Verdigris Team Camp Report – Part One
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Prep Redzone Oklahoma is all about team camps over the next ten days! We got our camp tour started on Wednesday evening in Choctaw (check out our camp report RIGHT HERE) and we continued in Verdigris on Thursday morning. The Cardinals hosted Beggs, Catoosa, Coweta, Hilldale, Kiefer Pryor and Wagoner. We got a good look at some prospects that we know plenty about, as well as some prospects that we were seeing for the first time and even a few new names that have some potential to be breakout players this fall. In this post, we take a look at some of the top names that stood out to us on a rainy evening in Choctaw. Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma this week as we continue our camp tour at Verdigris and Noble on Thursday. Followed by Owasso and Claremore on Friday!
Carson Laverty Carson Laverty 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Coweta | 2023 State OK – 2023 Quarterback – Coweta
It was our first opportunity to see 2023 quarterback Carson Laverty Carson Laverty 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Coweta | 2023 State OK with his new team as he takes over the reigns at Coweta. After starting the last few years at Putnam City North, Laverty is now at Coweta and is looking to lead the Tigers to new heights in 2022. As a quarterback, Laverty absolutely flourished throughout the morning in Verdigris. In my opinion, he was the best quarterback in attendance and did a really good job throwing it all over the yard and also had great pocket awareness and knew when to keep a play alive by scrambling. It looked like Laverty has picked up the offense incredibly fast and he looks comfortable back there. Quarterback was going to be a big question after the graduation of Gage Hamm Gage Hamm 6'4" | QB Coweta | 2022 State OK but the Tigers look solid in that department as we go into the summer.
Deandre Hamilton Deandre Hamilton 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Catoosa | 2025 State OK – 2025 Wide Receiver – Catoosa
One thing that we did this offseason was a “Friday Film Review” series where we took a look at prospects all over the state. One of the names we evaluated was Catoosa 2025 standout Deandre Hamilton Deandre Hamilton 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Catoosa | 2025 State OK . His freshman film was full of plays made on both sides of the ball and on Thursday, we got a chance to see him in person and see what he could do specifically at the wide receiver position. Hamilton is a potential breakout star in Class 4A when it comes to the wide receiver position and he appears to be primed to have a breakout season. He certainly looks the part physically already and the playmaking ability is there. If you’re looking for a dark horse in Class 4A this fall to potentially make a run, we’ll start that conversation with Catoosa as they bring back some serious talent.
Eric Virgil Eric Virgil 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Hilldale | 2023 State OK – 2023 Running Back – Hilldale
While Carson Laverty Carson Laverty 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Coweta | 2023 State OK was the best quarterback we saw at the camp on Thursday, the award for running back, while it’s very competitive, might go to Hilldale’s 2023 running back Eric Virgil Eric Virgil 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Hilldale | 2023 State OK . He had a breakout sophomore season and followed that up with another good year last year. And on Thursday, he was showcasing several different skills that makes him one of the top running backs in the state. His vision was strong as he would know exactly when to make the right cut and avoid several defenders. The speed and lateral quickness is there but Virgil is incredibly strong. He has the ability to be a runner in between the tackles and can lower the shoulder and deliver some punishment. We like Virgil as a prospect in an absolutely loaded 2023 running back class in Oklahoma.
Evan Keefe Evan Keefe 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Hilldale | 2023 State OK – 2023 Defensive Lineman – Hilldale
Staying with Hilldale for our next camp standout with 2023 lineman Evan Keefe Evan Keefe 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Hilldale | 2023 State OK . The Hilldale offensive and defensive lineman has been on our radar since the end of his freshman year and he’s done nothing but continue to impress over the last few years. For a while, we weren’t sure what he was as a prospect in terms of which side of the line of scrimmage but we’re starting to like him more and more as a defensive lineman. On Thursday, Keefe was an absolute wrecking ball and he commanded opponents to double team him or they were going to be in trouble. We’ve been writing about Keefe really since the start of this site in 2020 and it’s good to see that his recruitment has taken off in the last few months and that should only continue over the next few months.
