2025 Rankings – Newcomers
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It’s the month of June and we’re inching closer to the start of the 2022 football season. This month, we’re updating and upgrading our prospect rankings across the site. This week, it’s all about the 2025 class as the breakout freshmen from last season now become sophomores this fall. In case you missed our complete ranking update, you can check out the 2025 Top 50 Right Here! Throughout the week, we’ll take a look at different position groups, as well as some of the other standouts inside and just outside of this recent ranking update. Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the month of June for more ranking updates, along with a ton of prospect breakdowns. In this post, we take a look at five prospects who are not only new to the 2025 rankings, but are some of the higher ranked guys in the recent update.
Caden Knighten
Caden
Knighten
6'1" | 180 lbs | RB
Wynnewood | 2025
State
OK
– Running Back – Wynnewood
(Ranked #4 Overall)
This 2025 class already has a few running backs who have not only emerged on the scene already but have become statewide names before the end of their freshman year. One prospect that we definitely should have had in our last ranking update was Wynnewood running back Caden Knighten Caden Knighten 6'1" | 180 lbs | RB Wynnewood | 2025 State OK . What’s interesting about the 2025 class is not only the talent at running back, but that so much of it resides in small schools all over southern Oklahoma. Knighten is another example of that and all you have to do is throw on the tape and it doesn’t take much to be convinced of two things. One, he’s one of the best running backs in his class. And two, he doesn’t look like a freshman and it’s almost unfair in some plays. Knighten is definitely going to be one of the top prospects in this class.
Nate Roberts
Nate
Roberts
6'4" | 235 lbs | TE
Washington | 2025
State
OK
– Tight End – Washington
(Ranked #7 Overall)
Another small town standout is Washington tight end Nate Roberts Nate Roberts 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Washington | 2025 State OK , who was one of the best freshman prospects we saw during the 2021 football season. Not only is Roberts already one of the top guys in his class, but Washington has some serious talent coming back around him and this is a team that we’ve been pretty vocal about this offseason when it comes to the Class 2A championship race. Roberts already has the size and he’s turning into a very versatile athlete. In the last month, he’s been offered by North Texas and that should be just the beginning for this small school standout. With Washington being one of the top teams in the state this fall, we’re looking forward to seeing more of Roberts in person in some of the biggest 2A games of the year.
Billy McDown
Billy
McDown
6'1" | 170 lbs | WR
Edmond Memorial | 2025
State
OK
– Athlete – Carl Albert
(Ranked #8 Overall)
It should come as no surprise that blue blood Carl Albert has a few players within the recent ranking update and two are within the top ten. One of them is athlete Billy McDown Billy McDown 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Edmond Memorial | 2025 State OK , who the Carl Albert coaches believe can not only play multiple positions, but that he can play any of them at a high level. The ceiling as a prospect is through the roof at this point, especially when those same coaches are comparing McDown to former Carl Albert legend Daytawion Lowe, who signed with Oklahoma State a little over a decade ago. McDown’s versatility is obviously a big plus but at this point, he does look like a defensive prospect in the future. He’s just one of many young and talented players that has Carl Albert right back at the top of Class 5A heading into the new season.
Jaden Nickens
Jaden
Nickens
6'4" | WR
Douglass | 2025
State
OK
– Athlete – Millwood
(Ranked #15 Overall)
Without a doubt one of the toughest prospects to rank in this recent update was Millwood athlete Jaden Nickens Jaden Nickens 6'4" | WR Douglass | 2025 State OK . On one hand, you have a prospect who’s already picked up several D1 offers within the last month. On the other hand, you have a prospect who’s never played a single game at the varsity level. Nickens is already considered the top basketball prospect in the state’s 2025 class. This spring, he’s joined the Millwood football team at wide receiver and defensive back. And before he’s even played in a game, he’s already been offered by several FBS programs in Texas. We know what kind of athlete Nickens is from watching him on the basketball floor but we obviously want to see more of him with the pads on before vaulting him up to the elite of the elite.
Justus Gilliam
Justus
Gilliam
6'1" | 250 lbs | OL
Sulphur | 2025
State
OK
– Offensive/Defensive Lineman – Plainview
(Ranked #16 Overall)
The offensive line group within the 2025 class already has some very promising young prospects. And one that we cannot wait to see more of in the near future is Plainview offensive and defensive lineman Justus Gilliam Justus Gilliam 6'1" | 250 lbs | OL Sulphur | 2025 State OK . The coaches close to Gilliam, who see and work with him almost every day are very high on him and his potential moving forward. And the coaches that we’re mentioning are very knowledgeable, especially when it comes to play on the line of scrimmage. Gilliam started last year for the Indians and while he doesn’t already have the prototypical size for an offensive lineman, there is still plenty of room to grow in the next three seasons. Gilliam also was a standout on the wrestling mat so you know he knows how to be physical.