Sulphur Bulldogs 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 Sulphur Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sulphur Bulldogs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #3<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 football season was an emotional roller coaster for the Sulphur Bulldogs. They began the season with a ton of inexperience with nine sophomores and four freshmen earning starting jobs at various points in the season. Longtime head coach Jim Dixon passed away early on in the season and the Bulldogs would have a handful of district games decided by seven points or less. They would finish the year with a 4-5 record and miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. But as Sulphur closes the book on the 2022 season and starts to look ahead to what might be in their future this fall, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. First of all, the inexperienced underclassmen that littered the starting lineup are now a year older and much more ready for the bright lights of Friday night. And there's no doubt that Sulphur is ready for some “normalcy” after the emotional roller coaster they were on last season. And for a program like Sulphur, “normal” is contending in their district and returning to the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are going to have nine starters back on the offensive side of the ball with ten more starters coming back on defense. In all of our previews, we have a section titled “Key Losses To Graduation” and with Sulphur bringing back nearly everyone from last season's team, that section isn't even necessary in this preview. The Bulldogs are going to have a very strong rushing attack, combined with unbelievable speed on the outside at some of the skill positions. That's going to make this offense balanced and a threat to beat defenses in a variety of ways. There are two big hurdles that Sulphur will have to overcome this fall. The first is getting some of those young players ready for the biggest games of the season, and their non-district schedule will help with that. Then, Sulphur will be playing in one of the tougher districts in Class 3A. On paper, the Bulldogs should contend but they'll have to go out and prove it every single week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (4-5 Record - Missed Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Lost To Washington 27-25<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Davis 21-6<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Dickson 34-0<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Douglass 51-6<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Pauls Valley 34-28<br>Oct. 13 - Lost To Lone Grove 27-20<br>Oct. 21 - Lost To Marlow 28-10<br>Oct. 28 - Lost To Heritage Hall 41-6<br>Nov. 4 - Beat Plainview 29-27</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":["110756"],"_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":"When healthy, 2024 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='110756' first='Brytan' last='Gaddy'] is one of the more underrated prospects in the state's 2024 class. Gaddy was in the middle of an outstanding track season in the spring when he was injured late in the track season. Gaddy was unable to go through spring drills while nursing the injury but he should be ready to go for the start of the 2023 football season. And with Gaddy returning as a two-way starter for the Bulldogs, he's going to provide Sulphur with a versatile athlete that can help in a lot of ways. The majority of the times that we've seen Gaddy in person, it's been as a cornerback. But there's no doubt that he has the athletic ability and the speed to be a legitimate weapon in the Sulphur offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["893296"],"_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":"There's no doubt that the Bulldogs are going to have speed with Gaddy and Patterson at the wide receiver positions. But this is still Sulphur football and you know they have to have a strong presence in the running game and that's where 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='893296' first='Coy' last='Myers'] comes in. At a team camp earlier this spring, we walked away very impressed with the power running of Myers as it seemed like every time he was tackled, he was always falling forward for a few more yards. Either that, or he was dragging a few defenders with him. Myers is going to be able to hit a few home runs for the Sulphur offense but he's going to mainly wear down defenses by trying to tackle him all game and that's when the Bulldogs can strike with their speed on the outside.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["133792"],"_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":"2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='133792' first='Damontre' last='Patterson'] has had anything but a traditional high school career. After emerging as a potential star defensive back as a freshman and sophomore with Elmore City, Patterson spent last season with Ada before moving again to Sulphur this past spring. We mentioned that speed on the outside and Patterson will provide that for the Bulldogs this fall. While he might have gotten his start a few years ago as a lockdown cornerback, he is getting recruited by power five college programs as a wide receiver. We still think he's one of the better defensive backs in the class but his future might be brighter on the offensive side of the ball. Patterson is going to give the Bulldogs an offensive weapon that they haven't had in a long time.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["353413"],"_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 make no secret about this. Sulphur 2025 offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='353413' first='Justus' last='Gilliam'] is one of our favorite linemen in the state's 2025 class. We were fans of his game just based on his film from his freshman and sophomore seasons. But then we had him at our camp in the spring and he was one of the top performers on both sides of the ball and brings a nastiness that you want to see from a player in the trenches. Gilliam doesn't have the prototypical size as some of the other bigger names in the class but it doesn't matter in our opinion. He's a player that is going to help his team win games this fall and next season as well. And when it comes to playing at the next level, he's going to help a college team win a lot of ball games as well.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a493ce04a93"} /--> <!-- 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='1326373' first='Austin' last='Garrett'] - 2025 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1326381' first='Caden' last='Cole'] - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1326387' first='Colten' last='Cole'] - 2026 Quarterback<br>Maddax Boyd - 2025 Defensive Back<br>Maddox Mobly - 2026 Athlete</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>Sept. 1 - Washington<br></strong>- It's week one and the first game of the season but the Bulldogs are going to have a measuring stick game right out of the chute. Sulphur will host the reigning 2A state champions from Washington. The Warriors are also the preseason favorites to win it all again in Class 2A this fall. So needless to say, Sulphur is going to be tested right from the start of the season as they host the Warriors. But the Bulldogs won't be scared at all. They gave Washington their closest game last year in the 27-25 loss. <br><strong>Sept. 8 - AT Davis<br></strong>- The annual early season rivalry game with Davis will take place in week two between these southern Oklahoma powers. A decade ago, this was a series that was absolutely dominated by the Wolves. Davis won eight in a row from 2008-2015. But the Bulldogs haven't lost since beating Davis in 2016. They've rattled off seven consecutive victories and they'll look for eight this season. Both teams bring back a ton of experience from last year so this should be a great match-up. <br>Sept. 15 - AT Whitesboro, TX.<br>Sept. 22 - Dickson<br>Sept. 29 - AT Douglass<br>Oct. 6. - Pauls Valley<br>Oct. 12 - AT Lone Grove<br>Oct. 20 - Marlow<br><strong>Oct. 27 - AT Heritage Hall<br></strong>- There are going to be some really good district match-ups this season as we think that this district might be the best in Class 3A this fall. But there's no doubt what the marquee district game is and that's when the Bulldogs have to travel north to Oklahoma City to face defending state champion Heritage Hall in week nine. The Chargers dominated this match-up last season, enroute to another state championship. Sulphur wants what Heritage Hall has and before the Bulldogs can contend for a state title, they need to take care of business in the district. <br>Nov. 3 - Plainview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Sulphur head coach will be someone other than Jim Dixon as they enter the 2023 football season. Early on during the 2022 season, Dixon passed away and longtime assistant and athletic director Corey Cole took over as the interim head coach and now comes into this season without the interim tag attached. Last season was no doubt a sad one for the Sulphur community but it also provided a chance to remember and honor their hall of fame coach. Dixon led the Bulldogs to two state championships two decades ago and racked up the third most wins in state history. He was one of a handful of coaches who eclipsed over 300 wins during his time as head coach and was a few wins shy of 350 for his career. The Bulldogs will certainly play this season with his memory throughout the year as they attempt to contend for the Class 3A state championship.&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>2004 - Beat Purcell 48-12<br>2002 - Beat Seminole 26-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->