Friday Film Review – Jan. 19th
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The offseason is officially here and for the third consecutive year, we’ll have a special series from now until the end of May. It’s the Friday Film Review series and every Friday, we’ll take a look at prospects from all over the state. We’ll break down their film from last season. What stands out about the prospect, what can they improve, how do they project, all of those questions answered in these breakdowns. As we say each year, these aren’t just puff pieces. The majority of the review is positive but we also get into what can be improved for each individual prospect. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma each Friday for another Film Review!
Film Watched – CLICK HERE rnLawton MacArthur 2026 quarterback Aivan Locklin Aivan Locklin 6’0″ | 175 lbs | QB Lawton MacArthur | 2026 State OK really impressed us when we saw him in person last season but you put on the film and that opinion just went up. First off, there are only a handful of plays on his sophomore tape, straight and to the point. I believe it was either 11 or 12 plays in total. Almost all of them came against arguably the toughest competition that the Highlanders played in 2023. Multiple top five teams in Class 5A and Locklin had no problems. First off, he looks bigger than his listed height of 6’0 and that rings true when he does tuck it and run, which isn’t his primary option but when he needed to, he had success. The deep ball accuracy is one thing that really stood out and there were quite a few “go routes” in the film and Locklin dropped it in the bucket. But the thing that stands out the most is his anticipation and ability to throw receivers open. Especially at his age, he trusts his receivers and the route and even if the receiver had a DB draped on him, Locklin would throw his man open and put it only where he could get it. But we mentioned all the “go routes” on the tape and the one thing we want to see moving forward is more variety on the throws and not just the deep ball.
Film Watched – CLICK HERE rnUnion 2025 standout Boston Carrasco Boston Carrasco 5’10” | 170 lbs | ATH Union | 2025 State OK enjoyed a solid 2023 season but we can’t help but start looking ahead to what could be for him in 2024. With Union losing a lot of their talent at the receiver position, Carrasco could be the number one target this fall and he could see his stock absolutely explode as a prospect. And that stock is already on the rise. We put on his junior tape and the first thing you notice is not just the fact that the first five plays are touchdowns, but he’s not touched on any of them. A pair of kick returns and a few touchdown receptions and Carrasco wasn’t touched when the ball was in his hands. Needless to say, the Union junior is straight up slippery with the ball in his hands. You can’t tackle what you can’t touch. Going into the film review, we knew that Carrasco was incredibly versatile and that showed on film. He lined up and made plays at running back, slot receiver and even outside receiver at times. Not to mention his impact in special teams as a kick returner. As a receiver, Carrasco has hands and a knack for turning a small play into a big play. If he lives in the weight room this offseason and adds muscle to go with that speed, he’s going to be incredibly dangerous with the ball in his hands. And as we mentioned, this could be a huge 2024 season for the Union speedster.
Highlights
Film Watched – CLICK HERE rnNorth Rock Creek made it to the playoffs in 2023 for the first time in their school’s short history. 2025 standout Caleb Hawkins Caleb Hawkins 6’2″ | 205 lbs | ATH North Rock Creek | 2025 State OK was a big reason behind that and he’s going to be a versatile athlete to know moving forward. We’ve seen Hawkins in person at our camps a few times and he’s always impressed. But then we put on his tape from his junior season and it’s hard not to like him even more moving forward. First off, Hawkins was a standout for North Rock Creek in all three phases of the game. He was a star running back, a ball hawk and hard-hitting safety and also returned kicks. On offense, Hawkins might be at his best at the running back position. When he gets the ball, it’s like he’s shot out of a cannon. There aren’t many running backs in the state’s 2025 class that can explode out of the backfield as fast as Hawkins. And when you combine that acceleration with his overall size and power, you have a potential workhorse running back that is destined for the next level. Hawkins runs upright and with power to go along with that speed and explosiveness. Hawkins is a star in the making for North Rock Creek and that’s just the breakdown on offense. On defense, Hawkins has no problem lowering his shoulder and delivering a blow. The only question we have is what position is his fit at the next level.
Highlights
Film Watched – CLICK HERE rnMillwood 2025 linebacker Cameron Carter Cameron Carter 6’1″ | LB Millwood | 2025 State OK has been high on our radar since the 2022 state championship game. Carter was one of the best players on the field that day and his junior season only further established him as one of the best linebackers in Oklahoma. Carter is your prototypical middle linebacker. We’ve seen Carter in person and on film and he is one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the state. It’s like he’s a brick wall that is on the move on every snap. There’s not a single play on his film from junior season where he doesn’t drive through his opponent and ends up on top of them. He never gets moved backwards. Carter impressed us at the end of his sophomore season and appears to have taken the next step as a junior. His strength and power, as well as his ability to go through his opponent make him a very intriguing prospect to watch at the next level. During the 2023 season, Carter also spent some time on offense at running back. But seeing him in person and on film, it’s clear that he’s a linebacker that happens to play running back. Defense is still going to be the brighter future for the budding Millwood star. But as we start moving towards the spring and summer, if Carter continues to improve his lateral quickness and moving just as fast side to side, he’ll be scary in 2024.
Film Watched – CLICK HERE rnOur final prospect this week comes to us from 8-man football in Garber. 2025 offensive lineman Kooper Hughes Kooper Hughes 6’4″ | 285 lbs | OL Garber | 2025 State OK is a name to look out for moving forward. Hughes is also coming to our January 28th camp and we’re looking forward to seeing him compete against some of Oklahoma’s best. We put on the tape from his junior season and the first thing that stands out is the physicality he plays with. And that’s something we love to see from the offensive line position. Hughes absolutely mauls opponents and more times than not, they end up on their backs when Hughes locks his hands in and starts driving forward. There were several clips on his film where he gets out of his stance and is pulling and when he gets some momentum, he becomes an absolute freight train that nobody can slow down. The size he plays with is strong and as of right now, it looks like he projects to becoming more of an interior offensive lineman at the next level. Whether that’s guard or center is still up for debate. One thing that Hughes can work on this offseason is his overall quickness and speed out of his stance. The overall power and strength is very impressive but if he can combine those tools with a quicker first step and is bringing the fight to his opponent, he’s going to be a guy that is playing football on Saturdays in the future.