Norman Tigers 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 Norman Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Norman Tigers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Norman Tigers are coming into another season looking to make some more noise in Class 6A-1 this fall. Norman was one of the teams that benefited from the new rule where the top six schools in each district would punch their ticket to the playoffs. And despite having a 3-7 record in the regular season, they won the games they needed to win and qualified for the playoffs. The season started out rocky with an 0-4 start against a tough non-district schedule. But the 2022 Tigers found themselves in several close games throughout the season. They lost to Norman North, Stillwater and Edmond North in the first month and they were all seven points or less. At this time of the year, those close games are always something that gets brought up. The ball bounces a different way and all of a sudden the outcome might be different. The Tigers would go 3-4 in district play with wins over Edmond Memorial, Edmond Santa Fe and Yukon to punch their ticket to the playoffs. They would fall to Broken Arrow on the road to end their season at 3-8. But as we head into the 2023 football season, we think the Tigers can build off their 2022 season and some of those close losses could turn into wins.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers bring back half of their starters from last season's team and those players should come into this season with a lot of confidence after getting that playing time last fall. On paper, we think that Norman's strength is going to be on the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers bring back seven starters on defense and that strength is going to be evident early on with some of the talent they bring back, specifically with the linebackers and defensive backs. The offense will look a little different as five starters are back on that side of the ball. For the first time in a while, the Tigers are going to have someone different under center and replacing the quarterback is going to be a big key for the Tigers, especially early on in the season. But Norman has a few options at that position and whoever the quarterback ends up being, he's going to have some experience around him. The Tigers bring back their top two weapons at running back and some other notable players on that side of the ball. The Tigers are going to be tested again early on in the season and the non-district slate is going to provide plenty of challenges for those new starters. But we think the Tigers will be a playoff team again in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (3-8 Record - Lost In Class 6A-1 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 1 - Lost To Norman North 40-36<br>Sept. 9 - Lost To Moore 42-7<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Stillwater 36-33<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Edmond North 24-17<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Edmond Memorial 38-34<br>Oct. 6 - Lost To Union 42-28<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Edmond Santa Fe 20-17<br>Oct. 21 - Lost To Mustang 49-10<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Yukon 48-28<br>Nov. 3 - Lost To Owasso 24-14<br>1st Round - Lost To Broken Arrow 47-20</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>Brody Boyd - Linebacker<br>Tias McClarty - Quarterback<br>Xavier Shackelford - Running 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":["595746"],"_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've written about Norman 2025 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='595746' first='Behrett' last='Boyd'] quite a bit this offseason and we're looking forward to seeing him back in action with the pads on this fall. Boyd first got on our radar back in January when he was the MVP of our linebacker group at our first prospect camp. He came back in April and dominated again and became a back to back MVP. Now, that was in a camp setting with no pads, no helmets, not the football we see on a Friday night. We're looking forward to seeing how Boyd carries that over to this season when those pads come on. If last season was any indication, he'll be one of the top linebackers in 6A-1. Last fall, he finished with a little over 100 tackles and eight sacks on the year. He's looking to go to the next level this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["595764"],"_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 think that Norman 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='595764' first='Dax' last='Noles'] is one of the more underrated prospects in the state's 2024 class. Noles was an absolute star for the Tigers on both sides of the ball last season. He made the most impact on defense in the secondary but he racked up the tackles like a linebacker. He finished the year with nearly 150 tackles on the season and was an absolute heat-seeking missile on that side of the ball. And on offense, Noles was a hard-nosed runner when the Tigers needed it and he finished with nine touchdowns on the ground. Noles will be a big part of the running game as they replace their star quarterback, who did a great job in the run game. But Noles, in our opinion, is one of the better two-way players in 6A-1.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["386658"],"_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":"In addition to having Noles returning at running back, the Tigers also return 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='386658' first='Devin' last='Alexander'] to the backfield. Last season, Alexander would finish the year with over 100 carries for nearly 600 yards on the ground. We anticipate that production is going to go up this season. As we mentioned, McClarty was a big part of the Norman rushing attack, along with Shackelford. That is going to open the door for a new player to step into that role and fill that void on the offensive side of the ball. Alexander is a strong runner and is going to provide a massive spark to the Norman offense. The Tigers are going to look to those returning players to step up as the Tigers bring along some of those younger players.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c199ea8e8d4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CJ Moore - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>Jackson Ford - 2025 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='858872' first='Julius' last='Stephens'] - 2026 Offensive Lineman<br>Kurt Carter - 2024 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='332286' first='Lance' last='Eubanks'] - 2024 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='703075' first='Max' last='Wilson'] - 2024 Wide Receiver<br>[player_tooltip player_id='211962' first='Phoenix' last='Murphy'] - 2025 Quarterback<br>Port Hartsock - 2024 Wide Receiver</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><strong>Aug. 31 - AT Norman North</strong><br>- The annual rivalry game in Norman will kick off the season once again as Norman will take on crosstown foe Norman North on a Thursday night to kick off the season. This has been one of the more traditional rivalry games to open up the season and it's almost always held on a Thursday night. And we're hoping that the 2023 rivalry clash can live up to what we saw in 2022. The Timberwolves got the best of the Tigers and it was a 40-36 instant classic. Norman will attempt to kick off the season with a bang and get a rivalry win over Norman North. <br>Sept. 8 - Moore<br>Sept. 14 - Stillwater<br>Sept. 22 - Edmond North<br>Sept. 29 - AT Edmond Memorial<br><strong>Oct. 6 - AT Union</strong><br>- After opening up district play against back to back Edmond schools in North and Memorial, the Tigers will head into week six on the road against Union. And when you talk about games that are “measuring stick” games, the week six clash with Union is just that. The Tigers were incredibly competitive with the Redhawks in their meeting last season and as we look at this match-up, Union looks to be the district favorite right now. The Tigers will look to pull off the upset and put themselves in a really good position as they close out the regular season. <br>Oct. 13 - Edmond Santa Fe<br>Oct. 20 - AT Mustang<br>Oct. 27 - AT Yukon<br>Nov. 3 - Owasso</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You look at Norman's schedule and one thing that stands out to us is the fact that the Tigers aren't going to have to go away from Harve Collins Stadium. They'll play rival Norman North and while it's technically a “road game”, it will take place on their campus at Harve Collins. Their next three games will also be at home so in the first half of the regular season, the Tigers will only leave their home stadium once, in week five against Edmond Memorial. Now, with a schedule like that, it could be a double edged sword as they'll end up on the road for the majority of the second half of the regular season. And some of those road games are going to be some of the toughest match-ups that they'll have this season. But the early season home games will certainly help some of those younger players come along in a quicker way.&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>2 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1992 – Beat Lawton Eisenhower 17-14<br>1964 – Beat Capitol Hill 12-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->