Week Zero 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 2023 football season is finally here and every Thursday on Prep Redzone Oklahoma, we're going to give you several names to know before games kick off each week. This week, we have some outstanding games across the state and to read more about them, you can <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/week-zeros-ten-best-games/">check out our post from earlier in the week right here</a></strong>. For now, we break down five names that will be playing in some of the biggest games this week and even have a few bonus names to know as well. Check back this weekend when we feature the top performers from week zero!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["215196"],"_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":"4A's #2 Poteau will host 5A's #8 Bishop Kelley in Friday's season opener. These two teams have opened the last three seasons against one another and the Pirates have won the last two meetings. In those two wins, 2024 standout and Tulsa commit [player_tooltip player_id='215196' first='Dax' last='Collins'] could not be stopped. In last season's meeting with Bishop Kelley, he ran for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 11 carries. In 2021, he had his breakout moment against Bishop Kelley with 169 yards and a touchdown on just 9 carries. This season, Collins leads a Poteau rushing attack that is going to be outstanding. As long as he can stay healthy, Collins is going to be hard to stop. Bishop Kelley is much improved from last season and they'll provide a strong test for Collins and the Pirates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["268321"],"_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":"In one of the better rivalry games every year in the Tulsa area, Sapulpa is going on the road to face off with Sand Springs in the Highway 97 rivalry. The Sandites have a strong running game that racked up over 200 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in last year's win. To combat that, Sapulpa 2025 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='268321' first='Isaac' last='Shelton'] will look to set the tone for the Chieftains on defense. Sapulpa is very talented on the offensive side of the ball but Shelton gets the spotlight for us this week. He could be one of the breakout stars this season based on what we've seen from him as well as the reports out of Sapulpa. The Chieftains are hungry for their first win in the rivalry since 2013. Shelton and a talented Sapulpa offense could make it happen Friday night on the road.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["595681"],"_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":"Staying on the defensive line with our next player to watch with 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='595681' first='Naithen' last='Spaulding'] as 2A defending champion Washington hosts Vian in a match-up featuring top ten teams in Class 2A. Last season, the Warriors went on the road and beat up on Vian and they were absolutely dominant in the first half and cruised after halftime. The most impressive part of that win was the Washington defense against Vian's running game. This season, the Warriors are looking for some new names to step up and we think that Spaulding could be primed for a big season. Last week, he was really impressive when we watched Washington in a scrimmage. He'll be a big key to Washington slowing down Vian's rushing attack.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["427386"],"_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":"In a rematch of last year's 6A-1 state championship game, top-ranked Bixby will square off with #4 Owasso at TU's Chapman Stadium on Thursday. In last year's regular season meeting, it was Bixby 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='427386' first='Sam' last='McCormick'] who broke the game open in the second half with a pick six for the Spartan defense. That led to a 49-14 rout in favor of the Spartans but that game was close for the first two quarters. McCormick is going to be a very important two-way player for Bixby this season and on Thursday night. On defense, he's part of a linebacker group that is one of the best in 6A-1. On offense, he has the potential to be one of Bixby's leading receivers as they look to replace a lot of the production from last year's state championship team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["188014"],"_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":"Union has high expectations coming into this season and having 2025 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='188014' first='Shaker' last='Reisig'] returning to lead the offense is a big reason why. The Bixby-Owasso game isn't the only notable 6A-1 game taking place on Thursday night. The #2 Redhawks travel to face #5 Westmoore on Thursday. The Jaguars have lofty expectations coming off a 3-8 season because of the notable move-ins they had this offseason. And the strength of this team comes on the defensive side of the ball with a few future D1 signees in their secondary. Reisig has firmly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in Oklahoma. If he's able to torch a talented Westmoore defense, the rest of Class 6A-1 should be concerned with slowing down Union moving forward.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e671b5d581f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW THIS WEEK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='353421' first='CJ' last='Nickson'] - 2025 Wide Receiver - Weatherford <br>(AT Newcastle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's one of the top games in Class 4A this week as #5 Weatherford travels to face #6 Newcastle. The Eagles have one of the best prospects in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='353421' first='CJ' last='Nickson'] and he's one of the best basketball prospects in the state as well. Nickson is an outstanding athlete and we're looking forward to seeing how he kicks off his junior season on the gridiron after a very successful sophomore season and offseason in basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='898373' first='Jaxon' last='Worley'] - 2024 Quarterback - Kiefer<br>(AT NOAH)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kiefer expects to get off to a fast start this season and carry that momentum into a very tough district slate. But the Trojans and their 2024 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='898373' first='Jaxon' last='Worley'] are going to be tested when they travel to Broken Arrow to face NOAH, who features the top overall prospect in the state's 2024 class along the defensive line. Worley will have to keep his head on a swivel to avoid NOAH's pass rush on Friday night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448519' first='Jaylen' last='Harper'] - 2024 Running Back - Guthrie<br>(VS Ponca City)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guthrie 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='448519' first='Jaylen' last='Harper'] was one of the breakout stars from last season. We didn't expect Harper to be in that role with Isaiah Hammons returning at running back in 2022. But with Hammons missing time, that opened the door for Harper to have that breakout moment. Now he's returning for his senior season and he's looking to take his game to the next level against a tough Ponca City team at home. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402378' first='KD' last='Jones'] - 2026 Running Back - Jenks<br>(VS Edmond Santa Fe)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 running back [player_tooltip player_id='402378' first='KD' last='Jones'] moving from Broken Arrow to Jenks was one of the top stories this offseason. And the first time we get to really see Jones in a Jenks uniform (minus spring football) will be Friday when the Trojans host Edmond Santa Fe. Jones did not participate in the scrimmage last week but he will be ready to go when the Trojans meet Santa Fe in a rematch of last year's season opener that was low-scoring and chippy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963844' first='Lolo' last='Bell'] - 2024 Running Back - Coweta<br>(AT Carl Albert)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coweta goes on the road on Friday to face top-ranked and defending champion Carl Albert on Friday night. In the season opener a year ago, Coweta made a loud statement with a win over the Titans. They can make an even louder one if they go on the road and beat the defending champs. 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='963844' first='Lolo' last='Bell'] is one of the few returning playmakers from last year's team and he's looking to be the leader of the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->