Class A Players To Watch – Playoff Edition

<!-- 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 regular season is in the books! And it's time to start talking playoff football across Oklahoma. It feels like yesterday that we were previewing the 2023 football season and the year was kicking off. Now, teams truly begin their journey on the road to Edmond. Before we know it, we'll be at UCO crowning state champions to wrap up a fantastic 2023 season. Prep Redzone Oklahoma will have you completely covered for the 2023 playoffs. From all the teams and players you need to know about to the best state championship coverage in the state, we'll have wall to wall coverage of the 2023 playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this post, we're taking a look at Class A and some of the top players that will have an impact on the playoffs. We put a spotlight on all of the top players in the playoffs and also give you more names to know in the postseason. And if you want a complete breakdown on the playoffs, you can check out our <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/11/class-a-playoff-preview-3/">Class A Playoff Preview.</a></strong> And check back each day for more playoff preview content ONLY on Prep Redzone Oklahoma!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1005610"],"_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":"Coming into this season, we were high on Mangum because of the firepower they had on offense and the emergence of a freshman quarterback. He went out for the season and the Tigers had to call an audible. Junior running back Austin Solis has been that audible as the Tigers have leaned on him to lead the way this season. He's had several big performances this season, running for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ran for a season-high 238 yards in the regular season finale. We like Solis to continue to headline this Mangum offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["572034"],"_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":"Colcord senior quarterback Gabe Winfield is the first of several quarterbacks on this breakdown that came into this season after tearing things up in 2022. Last season, Winfield threw for well over 2,000 yards and 35 touchdowns while also adding over 1,000 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. Winfield and the Hornets were atop our preseason rankings in Class A. After a week one upset to Kansas, they've been perfect and have been dominant. Colcord might have been one of the surprise teams in Class A last season, that's not the case this year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["449182"],"_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":"Pocola is one of the more interesting teams in the state, regardless of class. On one hand, you have a team that has some explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball. On the other, you have a team that comes into the playoffs as a 4-seed despite a 7-3 record. Senior standout Garrett Scott is one of the state's leading receivers, regardless of class. Scott is absolutely electric with the football in his hands. We could have put the spotlight on a few players here as the Indians have filled up the stat sheet every single week. They face district champ Colcord on Friday.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["998365"],"_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 wrote about Apache junior quarterback Houston Herrin at the halfway point of the regular season. Herrin was our pick for the breakout star in Class A. Apache comes into the playoffs with an 8-1 record and they captured a district title. Herrin was outstanding early on this season. It seemed like every single week, Herrin was one of the players we featured on our weekly u0022Top Performersu0022 article every Sunday. Whether it was as a passer or a runner, Herrin was putting up some big numbers in their biggest games. We think Apache is set up for a strong November.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["189939"],"_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":"Whenever you get down to Class A, you have quite a few players that are standouts on both sides of the ball. That's the case at Woodland with some of their best players. And none are better than senior standout Jackson Rhodes at the running back and linebacker positions. Rhodes has been one of the top two-way players in Class A over the last several seasons. Rhodes was really impressive when we saw him in person earlier this season despite the Cougars falling short to Hominy. Rhodes will look to lead the Cougars on their deepest playoff run in over a decade.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1084099"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Dibble senior running back Jag Norman has been one of the top running backs in the state, regardless of class. He's been a touchdown machine as he helped lead Dibble to a district championship following an 0-2 start this season. After running for 21 touchdowns in the last two seasons combined, Norman exploded this season with 27 touchdowns this fall. He's run for at least 100 yards in all ten games this season. He's nearing the 1,800 yard mark. Dibble looks to make more noise this month in the playoffs and they'll lean on their dominant running back to do so.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["379243"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Fairview looks to defend their Class A state championship and the Yellowjackets haven't lost a game since 2021. They were perfect last season, going 15-0 and have followed that up with a 10-0 regular season. Junior quarterback Jax Bernard was really good last season, he's become great this season. Bernard has put up monster numbers every single week. One thing that definitely stands out to us about his play this fall has been his emergence as a really strong runner. It hasn't been uncommon for him to throw for 300-400 yards and add 100 yards on the ground.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["386581"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"We've seen this story before. A standout from Hominy that was a star quarterback and defensive standout and he led the Bucks to a state championship. Zaven Collins did it back in 2016 and now he's in the NFL. Senior Jaxon Woods might not be destined for the NFL but we're not counting him out. He's been one of the best overall athletes on the gridiron over the last several seasons. Last year, Woods put up video game numbers. This year, he still has the production but he also has clutch moments that make him one of the best overall players in the state.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["572028"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Hooker is another team that has several weapons on the offensive side of the ball that we think will have a major impact on the playoffs. Junior quarterback Kleat Martens has been an absolute star for the Bulldogs since his breakout season last year as a sophomore. Martens threw for 21 touchdowns and also added 20 touchdowns on the ground. While his production has dipped a bit this season, he's also had more help around him, including the emergence of a freshman running back. Martens and Hooker play in our marquee first round match-up this week against Mangum.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["901958"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Minco is one of several unbeaten teams looking to complete a perfect season with a state championship. Leading the way on a team full of playmakers on both sides of the ball is senior Reed McMurtrey at the quarterback position. McMurtrey is another example of a dual-threat quarterback that can beat defenses in a variety of ways. We like this Minco team and some of the playmakers they have on both sides of the ball. Similar to the other quarterbacks on this breakdown, we see McMurtrey having a big impact in the next month.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-654d75a696c80"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AJ Lyons-Jerrell - 2025 Running Back - Pocola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashton Taylor - 2024 Defensive Lineman - Minco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryon Marshall - 2024 Athlete - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cade Linn - 2025 Linebacker - Colcord</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dayton Scott - 2026 Running Back - Apache</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Justin Palacios - 2027 Running Back - Hooker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kason Presley - 2025 Athlete - Stroud</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reed Martens - 2024 Wide Receiver - Fairview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stone Fisher - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman - Crescent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trent Thompson - 202X Quarterback - Liberty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trey Bennett - 2025 Quarterback - Woodland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->