Muskogee Roughers OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Muskogee Roughers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Muskogee Roughers&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #1<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: T2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a difference a year makes. At this time last season, the Roughers were flying under the radar following a 2-8 season in 2021. And while we thought that Muskogee was primed for a breakout season in 2022, even we can't take credit for how great the Roughers looked. Despite the 2-8 record in 2021, the Roughers came into last season as the #4 ranked team in our preseason rankings and they immediately backed it up, going 10-2 with the only losses coming to the two teams who played for the state championship in Edmond. Fast forward to the present and the Roughers are now coming into the season with the #1 ranking next to their name and with that, the target will grow larger. The two teams that beat them (Choctaw and Stillwater) join them at the top of the rankings but Muskogee brings back practically everyone from last year's team, including arguably the top quarterback in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eight starters return on the offensive side of the ball, led by a dynamic junior quarterback, who enjoyed a breakout season last fall. But more on him in just a bit. And he's not alone on that side of the ball. The Roughers bring back the majority of the production at the skill positions and four out of five starting offensive linemen. And that group was one that we focused on when we watched Muskogee in the spring. They are one of the better units as we head into the 2023 season. We think Muskogee's offense could end up being one of the more efficient and productive units as a whole this fall. The Roughers turn around and also bring back seven starters on the defensive side of the ball. They will need to find a few new names in the secondary but no area of this defense has any glaring weaknesses. The Roughers are set up to contend for the state championship. The target is rather large as we head into this fall but Muskogee is ready for a potential run to Edmond.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (10-2 Record - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Enid 28-26<br>Sept. 2 - Beat Putnam City 47-3<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Carl Albert 35-28<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Sand Springs 48-26<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Putnam City West 61-0<br>Oct. 7 - Beat US Grant 66-0<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Tahlequah 48-13<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Booker T Washington 30-6<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Bartlesville 61-28<br>Nov. 3 - Lost To Stillwater 38-21<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Ponca City 18-0<br>Semifinals - Lost To Choctaw 45-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandon Tolbert - Running Back<br>Jase Garrett - Offensive Lineman<br>Jayden Bell - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202153"],"_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":"Muskogee's 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='202153' first='Anthony' last='Watson'] is one of the more underrated prospects in the state's 2024 class. He's the perfect example of a prospect that might be categorized as a “tweener” when it comes to his size but just throw on the film and watch the production. On offense, he's the security blanket of the Muskogee passing attack at the tight end position. On defense, Watson is a relentless pass rusher that creates so many problems for opposing offenses. We've watched Watson quite a bit over the last 18 months while playing 7v7 and then with the Roughers and he seems to always produce at a very high level. We think that he will once again be one of the top two-way players in the state this fall and the sky's the limit for the impact he can have.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["211556"],"_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":"We mentioned that dynamic quarterback earlier in the preview. 2025 lefty [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] has absolutely exploded over the last 18 months. From the first time we saw him in person when he was playing cornerback in 7v7 to what he is now, which is a legitimate contender for the top quarterback prospect in the state's 2025 class. Ficklin has quickly become one of the top quarterbacks in the state and he goes into this season with just as much momentum and confidence as any other quarterback in Oklahoma. Last year was an outstanding season for him and he certainly has the chance to exceed all expectations once again this fall. Last season, he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns and he has taken his game to another level since then.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["129399"],"_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":"We don't think another publication has written more about Muskogee 2024 star [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] than us over the last two years. McGee has been one of the top playmakers for Sooner 7 during the offseason so we've gotten a chance to see him up close quite a bit. Last year, he put everything together as he became one of the top wide receivers in Class 6A-2 and even showed he can become a D1 prospect on the defensive side of the ball. The 2024 star led Muskogee in receiving with over 700 yards and 14 touchdowns. What's wild is he only had 37 receptions on the season. He averaged a touchdown somewhere between two and three catches on the year. It goes without saying, but the Ficklin to McGee duo is arguably the best and most productive QB-WR duos in the state, regardless of class.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["360246"],"_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":"We mentioned the Muskogee offensive line and how dominant they certainly can be this fall. 2024 lineman [player_tooltip player_id='360246' first='Wesley' last='Harvey'] anchors the line at left tackle and he has continued to impress us year after year with his growth. He was first on our radar as a sophomore and then elevated his game to a new level during his junior season. Now, as he gets ready for his senior campaign, he has truly become one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the state's 2024 class. The potential has always been here for Harvey, who has an outstanding frame and the work ethic to go along with it. He was dominant this spring at a camp that we watched him participate in and he's going to set the tone for a Muskogee offense that could be one of the higher scoring units in the state.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649fb6b13cf77"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='268372' first='Deyonn' last='Bowler'] - 2024 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='655698' first='Jayden' last='Swanson'] - 2024 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='598826' first='Ondraye' last='Beasley'] - 2025 Running Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='154218' first='Teyon' last='Brewer'] - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1097259' first='Vernon' last='Pepiakitah'] - 2024 Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25 - Enid<br>Sept. 1 - AT Putnam City<br><strong>Sept. 8 - Carl Albert<br></strong>- Anytime you have a top-ranked team facing another top-ranked team, it's going to grab headlines and be one of the games that you have to circle on the calendar. That's what we have here as the Roughers play host to 5A's #1 and defending champion Carl Albert. The Titans are absolutely loaded for another stellar season and the Roughers will welcome them into Rougher Village in week two. Muskogee beat Carl Albert on the road last year behind a spectacular performance from [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'].&nbsp;<br>Sept. 22 - Sand Springs<br>Sept. 29 - AT Putnam City West<br>Oct. 6 - US Grant<br>Oct. 13 - AT Tahlequah<br><strong>Oct. 19 - Booker T Washington<br></strong>- The Roughers finish up the 2023 regular season with three out of four games away from home. The one game in front of the home fans will be an important one in week eight as the Roughers host Booker T Washington. Both teams have two of the best offensive line units in the state, regardless of class. So if you're a fan of play along the line of scrimmage, this is the game for you. The Roughers beat the Hornets 30-6 last season and they'll look to make it two in a row in the series against Booker T.&nbsp;<br>Oct. 27 - AT Bartlesville<br><strong>Nov. 3 - AT Stillwater<br></strong>- Just like last season, all signs point towards Muskogee and Stillwater squaring off in week ten with the district championship on the line. Last year, both teams were unbeaten going into the final week of the season and the Pioneers got the best of the Roughers, before finishing off the perfect season with a state championship. This year, Stillwater has what Muskogee wants and that's the gold ball. Before they can worry about that, they need to capture the district crown and they'll have to do it on the road.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're not ones to pat ourselves on the back very often because we say plenty of things that are wrong. But one of the things that we absolutely nailed was around this time last year. We said Muskogee was going to go from 2-8 in 2021 to a team that would be a contender in 2022. They would go 10-2 and make it all the way to the semifinals before losing to Choctaw. Now, as mentioned before, they have shifted their focus to the 2023 football season and they want to take the next step as the top team in Class 6A-2. Since the split in Class 6A that began back in 2014, the Roughers have only won two total playoff games and that came last year and in 2016, in years in which they made it to the semifinals. This year, they want to match that win total for playoff games this season alone and punch their ticket to Edmond. With a number one ranking in the preseason, the Roughers are the favorites in our minds but now they have to go out on the field and prove it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>3 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1986 - Beat Booker T Washington 14-12<br>1950 - Beat Capitol Hill 19-14<br>1948 - Beat Chickasha 27-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->