4A Playoffs: Players To Watch
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The 2021 regular season has come to an end and it’s time to get cranked up for the playoffs! Prep Redzone Oklahoma will be your home for the 2021 postseason as we’ll have wall to wall coverage. From playoff previews, to the most in-depth state championship coverage you’ll find anywhere, we’ll have you covered. Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma every day for more preview content throughout the week. In this post, we take a look at the players who will be making an impact on the 4A playoffs. To check out our 4A Playoff Preview, Click Here!
GAME CHANGERS
Canon West
Canon
West
5'11" | RB
Tuttle | 2022
State
OK
– Running Back – Tuttle
Only one player from the top ranked Tuttle Tigers makes this breakdown and if you’ve seen them play this year, you know why. Senior running back
Canon West
Canon
West
5'11" | RB
Tuttle | 2022
State
OK
has been the most productive player on an absolutely dominating team. They don’t have prospects that are highly rated. They just all do their job and do it incredibly well. However, West does stand out and is having an outstanding senior season. Combining him with
Tyler Woodson
Tyler
Woodson
5'10" | 165 lbs | RB
Tuttle | 2023
State
OK
in the backfield gives Tuttle a true 1-2 punch at the RB position.
Colyn Treat
Colyn
Treat
5'9" | 170 lbs | DB
Catoosa | 2022
State
OK
– Defensive Back – Catoosa
Catoosa has to be considered one of the better stories of the 2021 season. After going winless in 2020, the Indians brought in first year head coach Christian Hood and they find themselves in the playoffs. A big reason behind the turnaround has been the emergence of a ball hawk in senior defensive back
Colyn Treat
Colyn
Treat
5'9" | 170 lbs | DB
Catoosa | 2022
State
OK
. The senior DB is one of the state’s leaders in interceptions and is having a breakout season. Catoosa is certainly the underdog coming into the playoffs but Treat and the Indians are ready for it.
Dax Collins
Dax
Collins
6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH
Poteau | 2024
State
OK
– Athlete – Poteau
The first of two Poteau standouts on this breakdown is the sophomore
Dax Collins
Dax
Collins
6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH
Poteau | 2024
State
OK
. The future is bright with Collins ready to take over and lead the Pirate ship over the next two seasons. He’s had an outstanding sophomore season, despite being on a senior-heavy team. He’s still managed to find his way into the lineup and when he does, he makes plays. When it comes to slowing Poteau down, teams might focus on some of the older players on this offense and that will open things up for Collins to have a huge postseason.
Daylan Thompson
Daylan
Thompson
5'9" | RB
Elk City | 2022
State
OK
– Running Back – Elk City
We’ll pound this point across until he graduates. Elk City senior running back
Daylan Thompson
Daylan
Thompson
5'9" | RB
Elk City | 2022
State
OK
is one of the more underrated running backs in Oklahoma today. He has carried the Elks to a playoff appearance and has basically shattered every rushing record in his school in the process. Thompson might be overlooked because of his size but if you’re making that judgement, you haven’t actually seen him play. Thompson is an absolute weapon and we won’t be surprised if he puts up some big numbers this month.
Gabe Rodriguez
Gabe
Rodriguez
5'11" | ATH
Wagoner | 2023
State
OK
– Quarterback/Defensive Back – Wagoner
The younger brother of current Oklahoma State Cowboy Malcolm Rodriguez,
Gabe Rodriguez
Gabe
Rodriguez
5'11" | ATH
Wagoner | 2023
State
OK
certainly has the DNA to be a game changer in 4A football. He’s led an incredibly young but talented team back to the playoffs and is looking to take the Bulldogs a step further. We mentioned in our 4A playoff preview how the Bulldogs, despite being defending champs, were dark horses in the postseason this year. Rodriguez is good enough to lead this dark horse all the way back to Edmond with his play on offense and defense.
Jocelyn Malaska
Jocelyn
Malaska
6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH
Bethany | 2022
State
OK
– Athlete – Bethany
He’s one of the state’s overall best athletes and as a recruit has been treated as such. He’s one of the top rated prospects as a defensive back and is the first of two Bethany players to make this breakdown. Whether it’s on offense or defense,
Jocelyn Malaska
Jocelyn
Malaska
6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH
Bethany | 2022
State
OK
will have a huge impact and be a big reason behind the success that Bethany has in the playoffs. Malaska and the Bronchos have to bounce back in a hurry after being blown out by Clinton in week ten, they have a brutal first round match-up against Blanchard.
Lincoln Smith
Lincoln
Smith
5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH
Blanchard | 2022
OK
– Athlete – Blanchard
Blanchard senior
Lincoln Smith
Lincoln
Smith
5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH
Blanchard | 2022
OK
is coming off one of his best individual performances of his career and he’s hoping to continue that into the playoffs. If he does, the Lions are going to be a serious team to watch out for. In week ten, the Lions nearly stunned top ranked Tuttle and it was Smith who was the game changer. He had a pick six and a kick return for a touchdown that both went for over 90 yards each. Smith was a game changer in week ten and will hope to continue that momentum into the playoffs.
STAT SHEET STUFFERS
Blaze Berlowitz
Blaze
Berlowitz
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Cushing | 2023
State
OK
– Quarterback – Cushing
We’ve written plenty about the state’s junior class at the quarterback position and how it’s absolutely loaded. A good example of that has been the rise of Cushing quarterback
Blaze Berlowitz
Blaze
Berlowitz
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
Cushing | 2023
State
OK
. We were impressed with his sophomore season but he’s taken his game to a completely new level as a passer this year. We think that not only has his stock gone up as a quarterback prospect, but he has the potential to lead his team to a gold ball. He has an outstanding supporting cast around him to make it happen.
