2026 Standouts Pt. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting this week and throughout the month of October, we're updating our prospect rankings across the site. This week, we kicked off the ranking update with the <strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2026-rankings/" target="_blank">2026 class</a></strong>. Now, we did not do rankings for the current freshman class and this is just a watch list. The first rankings for the 2026 class will come out in January when these prospects have a full season of work under their belt. But in this post, we take a look at five more 2026 prospects that not only have found their way to the field, but they've made an instant impact at a young age. As you see, this is part two. In case you missed it, you can check out <strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/2026-standouts-pt-1/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/2026-standouts-pt-1/" target="_blank">Part One Right Here</a></strong>. Keep it locked in each week as we release a new ranking update every Monday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483bbfdda58","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467141"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Our first 2026 standout is Pocola wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='467141' first='Brayden' last='Hardwick']. Pocola is a Class A program that we're very high on moving forward. The majority of their playmakers will be back next season and for Hardwick, he still has three years ahead of him. Hardwick has made plays on offense as a wide receiver and he's also proven that he can be a ball hawk as a defensive back. Pocola has moved him around from playing safety to corner and right now, it looks like the majority of his plays come from the safety position. But it's good to see that Hardwick is already showing the ability to be moved around and play a variety of plays. He reminds us of fellow 2026 prospect and fellow southeastern Oklahoma standout [player_tooltip player_id='467406' first='Mackylan' last='Dixon'], who we featured in u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/2026-standouts-pt-1/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022URLu0022 data-id=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/2026-standouts-pt-1/u0022u003ePart Oneu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e earlier in the week. Like Dixon, Hardwick has a high ceiling and it's been fun to see so much production from a young standout.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6501d2ff66b27"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483bd6dda59","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["414994"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We knew about several 2026 prospects heading into the season, but the very first 2026 prospect that we got a chance to see in person was Bixby linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='414994' first='Cord' last='Nolan']. In the season opener against Owasso, Nolan had a big impact for the Spartans on the defensive side of the ball and on a team full of seniors and juniors, Nolan earned his way into major playing time early on in the season. Bixby coaches are incredibly excited about the future for Nolan and how could you not be? Think about the program as Bixby is currently on the greatest stretch that we've seen from an 11-man program in Oklahoma with 55 straight wins. Nolan is trusted enough as a freshman to play significant minutes in a big game against Owasso, in front of more than 20,000 fans. We're excited to see more of Nolan as he's one of the true defensive standouts from the 2026 class early on in the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6501d2ff66b75"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483beddda5a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["424595"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We mentioned with Nolan from Bixby how we knew about several 2026 prospects heading into the 2022 season and here's an example of one of them. Before the season, we talked with coaches at Vian and they were very excited about the potential for freshman running back and overall athlete [player_tooltip player_id='424595' first='Masyn' last='Wright'] on both sides of the ball. Having a breakout player like Wright on the offensive side of the ball was going to allow Vian to get more creative with senior playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='199075' first='DeSean' last='Mays'], moving him from running back to wide receiver and to other positions. Wright has been very productive throughout the season already. And like a few of the other prospects on this list, it seems like Wright is an early favorite to be ranked relatively high when the first rankings come out in January. After hearing about Wright back in August, it's apparent that he's backed up the preseason hype.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6501d2ff66bcb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483c06dda5b","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467410"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Out of the five prospects on this list, Stillwater's [player_tooltip player_id='467410' first='Nehemiah' last='Kolone'] is the lone prospect that is not nearly as experienced at the varsity level. But just remember the name because this kid has the chance to be pretty special. He's listed as an offensive and defensive lineman. He's already 6'3 and looks the part in all of his freshman game highlights. In fact, he's similar to a few other 2026 prospects that are just flat out dominating their opponents at the freshman level. We're looking forward to seeing more of Kolone when he gets to the varsity level and he doesn't have such a size advantage. But right now, we think that he has the chance to play either side of the ball and make an immediate impact for the Pioneers when he gets there. Stillwater is very excited about their 2026 and 2027 classes so there's reason to think that the Pioneers will be the team to beat in 6A-2 for the next four years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6501d2ff66c2d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483c1cdda5c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467408"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Earlier this season, we got a chance to see Sand Springs in person during one of their early district games. Before the game, we talked with Sandite head coach Bobby Klinck about offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='467408' first='Ryley' last='Kester']. He told us the story of how Kester had to wait until school was over before he could join the team for spring practice back in May. And on the first day he joined the team, it was obvious that Kester would be one of the starting linemen for the Sandites this fall. Kester plays with a mean streak and attacks his opponents like you simply just don't see at that age. There's a few standout offensive linemen in the 2026 class but as of right now, it's hard to say that anyone is on top of the list above Kester. Granted, we're not doing official rankings until the season is over and we'll update it in January. But as of right now, it's hard to see any other offensive lineman in the number one spot above Kester.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6501d2ff66c6d"} /-->