2023 Rankings: Rare Newcomers

<!-- 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 latest and final 2023 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/updated-2023-oklahoma-rankings-6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 250 for the state's 2023 class</a></strong>. Throughout the week, we'll be breaking down prospects throughout the rankings. From stock risers and newcomers to breakdowns by positions, it will be a busy week! So keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more on the 2023 class. In this post, we're putting a spotlight on five prospects that were newcomers to the rankings. Several enjoyed breakout 2022 seasons and others should have been on the radar for a while and just slipped through the cracks. Like we always say, rankings are never perfect and there are a few players here that definitely should have been featured prior to this week's update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["379234"],"_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":"Fairview tight end [player_tooltip player_id='379234' first='Austin' last='Houk'] was a key part of their undefeated team that captured the Class A state championship. Houk was also a standout on the defensive line as a defensive end but his future appears to be on the offensive side of the ball as a tight end. Houk has signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State and while he could probably play on either side of the ball, SWOSU seems to like him for what he can do on the offensive side at tight end. Houk has been very productive over the last few seasons and one thing that his high school coaches pointed out about him was his IQ. He was arguably the smartest player on the team and he rarely made mistakes as Fairview made their march towards a state championship. Houk was a very productive player at the high school level and we're interested to see if he can match that production on offense at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["520514"],"_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":"One of the more underrated parts of the 2022 football season were how some prospects had to find new high school homes as their former schools wouldn't be able to field a football team. That was the case for running back [player_tooltip player_id='520514' first='Blaze' last='Baugh'] after Talihina wasn't going to play football in 2022. He would land at McAlester, where they would fall to Carl Albert in the state championship game. The Titans had a few players who moved to the district after their former school also folded on the 2022 football season. But for Baugh, he stepped into a situation where he was a backup to a star in [player_tooltip player_id='91049' first='Erik' last='McCarty']. He played in various moments throughout the season but when McCarty went down with a season-ending injury in the playoffs, Baugh would step up in a big way. He was an absolute star for the Buffaloes and did enough to earn a spot among some of the better running backs.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["625274"],"_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":"This is where you just put your hand up and say you messed up on a previous ranking update. There is absolutely zero reason why Ardmore linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='625274' first='Eric' last='Fields'] shouldn't have been in the last update in October. Honestly, he should have been in the update over the summer in June. But nevertheless, Fields has clearly established himself as one of the best prospects at his position. And when you look at the 2023 class as a whole, you can make the argument that the linebacker position was the deepest position in the class because there was talent everywhere. Fields had a really good career at Ardmore and did a lot of things for the Tigers, showcasing his versatility. During his senior year, Fields also established himself as a power five prospect because they eventually came calling and he would eventually narrow it down and sign with Nebraska back in December.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["200406"],"_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":"As mentioned with Fields from Ardmore, there wasn't a position group that was deeper than linebacker within the state's 2023 class. There were outstanding linebackers everywhere across the state and Mannford linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='200406' first='Jake' last='Moore'] is another example of that. A hard-hitting backer that can run around make plays, Moore established himself as one of the better guys in this class during his senior season when he was one of the best linebackers in Class 3A during the 2022 season. Moore would eventually be recruited at the D1 level and would commit and sign with Navy. Moore is another example of a prospect that flew under the radar until his senior season and his production definitely opened up some eyes. Moore is yet another example of how talented the linebacker group was in Oklahoma's 2023 class.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["407340"],"_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":"Kickers have always and will continue to be the hardest position to rank. Lawton kicker [player_tooltip player_id='407340' first='Joseph' last='Kim'] was one of the best kickers in the state during the 2022 season and has definitely emerged as a legitimate D1 prospect over the last two months with multiple offers during that time frame. However, how do you compare a really good kicker to different positions? That question is always a tough one when it comes to the ranking updates. But when it comes to Kim, he's established himself as the top-rated kicker in the state and as Signing Day comes and goes, Kim is still available but he should be able to sign on the dotted line at some point in the next month or so. Kim was incredibly accurate as a field goal kicker and a weapon in kick offs. He routinely put ball after ball into the end zone and Lawton's kick off team rarely had to worry about kickoff coverage.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63dafcec92be1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->