6A-1 Playoffs: Players To Watch

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! 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 6A-1 playoffs. To check out our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/11/class-6a-1-playoff-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6A-1 Playoff Preview, Click Here!</a> GAME CHANGERS [player_tooltip player_id="108886" first="Gavin" last="Frakes"] - Quarterback - Norman North Norman North has the tall task of going on the road and facing off with defending state champion Jenks in the first round. However, the T’Wolves will certainly not back down from the challenge and have an offense that could cause some problems for the Trojans. From the first game of the season, Norman North quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="108886" first="Gavin" last="Frakes"] has been one of the top quarterbacks in 6A-1. Whether he’s torching an opposing secondary or tucking the ball and running, he’s put up some monster numbers and will give Jenks a challenge Friday. [player_tooltip player_id="160658" first="Glenny" last="Jones"] - Athlete - Jenks Speaking of Jenks, the defending champs have several new faces that have replaced key pieces from last year’s championship team and they’ve done it flawlessly. One of those new faces is senior [player_tooltip player_id="160658" first="Glenny" last="Jones"], who stepped into Jayden Patrick’s role as the Trojan home run threat at wide receiver and a shutdown corner on defense. We watched Jones throughout the offseason and thought that this kind of breakout season was possible but now it’s all happening for the Jenks speedster. [player_tooltip player_id="38777" first="Jacobe" last="Johnson"] - Athlete - Mustang Similar to Jones at Jenks, Mustang has a two-way star with a home run threat at wide receiver and a shutdown corner on defense with junior standout [player_tooltip player_id="38777" first="Jacobe" last="Johnson"]. The Mustang star is one of the highest rated prospects in Oklahoma’s 2023 class and has played like it this season. After a sophomore season that was riddled with injuries, it’s been good to see Johnson playing at a high level once again. Before he goes off to the basketball court, where he’s also a star, Johnson is trying to help lead the Broncos to that elusive state title game. [player_tooltip player_id="101403" first="Jake" last="Clifton"] - Linebacker - Owasso The only defense-only player we have in this post is Owasso linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="101403" first="Jake" last="Clifton"]. We mentioned it with the 6A-1 playoff preview, Owasso’s defense has struggled throughout this season. However, one bright spot has been the play of Clifton, a Kansas State commit. Clifton is a great combination of size, speed and athleticism and the Owasso coaches have taken advantage of that by moving him around to various spots in the Ram defense. Whether he’s at linebacker or further back in the secondary, Clifton has made some big plays this year. [player_tooltip player_id="61133" first="Robert" last="Spears-Jennings"] - Wide Receiver - Broken Arrow Broken Arrow’s [player_tooltip player_id="61133" first="Robert" last="Spears-Jennings"], an Oklahoma defensive back commit, has been splitting time at wide receiver and defensive back for the Tigers. However, with only three potential games left in his high school career and only one is guaranteed, we expect to see Jennings on the field more than what we saw in the regular season. He’s been outstanding in his new role at defensive back this fall but he’s still one of the best wide receivers in Oklahoma and the Tigers will need that if they make a run. [player_tooltip player_id="38667" first="Talyn" last="Shettron"] - Wide Receiver - Edmond Santa Fe Sticking at the wide receiver position with arguably the most known player in the 6A-1 playoff field with Edmond Santa Fe wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="38667" first="Talyn" last="Shettron"]. A four-year starter and All American selection, Shettron has been one of the best wide receivers in Oklahoma for several years now. He was a big part of Santa Fe making it to the state championship game last year and if the Wolves are to make a return trip to UCO, Shettron will need to play like the All American he is and provide the Wolves with a massive threat on offense. [player_tooltip player_id="38675" first="Will" last="Thomas"] - Offensive Lineman - Union Our final game changer is the only lineman on this breakdown. Union offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="38675" first="Will" last="Thomas"] anchors a Union offensive line that is one of the best in the state. Behind that line, Union utilizes a rushing attack that is also one of the best in the state and this Union offense has been clicking on all cylinders. If Thomas and this Union offense continue to steamroll opponents over the next month, they’ll have a legitimate shot to raise a gold ball for the first time since winning it all in 2016. <hr /> STAT SHEET STUFFERS [player_tooltip player_id="67771" first="Antonio" last="Smith"] - Running Back - Union We mentioned it with [player_tooltip player_id="38675" first="Will" last="Thomas"] and this Union offensive line, they’re one of the best in the state. Leading the rushing attack for Union has been senior [player_tooltip player_id="67771" first="Antonio" last="Smith"]. The senior is better known as "Junior" and Junior has been lights out for Union this season. After sharing the backfield with two other running backs last year, Smith has been the workhorse back in this Union offense and has put up the numbers to represent that. For Union to make a deep run in the playoffs, Smith will have to continue that workhorse mentality for three more games. [player_tooltip player_id="45651" first="Cole" last="Adams"] - Wide Receiver - Owasso One of the best overall prospects in Oklahoma’s junior class is Owasso wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="45651" first="Cole" last="Adams"]. He’s Owasso’s leading receiver and the Rams have several legitimate weapons at that position that can make it feel sometimes crowded. Adams is the best of the best in a group that head coach Bill Blankenship describes as the best receiver group he’s ever had. With Owasso going with a new quarterback late in the regular season and into the playoffs, that new QB will look to Adams to build that chemistry during this playoff run. [player_tooltip player_id="188013" first="Demarius" last="Robinson"] - Running Back - Edmond Santa Fe Coincidentally, Edmond Santa Fe’s Damarius Robinson isn’t the only freshman on this breakdown. However, it is pretty rare for a freshman to be considered a player to watch in the state’s largest class. But this one was a no brainer after the season that Robinson had. He ran for more than 100 yards in every game he played in this season and comes into the playoffs with well over 10 touchdowns on the season. We honestly thought Santa Fe would be a pass-first team this year but the emergence of Robinson has kept them completely balanced as a unit. [player_tooltip player_id="47955" first="Jaiden" last="Carroll"] - Running Back - Jenks The first of two Jenks Trojan running backs is junior [player_tooltip player_id="47955" first="Jaiden" last="Carroll"]. The Booker T Washington transfer has fit in seamlessly with the Trojan offense and makes up one half of one of the best two-headed monsters at running back in Oklahoma. Carroll is once again a 1,000 yard rusher and that’s impressive considering who he’s sharing the Jenks backfield with. However, with these two juniors making plays in the ground game, this Jenks offense has been nearly impossible to slow down and they’re banking on that in the postseason. [player_tooltip player_id="157457" first="Jalyn" last="Stanford"] - Running Back - Jenks That other junior standout is [player_tooltip player_id="157457" first="Jalyn" last="Stanford"]. The Jenks two-way athlete also plays in the secondary on defense at safety and he is outstanding on that side of the ball. However, we can’t help but like what we see from Stanford as a running back as he comes in for Carroll and just explodes out of the backfield. While Carroll is more of a thundering running back, perhaps Stanford should be considered the lightning. The impact Stanford has on a game is outstanding when you consider what he does at running back and on defense as well. [player_tooltip player_id="38672" first="Maurion" last="Horn"] - Running Back - Broken Arrow Over the last month or so, Broken Arrow has utilized one of their best playmakers in the best way possible. Texas Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id="38672" first="Maurion" last="Horn"] is one of the best athletes in Oklahoma and is headed to Texas Tech as a defensive back commit. However, just like with Horn’s teammate in [player_tooltip player_id="61133" first="Robert" last="Spears-Jennings"], it’s hard to argue that Horn isn’t at his best at the running back position. With him at running back, Broken Arrow has dominated over the last month and Horn has put up some monster numbers on his way to helping BA lock down a first round home game. [player_tooltip player_id="200526" first="Tristen" last="Russell"] - Quarterback - Mustang Mustang has found themselves in shootout after shootout this season so if that remains the same in the playoffs, junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="200526" first="Tristen" last="Russell"] won’t be backing down any time soon. Based on his size alone, you might overlook Russell as a quarterback prospect but that would be a mistake. This junior QB can sling it all over the field, he’s tough as nails and has some legitimate playmakers around him. Russell and Mustang are no strangers to shootouts this season. But instead of another close loss, they need to finish the job in the win column. <hr /> X-FACTORS [player_tooltip player_id="38821" first="Mason" last="Willingham"] - Quarterback - Owasso Owasso appears to have fully made the move to [player_tooltip player_id="38821" first="Mason" last="Willingham"] as QB1 and that certainly makes him an X-Factor to look out for when the playoffs begin. Willingham replaced [player_tooltip player_id="51037" first="Austin" last="Havens"] in the Mustang game and over the last two and a half games, Willingham has been outstanding leading the Owasso offense. He’s 37-48 for 633 yards and 8 touchdowns with no turnovers. He’s also been an additional rushing threat for Owasso all year and in the last few weeks he also has three touchdowns on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id="38703" first="Rovaughn" last="Banks"] - Athlete - Union Union also made a move at quarterback and [player_tooltip player_id="38703" first="Rovaughn" last="Banks"] has been leading the Union attack over the last month or so. Banks joins Smith in the backfield and makes up one of the best 1-2 punches in Oklahoma, regardless of class. If Banks and this Union offense continues playing the way they played over the last month they’ll certainly have a great shot to make a trip to Edmond and play for a state title. Banks is without a doubt dangerous running the ball but he’s shown plenty of times that he can hurt you with his arm. [player_tooltip player_id="188014" first="Shaker" last="Reisig"] - Quarterback - Jenks Continuing the theme with the quarterback position, and specifically quarterbacks who replaced another QB earlier in the year. Jenks is the heavy favorite but one of their X-Factors has to be their freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="188014" first="Shaker" last="Reisig"]. He’s already considered one of the best young quarterbacks in the state but the lights are now brighter with playoff football beginning and the Trojans bleaching their hair for another potential title run. The young freshman has been nearly flawless this year but the playoffs brings a new intensity.