my junior year rehabbing. I had a call from the running back coach at Navy, and I still get texts from him. I’m looking forward to having a breakout season senior year and getting some offers.

What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

Steak, my dad is a steak expert; it's awesome.

Have you watched any of the UFL games?

I’ve seen some but am not a huge fan.

Who is your favorite NFL team?

The Seahawks when they had Marshawn and Kam Chancellor. Dallas, my mom went to high school with Emmitt, so I have to be a Dallas fan.