6A-2 State: Choctaw Players To Watch

<!-- 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>The Class 6A-2 state championship game is set for Friday afternoon at 1PM in Edmond as #1 Stillwater will face off with #2 Choctaw. These two teams have essentially been #1 and #2 all season and have been destined for a showdown in the title game. In this post, we're taking a look at some of the Choctaw Yellowjackets that you need to know about heading into Friday afternoon's game. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 6A-2 state championship content before, during and following the game on Friday afternoon!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211559"],"_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":"Better known around Choctaw as u0022JuJuu0022, Yellowjacket 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='211559' first='Deshawn' last='Smith'] has been a lightning rod for the Choctaw offense this season. Smith enjoyed a breakout season last year as a freshman and he's only improved coming into this season. Smith has become the leading receiver this year and does a variety of things incredibly well within the Choctaw offense. First, he becomes an extension of the run game when he takes quick screen passes on the outside and makes something happen with them. He can also turn around and stretch the defense and put pressure on the opponent's secondary. A common theme here is going to be the efficiency that the Yellowjackets have shown on offense and Smith, despite being just a sophomore, is a big part of that.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["98176"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"If we were ranking prospects in Oklahoma's 2023 class who are criminally underrated, Choctaw running back [player_tooltip player_id='98176' first='La'Trell' last='Ray'] would be pretty high up there. The Choctaw running back has been outstanding for the Yellowjackets for several seasons and he's arguably the most versatile player within Choctaw's offense. Not only is Ray the leading rusher and has racked up big numbers in the pass game, Ray is also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. But like some of the state's best players, what makes Ray a player to watch is what he can do in Choctaw's biggest games. When we checked out the Yellowjackets this season against district foe Deer Creek, Ray was arguably the best player on Choctaw's offense and he'll look to have that kind of impact on Friday.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["51854"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"There might not be another player in the state that benefitted more from a position change this season than Choctaw senior [player_tooltip player_id='51854' first='RJ' last='Jackson']. When we first saw Jackson, he was a tight end that showed a ton of promise in terms of his physical abilities and that was when he was a sophomore. Fast forward to this season, and Jackson moved to the defensive side of the ball and instead of being a quarterback's security blanket, he is causing big problems for quarterbacks that go up against the Yellowjackets. Choctaw was looking to find someone to replace the production lost by the graduation of DeSean Brown, who is now at Oklahoma State. They found it with Jackson, who leads the team in sacks by a good margin. Jackson's recruiting stock should sky rocket in the next month.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["38780"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Leading Choctaw's efficient and high-scoring offense is three-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='38780' first='Steele' last='Wasel'] at quarterback. The Akron commit has been one of the best quarterbacks in the state since he led the Yellowjackets to the state championship game two years ago. Now he's back to finish the job and go out with a state championship. Wasel is incredibly accurate with the ball and he has grown so much as a passer in the last three years. In addition to having outstanding arm talent, Wasel is also a student of the game and spends so much time in the offseason training and studying the quarterback position. This championship features two outstanding quarterbacks and Wasel is looking to show that when it comes to the state's senior class, there's a reason he's been the top dog.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["291011"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"We've been writing about Choctaw 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='291011' first='Will' last='Smith'] for nearly a year now. The story is very simple. We saw Smith on a basketball being an absolute freak of an athlete and saw the raw athleticism that can translate to the football field. Fast forward to this week and Smith has been a very important part to what the Yellowjackets do. They don't get cute with how they use Smith and his freaky athleticism. They use him on offense, they use him on defense and the sky is the limit for Smith as a prospect. As he continues to grow into his role with the team, Smith could truly emerge as one of the top defensive athletes in the state's 2024 class. Don't overlook what he can do on offense as well where his blocking and physicality have been off the charts.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638575b6eaf55"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor Stover - 2023 Tight End</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton Costa - 2024 Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tommy Yousey - 2023 Kicker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->