2024 Rankings: Breakout Stars
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Last Monday, we updated our 2024 rankings and released the Top 50. We saw plenty of new names in the rankings and plenty of prospects who soared up the rankings as stock risers. Check out the complete 2024 Top 50 Rankings RIGHT HERE. For now, let’s take a look at five prospects who are enjoying breakout seasons this fall and have not only risen their stock within the 2024 class but they’re are producing in a big way for their team this fall.
Dax Collins Dax Collins 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Poteau | 2024 State OK – ATH – Poteau
Poteau is once again a serious threat in Class 4A and will be pushing other teams like Tuttle, Cushing, Clinton and Grove to raise a gold ball in December. The Pirates have an outstanding cast of playmakers and the Pirates have been dominant this season with the exception of the loss to Shiloh Christian out of Arkansas. One of the young emerging stars for the Pirates has been sophomore standout Dax Collins Dax Collins 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Poteau | 2024 State OK . The young playmaker hasn’t been the leading rusher for the Pirates this season but he’s had some outstanding performances. He’s ran for north of 100 yards in three games this year, including two impressive wins against Bishop Kelley and Hilldale. Collins has seven touchdowns on the season. While he’s not the leading rusher with senior Todd Mattox Todd Mattox 5'8" | RB Poteau | 2022 State OK taking that spot, you can make the argument that Collins is more of the big play waiting to happen while Mattox is the workhorse back for the Pirates.
Dylan Baldridge Dylan Baldridge 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Union | 2024 OK – WR – Lincoln Christian
Lincoln Christian came into this season with one of the top senior quarterbacks returning with Central Michigan commit Max Brown Max Brown 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Lincoln Christian | 2022 State OK . However, the Bulldogs had to find some new faces at wide receiver as they lost Kolbe Katsis Kolbe Katsis 6'0" | WR Lincoln Christian | 2021 State OK to graduation. It didn’t take long for a young sophomore to show that he could be a big playmaker for the Bulldogs in the passing game. Dylan Baldridige is one of the top receivers along with junior Cam Dooley Cam Dooley 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Lincoln Christian | 2023 State OK and those two have become the top two targets for Brown in this passing attack. Baldridge got out to a red hot start to the season. 6 of his 19 receptions this season have gone for touchdowns. In fact, Baldridge caught all six of his touchdowns before the calendar flipped to October. He hasn’t been in the end zone in the last few weeks but it hasn’t really mattered as Lincoln Christian has absolutely blown out their district opponents. In the first three games, Lincoln’s competition was the toughest they’ll see this year and that’s when Baldridge was at his best and was the most productive. That’s a good sign with the playoffs around the corner.
Jino Boyd Jino Boyd 6'0" | WR Union | 2024 State OK – WR – Union
Out of the five prospects on this list, we probably would have bet on Union’s Jino Boyd Jino Boyd 6'0" | WR Union | 2024 State OK to make it to this point as a breakout star. We got a chance to see the sophomore throughout the offseason, playing 7v7 and it was apparent that he had the speed and skills to have an impact on the varsity level this fall. And in the past, it takes a special kind of talent to make Union coaches talk about a player that is a freshman or sophomore. However, Boyd got high praise and it appeared like they expected him to have the kind of season he’s had so far this year. Boyd has been a home run threat for the Union offense at the wide receiver position. It’s no secret that Union has been a run-first team this fall but Boyd has been one of their top playmakers at the receiver position and he’s taken advantage of the opportunities
Kordell Gouldsby Kordell Gouldsby 5'11" | WR Bixby | 2024 State OK – ATH – Holland Hall
Holland Hall’s Kordell Gouldsby Kordell Gouldsby 5'11" | WR Bixby | 2024 State OK was one of the few freshmen last season that stood out to us at the varsity level. However, his freshman season came to an end early with a knee injury. And he missed Holland Hall’s trip to the state championship. This year, he came into the season not only returning to the field but taking over as QB1 for the Dutch. He has Holland Hall still in the top spot with another undefeated record and the Dutch appear to be primed for another trip to the state championship game. Gouldsby is certainly a dual-threat quarterback and it’s a change of pace from last year with pocket passer Wallace Clark Wallace Clark 6'0" | QB Holland Hall | 2021 State OK at the QB spot. Gouldsby has done a great job getting the talent around him involved and he’s not asked to be superman considering the talented players he has around him like wide receiver Ethan Roush Ethan Roush 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Holland Hall | 2022 State OK and running back Zane Woodham Zane Woodham 6'0" | ATH Holland Hall | 2022 State OK .
Ladainian Fields Ladainian Fields 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK – WR – Southeast
The one thing the other four prospects have in common is they’re playing for state championship contenders and plenty of eyes have been on them throughout the season. That hasn’t been the case for Southeast as they’re 4-3 on the season and battling every single week just for a playoff spot in Class 5A. But when you look at the Spartans a little closer, you’ll see a potential star in the making with wide receiver Ladainian Fields Ladainian Fields 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK . The young playmaker has 16 receptions on the season but 7 of those catches went for touchdowns. Fields is a big play waiting to happen and he has really good size and when the ball is in his hands, he nearly makes it into the end zone half of the time. Fields is excellent after the catch and is going to continue to grow as a wide receiver prospect. There’s a few other wide receiver prospects on this list but Fields might have the highest ceiling. When you combine his size and speed and ability after the catch, he could end up being a top ten prospect when it’s all said and done.