Carson Cooksey – Quarterback – Blanchard
One of the breakout stars of this season in Class 4A has to be sophomore quarterback Carson Cooksey. The young gunslinger has put up some monster numbers throwing the ball and certainly has a bright future in front of him. However, the biggest question is whether or not that future can speed up to the present. Cooksey has had some great games throwing the ball this year but the playoffs obviously bring a bigger stage. We can’t wait to see how the young Blanchard standout handles the playoff pressure.
Carson Trimble
Carson
Trimble
6'1" | QB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
– Quarterback – Grove
When you watch Grove this year, it’s easy to just focus on running back
Emmanuel Crawford
Emmanuel
Crawford
5'10" | 170 lbs | RB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
with the outstanding numbers he’s put up this season. However, standing in that backfield with Crawford is fellow junior
Carson Trimble
Carson
Trimble
6'1" | QB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
at the quarterback position. Trimble is an underrated athlete and can sling the ball all over the field. This year, he’s been incredibly efficient where he puts the ball. We were also in person where Trimble got absolutely rocked by Wagoner all night and kept coming back and made a clutch fourth down pass for the game-tying touchdown.
Eric Virgil
Eric
Virgil
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Hilldale | 2023
State
OK
– Running Back – Hilldale
After a breakout season last year, more expectations were on Hilldale running back
Eric Virgil
Eric
Virgil
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Hilldale | 2023
State
OK
coming into his junior season. He hasn’t disappointed. The junior standout has been one of the best and most productive running backs in 4A football this season. In their week ten game against Fort Gibson, Virgil ran for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. He’s had at least two touchdowns in six consecutive games and the Hornets will need that production from him as they go up against defending champ Wagoner on Friday.
Nick Moore
Nick
Moore
6'0" | RB
Harrah | 2022
OK
– Running Back – Harrah
In our weekly Top Performer features, it seemed like Harrah senior running back
Nick Moore
Nick
Moore
6'0" | RB
Harrah | 2022
OK
was consistently one of the prospects listed and would keep coming up week after week. It was hard to ignore some of his performances this season as he helped carry the Harrah Panthers to the playoffs. He was one of the state’s leading rushers and was an absolute workhorse in the process. We don’t expect that to change as they try to pull off a first round upset of Clinton in the first round on Friday.
Taylor Heim
Taylor
Heim
6'4" | 185 lbs | ATH
Bethany | 2023
State
OK
– Quarterback – Bethany
We had to include Bethany junior standout
Taylor Heim
Taylor
Heim
6'4" | 185 lbs | ATH
Bethany | 2023
State
OK
in this portion of the player breakdown because he’s put up some monster numbers throwing and running the ball for Bethany this season. Bethany has a really strong senior class but they’ll still be a contender next year behind the play of their quarterback. Heim is a true dual-threat QB and has torched opponents throwing the ball and running with it. He also certainly passes the eye test, standing well over 6’0 and making plays all over the field.
Todd Mattox
Todd
Mattox
5'8" | RB
Poteau | 2022
State
OK
– Running Back – Poteau
A big reason why Poteau has to be considered one of the top contenders has been the play of their senior running back
Todd Mattox
Todd
Mattox
5'8" | RB
Poteau | 2022
State
OK
. Let’s just go back to last week in a district championship game against Broken Bow. The Pirates dominate behind Mattox running for 300+ yards and four touchdowns in the win. What’s scary is, that’s just the tip of the iceberg as Mattox is playing his best ball right now. In his last five games, Mattox has run for well over 800 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s peaking at the exact right time.
X-FACTORS
Caden Powell
Caden
Powell
6'3" | 210 lbs | LB
Clinton | 2022
State
OK
– Quarterback/Linebacker – Clinton
Clinton quarterback and linebacker
Caden Powell
Caden
Powell
6'3" | 210 lbs | LB
Clinton | 2022
State
OK
knows what it takes to lead his team to the state championship game. The senior baseball commit to Oklahoma led Clinton to a state title appearance last year as a junior and he has the traditional powerhouse right back in contention this year. It should surprise nobody that Powell is leading an offense that is absolutely dominant at running the ball and then he turns around and leads the defense at linebacker. Powell’s two-way play makes him a big X-Factor this month.
Camden Crooks
Camden
Crooks
6'0" | 190 lbs | WR
Cushing | 2023
State
OK
– Wide Receiver/Defensive Back – Cushing
Cushing junior standout
Camden Crooks
Camden
Crooks
6'0" | 190 lbs | WR
Cushing | 2023
State
OK
has continued to get better and better every time he’s stepped on the field. Since his freshman year, Crooks has been a two-way star for the Tigers and he’s hoping to lead them to an elusive state championship this fall. On offense, Crooks is one of the best wide receivers in the state and is nearly impossible to stop or even slow down. On defense, Crooks is underrated as a ball hawk defensive back. Most of the attention goes to Crooks as an offensive weapon but he’s outstanding on defense as well.
Emmanuel Crawford
Emmanuel
Crawford
5'10" | 170 lbs | RB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
– Running Back – Grove
Similar to Crooks, we first saw Grove running back
Emmanuel Crawford
Emmanuel
Crawford
5'10" | 170 lbs | RB
Grove | 2023
State
OK
after his freshman season and it was apparent to us that this kid had the chance to be pretty special. Things have finally come together and we’ve seen that breakout season from the Grove standout this fall. He’s knocking on the door of 40 touchdowns on the season and has put up well over 2,000 yards. Crawford leads a Grove team into the playoffs as district champs and he’s looking to continue to put up these monster numbers.