6A-1 State – Union Players To Watch
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The Class 6A-D1 state championship is set for 1PM on December 4th at UCO. Defending champion and top-ranked Jenks is once again in the championship game and they’ll see a familiar face on the other sideline. Rival and second-ranked Union will attempt to dethrone the Trojans and capture the gold ball. Prep Redzone Oklahoma will have the most in-depth championship preview and state title game content that you will find anywhere! In this post, we take a look at the players you need to know about for the Redhawks going into the title game!
Antonio Smith
Antonio
Smith
6'0" | 180 lbs | RB
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Running Back
It was obvious if you saw
Antonio Smith
Antonio
Smith
6'0" | 180 lbs | RB
Union | 2022
State
OK
last season that the running back known as “Junior” would have a breakout season this year after AJ Green graduated. He comes into the state title game as Union’s leading rusher with over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. The combination of Smith and senior quarterback
Rovaughn Banks
Rovaughn
Banks
5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH
Union | 2022
State
OK
has been a nightmare for teams when it comes to stopping the run but they’ll be tested by a strong front seven from Jenks on Saturday afternoon.
Braylen Irvin-Fisher
Braylen
Irvin-Fisher
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
Union | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Linebacker
If you’ve been following our coverage in the offseason, you’ve read plenty about Union junior linebacker
Braylen Irvin-Fisher
Braylen
Irvin-Fisher
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
Union | 2023
State
OK
. For the last two offseasons, Fisher has been one of the most consistent players that we’ve seen on the 7v7 circuit. However, during the high school season, Fisher is used on defense at linebacker and he’s had a breakout season on the defensive side of the ball. We can’t help but wonder what Fisher would look like on both sides of the ball but he’s had a strong season on defense.
Da’Monn Sanders
Da’Monn
Sanders
6'3" | TE
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Tight End
Union needed a couple weapons in the receiving game to go with two stars in the running game. Even though Union would primarily run the football this year, they would eventually throw the ball every now and then. Union had a couple tight ends that they would utilize this season but the standout ended up being senior
Da’Monn Sanders
Da’Monn
Sanders
6'3" | TE
Union | 2022
State
OK
. The senior would tie for first with the most receptions on the team and would be a big target for the Union passing game as well as an extension of the O-line when running the ball.
De’Marion Thomas
De’Marion
Thomas
6'4" | 340 lbs | DL
Union | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Offensive/Defensive Lineman
We knew Union junior defensive lineman
De’Marion Thomas
De’Marion
Thomas
6'4" | 340 lbs | DL
Union | 2023
State
OK
was one of the best defensive lineman prospects in the state’s 2023 class but we were pleasantly surprised to find out early on this season that he would be playing on both sides of the ball. Thomas would add even more strength and size to a stacked Union offensive line. So now we aren’t 100 percent sure what side of the ball he’ll play at the next level, but we know that he’s an absolute wrecking ball on either side and is only getting better.
Gabe Ford
Gabe
Ford
5'10" | 220 lbs | LB
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Linebacker
One of the top defensive players for Union this season and last year has been senior linebacker
Gabe Ford
Gabe
Ford
5'10" | 220 lbs | LB
Union | 2022
State
OK
. Similar to a few other players in this match-up, Ford has somewhat been under the radar and underrated as a prospect for the next level but there’s no doubt that he’s had a massive impact on this Union defense. With Union going up against a Jenks team that wants to run the ball, Ford and the Union front seven will do whatever they can to slow them down and limit the big plays on Saturday.
Jayden Rowe
Jayden
Rowe
6'2" | DB
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Back/Athlete
One of the top prospects in Oklahoma this season is Union standout
Jayden Rowe
Jayden
Rowe
6'2" | DB
Union | 2022
State
OK
. Already committed to Oklahoma, Rowe is a top ten prospect and Union utilizes him in a variety of ways. He’s headed to Norman, continuing the pipeline of Union DB’s to Norman but Union has used him on offense and in special teams this year. Rowe has caught a touchdown and also ran for three touchdowns. Union has certainly put Rowe in a position to use his rare combination of speed and size.
Jino Boyd
Jino
Boyd
6'0" | WR
Union | 2024
State
OK
– 2024 Wide Receiver
We saw Union’s
Jino Boyd
Jino
Boyd
6'0" | WR
Union | 2024
State
OK
throughout the offseason playing 7v7 and you could tell that the young receiver would have a chance to be an explosive weapon for this Union offense. Even with Union wanting to primarily run the ball, they would need weapons at receiver and they got it with a breakout season from Boyd. The sophomore would end up being Union’s leading receiver with 540 yards and seven touchdowns, including what would be the game-winning touchdown in the semifinal win over Broken Arrow.
Makhai Belt
Makhai
Belt
5'10" | WR
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Back
One of the most versatile weapons that Union has had over the last several seasons has been Union senior
Makhai Belt
Makhai
Belt
5'10" | WR
Union | 2022
State
OK
. Wherever they’ve needed to put Belt, he’s answered the call and played incredibly well. This year, Belt has been used primarily on the defensive side of the ball and will look to have a big game on Saturday with the state championship on the line. Belt has been such a big part of Union’s success over the last season and is hoping to finish out his career with a state championship.
Rovaughn Banks
Rovaughn
Banks
5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Quarterback
For the second straight year,
Rovaughn Banks
Rovaughn
Banks
5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH
Union | 2022
State
OK
has done whatever the team needed him to do and it’s paid off with a lengthy playoff run. This year, Banks came into the season as a running back and would be a two-headed monster with Smith in the Union backfield. However, when Grayson Tempest went down with an injury, Banks went back to quarterback and the offense has not missed a step. Banks has over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns passing with nearly 900 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing.
Will Thomas
Will
Thomas
6'7" | 305 lbs | OL
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Offensive Lineman
Coming into this season, we wrote quite a bit about Union’s offensive line as a unit combined with the talent at the running back position. A big reason, no pun intended, was the return of offensive lineman
Will Thomas
Will
Thomas
6'7" | 305 lbs | OL
Union | 2022
State
OK
at the left tackle position. In our opinion, Thomas is one of the best offensive lineman prospects in the state’s 2022 class and having him back, anchoring a talented and big offensive line was something to watch out for. Thomas and Union’s O-Line have a tough battle against Jenks’ defensive front.
OTHER NAMES TO KNOW
– Jackson Jennings – 2022 Defensive Lineman
–
Lane Wood
Lane
Wood
6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH
Union | 2024
State
OK
– 2024 Tight End
–
Matthias Roberson
Matthias
Roberson
6'2" | DL
Union | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Lineman
– TJ Cowan – 2022 Kicker