Mason Ford Mason Ford 5'11" | DB Coweta | 2023 State OK – 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back – Coweta
A prospect that we’ve definitely benefitted from seeing play 7v7 for three years now is Coweta’s 2023 standout Mason Ford Mason Ford 5'11" | DB Coweta | 2023 State OK . There is no doubt when you watch Ford on Friday nights in Coweta that he is one of the best athletes on the field but in my opinion, he’s also one of the best lockdown corners in the state. That part doesn’t get enough pub across the state and I understand why when you look at the numbers he puts up on offense. But on Thursday, Ford was showing once again why he’s going to be one of the better two-way players in Class 5A this fall. On offense, he was a dynamic player after the catch. And on defense, time after time he was locking up an opposing wide receiver. His cover skills are outstanding and he deserves more attention at cornerback.
Red Martel Red Martel 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Beggs | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Beggs
We’ve known that Beggs 2024 running back Red Martel Red Martel 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Beggs | 2024 State OK was one of the top 2024 prospects in Oklahoma and after seeing him again on Thursday, we are even more excited about the potential there. Martel not only took reps at running back, but he would line up at wide receiver and then flipped to defense and lined up as a cornerback. Martel is an incredibly physical running back and after seeing Martel a few times this offseason, we’re more impressed about the potential here. Martel has trimmed up and kept his strength and speed. He looks even quicker and was once again one of the better offensive weapons throughout the camp but the ceiling on him appears to be even higher because of the versatility that he’s shown at the other positions.
Reese Roller Reese Roller 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Verdigris | 2023 State OK – 2023 Linebacker – Verdigris
It’s hard to argue that there has been a more productive linebacker than Reese Roller Reese Roller 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Verdigris | 2023 State OK in Oklahoma over the last two years. The Verdigris 2023 prospect had a breakout season as a sophomore and completely backed that up with another strong junior season. We’re expecting him to once again be near the top of the charts in sacks this fall as the Cardinals bring back nearly everyone on both sides of the ball. Roller was once again causing serious problems for opposing offensive linemen who had to try and stay in front of him. It didn’t matter what technique they had. Roller could beat them in a variety of ways. The only thing limiting Roller’s recruitment at the moment is questions about his size. But in my mind, there haven’t been many linebackers better than Roller over the last few years.
Russel Dugger Russel Dugger 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Catoosa | 2023 State OK – 2023 Quarterback – Catoosa
As we mentioned with Hamilton above, I think that Catoosa is going to be one of the more surprising teams as we go into the 2022 season. We like the offense a lot and as Catoosa goes into year two under head coach Christian Hood, they have some serious talent on that side of the ball. Pulling the trigger at quarterback is 2023 QB Russel Dugger Russel Dugger 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Catoosa | 2023 State OK . We got a chance to see Dugger this offseason while playing 7v7 but it’s obviously a little different with the pads come on and they go against a live rush. Dugger still looked impressive on Thursday and while there is room for improvement, we like Dugger to be one of the top quarterbacks in Class 4A this fall. And with some of the weapons around him, Catoosa could have one of the better offenses in 4A football.
Ryan Grayson Ryan Grayson 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Beggs | 2025 State OK – 2025 Defensive Back – Beggs
One of the absolute best freshmen in Oklahoma last season was Beggs two-way star Ryan Grayson Ryan Grayson 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Beggs | 2025 State OK . On offense, Grayson was the third running back and still put up respectable numbers. On defense, Grayson was a lockdown defensive back that finished with nearly ten interceptions. As a freshman. There’s no doubt that Grayson is a special talent and we’re still on the fence on what side of the ball is his natural fit for the next level but fortunately we have plenty of time. However, on Thursday, it was hard to argue that he’s anything other than a dynamic cornerback that can absolutely take away half of the field. Beggs just continues to put out not only talent but talent at a high level. We are updating the 2025 rankings in June and right now, it’s hard to argue Grayson isn’t in the top spot.
Witt Edwards Witt Edwards 6'6" | 200 lbs | WR Wagoner | 2024 State OK – 2024 Wide Receiver – Wagoner
A 2024 prospect that we’re very excited about is Wagoner wide receiver Witt Edwards Witt Edwards 6'6" | 200 lbs | WR Wagoner | 2024 State OK . The tall wide receiver just looks the part physically and could end up transitioning into a tight end when it comes to the next level. At 6’5, he has the frame to put on the weight and muscle and be an absolute match-up nightmare at the tight end position. But that’s for the future. Right now, Edwards was one of the top offensive playmakers on Thursday and also turned around and lined up at safety. At 6’5, he’s an incredibly physical talent and seeing him roaming around the secondary at safety definitely makes wide receivers keep their head on a swivel. Edwards is still raw in some areas but the ball skills are there, the size is there and Edwards could have a breakout year this fall.