Week Eight Players To Watch
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Every single Thursday on Prep Redzone Oklahoma, we’ll take a look at five players that you need to know about heading into the week of games. This week, we have an outstanding mix of games in the large and small classes. And because of it, we have a few small school standouts as well as playmakers from bigger programs. Be sure to check back every Thursday for the Players To Watch feature and then again every Sunday for our Top Performers!
If you’ve been checking out Prep Redzone Oklahoma this week, you know that we’re in the middle of our 2025 ranking update. Earlier this week, we broke down some of the top running backs in the class and Wynnewood standout Caden Knighten Caden Knighten 6’1″ | 180 lbs | RB Pauls Valley | 2025 State OK is one of them. And we have had this week’s game circled since the start of the season. #9 Wynnewood hosts #3 Ringling and Knighten will face arguably the best defense he’s going to face all season. Regardless of what happens Friday night, Knighten has still been one of the top players in Class A and in the 2025 class. But if he comes out and continues to make 150-200 yards and several touchdowns look easy, against a Ringling defense that has been dominant for the last three seasons, that should turn a lot of heads around the state. The district championship will more than likely be on the line and Knighten and the Savages are ready to return to state title contention.
Highlights
At the start of the year, we wondered how Grove would do as they moved up from 4A to 5A and so far, it hasn’t been an issue as they’re unbeaten and ranked #5, getting ready for a big road test Friday night against defending champion Collinsville. The Grove offense has been one of the best in Class 5A but Friday’s game with Collinsville will be without a doubt their toughest test of the year. Leading the way once again has been senior quarterback Carson Trimble Carson Trimble 6’1″ | QB Grove | 2023 State OK , who has been great all season but he has been near perfect since the Ridgerunners entered district play. In their last four games, Trimble is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 847 yards and 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. Trimble and the Ridgerunners have been dominant in district play but they’ll have to play all four quarters to take down the state champs. Trimble has shown steady growth since his freshman season and we’re looking forward to seeing him in person again Friday.
Things continue to be wild in this Class 3A district as #6 Cascia Hall hosts #4 Bristow. Bristow beat Verdigris two weeks ago, Verdigris beat Cascia Hall last week and now the Commandos look to knock off the Pirates Friday night to create complete chaos in the district standings. And Cascia Hall, along with their senior quarterback Cooper Lai Cooper Lai 6’1″ | 180 lbs | DB Cascia Hall | 2023 State OK , will be hungry to get back in the win column this week after being shut out last week against Verdigris. Cascia was held scoreless and Verdigris linebacker Reese Roller Reese Roller 6’0″ | 210 lbs | LB Verdigris | 2023 State OK had a career night with 6 sacks and 18 tackles on the night. Lai has been one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the state’s 2023 class for a few years now and he’ll look to make another major impact this week. Lai is also a standout safety and will definitely be important this week in run support as they go up against a Bristow offense that runs the flexbone option attack. Like last week, get ready for a very physical game.
If you’re looking for a breakout player in Class 3A, look at #1 Lincoln Christian and their senior standout John Washington John Washington 5’9″ | 175 lbs | ATH Lincoln Christian | 2023 State OK . We had Washington listed as a wide receiver on the site but maybe it’s time to change his position. He’s been Lincoln Christian’s leading rusher with over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. He’s also Lincoln Christian’s second leading receiver within the offense so you can definitely make the argument that Washington’s been Lincoln’s most dynamic weapon on the offensive side of the ball. And Washington has to be excited about this week’s match-up as they welcome in #10 Stigler on Friday night. Stigler is coming off their first loss last week in a game where they gave up over 300 yards on the ground to Muldrow running back Trenden Collins Trenden Collins 6’2″ | ATH Muldrow | 2023 State OK . Lincoln Christian has one of the most balanced offenses in Class 3A and Washington could be primed for a big night Friday.
Highlights
And our final player to watch is in the top game in 6A-2 as #3 Muskogee looks to remain unbeaten as they travel to Tulsa to face #5 Booker T Washington. Leading the way for the Roughers has been sophomore quarterback Jamarian Ficklin Jamarian Ficklin 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Muskogee | 2025 State OK . But his top receiver target has been junior Kayden McGee Kayden McGee 6’1″ | WR Muskogee | 2024 State OK . The standout junior has already matched his production from last season and his touchdowns have absolutely exploded. McGee had four touchdowns last season, he has ten this year already. And in Muskogee’s first six games, McGee had at least one receiving touchdown in every game. After not getting into the end zone last week, McGee will be hungry to return there Friday night. McGee isn’t just a standout receiver, he’s also been a solid defensive back on the other side, turning into a legitimate two-way star. With a win on Friday, all signs point towards a week ten showdown with Stillwater for the district crown.