Uncommitted Spotlight – Week Two

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> Every Wednesday, we’ll take a look at some of the top available prospects in Oklahoma’s 2022 class. We’re still months away from the first signing day, but these prospects are still available and should be priorities for college coaches who recruit the state of Oklahoma. Over the weekend, one of the top available prospects announced his commitment. Holland Hall cornerback [player_tooltip player_id="61125" first="NuNu" last="Campbell"] tweeted out a commitment to Tulsa. Be sure to check back every Wednesday for a new batch of uncommitted prospects and see who some of the best available are in the 2022 class! <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="67771" first="Antonio" last="Smith"] - Running Back - Union</strong></span> Our first spotlight is on one part of the two-headed monster in Union’s backfield at the running back position. [player_tooltip player_id="67771" first="Antonio" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38703" first="Rovaughn" last="Banks"] make up one of the best running back duos in the state. Last week, it was Banks that carried the load with over 30 carries for 200+ yards. This week, Smith and Banks will be squaring off with arch rival Jenks in the annual Backyard Bowl. Smith is an excellent runner and is off to a great start to his senior season. You can’t help but talk about both Smith and Banks when just trying to talk about one but we’ll try. Smith also has the versatility of being a safety on the defensive side of the ball. That is where he was primarily used during the 2020 football season but still saw plenty of time at running back. Smith just has that different gear that puts him in that top category for running back prospects. I’ve already seen him in person this year and came away so impressed with how hard he runs the ball. He doesn’t take much time to get into that gear that makes him tough to bring down. He has a great blend of speed and strength so he isn’t just a prospect that needs to be in the open field, he can run in between the tackles and lower the shoulder and deliver a blow. Right now, he’s a Top 30 overall prospect and a Top 5 prospect in Oklahoma’s 2022 class. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8464039/5f6fd89a8cd54109f43cf53d" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38734" first="Collin" last="Matteson"] - Athlete - Oklahoma Christian School</strong></span> A prospect who did it all for OCS during their semifinal run a year ago and is one of the biggest stat sheet stuffers in Oklahoma is senior [player_tooltip player_id="38734" first="Collin" last="Matteson"]. As a wide receiver, he was one of the best in the state at his position. As a defensive back, he was one of the best in the state at his position. Matteson was a complete game changer for OCS throughout the season and has already gotten his senior year off on the right note. He’s right there with Heritage Hall’s [player_tooltip player_id="48668" first="Gavin" last="Freeman"] in terms of a player that is so important to his team’s success because of all the things he brings to the table. In their win last week against Morrison, leading 7-0, the Saints needed a goal line stand and got in the form of a Matteson 90+ yard interception return to seal the 14-0 victory. He’s a highlight waiting to happen and will be one of the top playmakers throughout the 2021 season on both sides of the ball. As a prospect, take your pick on which side of the ball you want him to play. Normally with athletes, we have a general idea of where their best fit would be at the next level. And while we’re leaning to the offensive side of the ball with Matteson, we’re not counting out his ability to be that game changer as a defensive back considering he was one of the best ball hawks in the state last year. Right now, Matteson is a Top 50 prospect and listed as a wide receiver in our 2022 prospect rankings. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/1721143/5fdd408f4debcc16687baa8a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38716" first="Eli" last="Williams"] - Defensive Back - Stillwater</strong></span> The first of two defensive back prospects is one that I’m excited to see in person this week. Stillwater senior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id="38716" first="Eli" last="Williams"] and the Pioneers will be hosting Mustang and I can’t wait to see how they fair against a Mustang offense that put up a ton of points and over 300 passing yards a week ago. However, Williams is considered one of the top cover corners in the state so the Pioneers are just reloading at that position. They just had one of the top corners with [player_tooltip player_id="38495" first="Tevin" last="Williams"] in the 2021 class, who is now a freshman at Baylor. And after talking with some Stillwater coaches, they feel like [player_tooltip player_id="38716" first="Eli" last="Williams"] might end up being even better when it comes to the raw skills of a cornerback. And you throw on his tape and it’s pretty easy to see why. He’s a big rangy corner who has terrific closing speed. And one underrated quality about cornerbacks at the high school level is a simple one. Tackling. That skillset gets somewhat tossed aside for speed, covering skills, etc.  And Williams is an excellent tackler in the open field. Whether it’s in run support or closing in on a receiver, WIlliams gets there in a hurry. His first test was being lined up against All American [player_tooltip player_id="38667" first="Talyn" last="Shettron"] and Santa Fe in week one. Shettron had nearly 100 yards receiving but did not finish with a touchdown. Right now, Williams is a borderline Top 50 prospect in the state’s 2022 class. Another good showing this week and next against top ranked Bixby will all but lock a rise in the ranking update in October. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11410005/5fc56ebff327b70654e3e406" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57047" first="Jaden" last="King"] - Defensive Back - Booker T Washington</strong></span> Our next defensive back prospect is Booker T Washington’s [player_tooltip player_id="57047" first="Jaden" last="King"]. We mentioned ball hawk earlier with Matteson at OCS and that’s exactly what King was last year for the Hornets. We’ve written this a few times but for those not familiar with King, he was a breakout star last year for the Hornets when they had a few injuries and needed a new big name to step up into that role on this Hornet defense. King was that player and ended up being one of the best in 6A-2 in interceptions. King is back this year and so are a few other pieces in the Hornet secondary that makes them arguably the best in the state. Honestly, throwing the "arguably" is a little insulting to the Hornets, Booker T Washington without a doubt has the best secondary in the state and they’re already showing that after two games this year. In their first two games combined, the Hornets have given up just 42 passing yards. Now, Del City only threw the ball seven times total in the week one game, but still. 42 passing yards in two games is outstanding. And King already has an interception which came in their week zero win over Southmoore. This secondary, as long as it stays healthy, will be historically good and that isn’t hyperbole, it’s just facts when you consider that at least four of the prospects within that secondary (King included) could end up at the D1 level. As it stands right now, King is a Top 30 prospect and one of the top DB prospects in the state’s class. He should be a high priority for D1 programs looking at Oklahoma for secondary standouts. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11122195/5fbd87fad45e9c09b4490e46" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61141" first="Kelan" last="Carney"] - Wide Receiver - Owasso</strong></span> After a couple defensive backs, we finish this spotlight up with a wide receiver who has been torching defensive backs for a few years now. Senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="61141" first="Kelan" last="Carney"] of Owasso is a four-year starter for the Ram offense. Think about that fact for a second. Owasso has been one of the best teams over the last four years, have had one of the best offenses, specifically passing offenses in the state and Carney has produced since his freshman year. Carney is a wide receiver prospect that we were very high on after seeing him throughout the offseason continuing to improve every time he stepped out in competition. Carney is already off to a great start to his senior year and he didn’t wait long to showcase his skills. In their week zero win on the road against Edmond Santa Fe, Carney caught six passes for over 100 yards and three touchdowns. Carney’s overall production this year won’t be what some of the other receivers will have because he’s one fourth of an absolutely loaded receiver group at Owasso. But make no mistake, Carney could be the top receiver for plenty of teams across Oklahoma and put up monster numbers. He’s a prototypical slot receiver who will excel at getting yards after the catch. Right now, Carney is listed as the 61st overall prospect in the 2022 rankings and we’ll tell you right now, that ranking will be higher when they get updated in October. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/4564632/5fc7c4ce2aa6590b7c36d605" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>