WAY Too Early Look At Class 4A

<!-- 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>We're still seven months away from the 2024 season kicking off but it's never too early to look ahead. Well, sometimes it is and this is our WAY too early look at Class 4A in 2024. So much can change between now and when August rolls around. But nevertheless, we're looking into the crystal ball and putting the spotlight on the top teams, players and storylines to watch in 2024. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma over the next week as we have our “WAY Too Early” Previews for each class dropping each day!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>WAY TOO EARLY 4A RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) WAGONER<br></strong>- Bulldogs are going to be hungry after falling short in the title game in 2023. Eyeing gold ball finish in 2024.<br><strong>2) BLANCHARD<br></strong>- Defending champs will be right back in the mix for another run to Edmond with two-way stars returning.<br><strong>3) TUTTLE<br></strong>- Tigers have reloaded and will once again be in the mix in 2024 and they are hungry for another 4A title. <br><strong>4) LINCOLN CHRISTIAN<br></strong>- The defending 3A champs are moving up to Class 4A and bring a very talented defense with them. <br><strong>5) HERITAGE HALL <br></strong>- Chargers will have to reload in certain spots as they move back up to Class 4A after dominant run in 3A.<br><strong>6) HOLLAND HALL<br></strong>- The Dutch join the other two private schools and Holland Hall has a lot of young talent to look out for. <br><strong>7) WEATHERFORD<br></strong>- Eagles will have a new head coach this fall but this is a team full of talent on both sides of the ball. <br><strong>8) POTEAU<br></strong>- The Pirates lose a lot of talented players but let's face it, Poteau is a perennial power in Class 4A. <br><strong>9) NEWCASTLE <br></strong>- The Racers are going to be young in areas but very talented in others, making them an intriguing team.<br><strong>10) BETHANY<br></strong>- Bethany has been a consistent top ten team over the last decade and nothing changes going into this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4A STORYLINES TO FOLLOW IN 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HERE COME THE PRIVATE SCHOOL POWERS</strong><br>Because of their dominance in Class 3A, Heritage Hall, Holland Hall and Lincoln Christian have all been moved up to Class 4A for at least the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Holland Hall won titles in 2020 and 2021. Heritage Hall won the 2018 and 2022 titles and Lincoln Christian won gold in 2019 and 2023. For Heritage Hall, this will be their second time in Class 4A after being in 4A in 2016 and 2017. It's the first time for Holland Hall and Lincoln Christian. With the move, the three private school powers will see tougher competition but as you see in the rankings, they could contend immediately. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MORE PARITY POTENTIALLY IN CLASS 4A</strong><br>With the private schools moving up, and other teams becoming consistent contenders, we will certainly see more parity in Class 4A. This has been a class that has been dominated by just a few teams. Clinton, Poteau, Tuttle and Wagoner were the top dogs for five seasons prior to Blanchard breaking through and winning the state championship in 2023. The Lions will be in the mix again this fall. And while you can't overlook those traditional 4A powerhouses, we could very well see more competition than we've grown accustomed to int he last decade. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OPEN TRANSFERS COMING</strong><br>In December, the OSSAA made the announcement that student athletes in Oklahoma will have a one-time transfer without setting up residency or sitting out a year. It was a monumental announcement and in the first two weeks in July, we'll see exactly what kind of impact this decision has. Those two weeks in July is the only time that student athletes are able to make the transfer from one school to another. We've seen plenty of notable players moving schools over the last few years. Only time will tell what impact this rule has on the future of Oklahoma.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>24 PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='294262' first='Alex' last='Shieldnight'] - 2025 Defensive Lineman - Wagoner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wagoner's all time leading sack leader [player_tooltip player_id='294262' first='Alex' last='Shieldnight'] is back and will lead a Bulldog defense that has the potential to be the very best in Class 4A this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434307' first='Barrett' last='Travis'] - 2025 Running Back - Heritage Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers have to replace some big time players on offense. But they will benefit from returning an experienced player in [player_tooltip player_id='434307' first='Barrett' last='Travis'] at running back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215570' first='Brady' last='Mcadoo'] - 2025 Running Back - Tuttle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuttle running back [player_tooltip player_id='215570' first='Brady' last='Mcadoo'] is one of the more dynamic playmakers in Class 4A and we're looking forward to seeing what kind of impact he has during this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268307' first='Brayson' last='Carter'] - 2025 Athlete - Blanchard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blanchard's [player_tooltip player_id='268307' first='Brayson' last='Carter'] turned into one of the best two-way players in Class 4A last season. He became an All State player and will go into 2024 as one of 4A's very best. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911940' first='Brock' last='Boyles'] - 2026 Quarterback - Ada</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ada quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='911940' first='Brock' last='Boyles'] was one of the breakout stars from the 2023 season. He helped lead the Cougars all the way to the semifinals and they are hungry for more in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1100463' first='Bryce' last='Steel'] - 2025 Linebacker - Wagoner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We mentioned Wagoner could have 4A's best defense. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1100463' first='Bryce' last='Steel'] returns and he led the Bulldogs in tackles last season and has been incredibly consistent with Wagoner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='353421' first='CJ' last='Nickson'] - 2025 Wide Receiver - Weatherford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weatherford standout [player_tooltip player_id='353421' first='CJ' last='Nickson'] is one of the state's best overall athletes. He has D1 offers for football and basketball and he's looking to lead the Eagles to success on the gridiron. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160820' first='Cooper' last='Cox'] - 2025 Wide Receiver - Sallisaw</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sallisaw loses some big names from their offense after a breakout season in 2023. But wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1160820' first='Cooper' last='Cox'] returns for the Black Diamonds after leading them in receiving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1100200' first='Coric' last='Pierce'] - 2025 Wide Receiver - Blanchard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blanchard 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1100200' first='Coric' last='Pierce'] was another example of a two-way star for the Lions. On offense, Pierce was one of the team's leading receivers and is back for more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473754' first='Cruz' last='Campbell'] - 2026 Quarterback - Tuttle </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After starting for two seasons at Southmoore, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473754' first='Cruz' last='Campbell'] has moved to Tuttle this offseason. He should give the Tigers a spark on the offensive side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160818' first='Deon' last='Franklin'] - 2025 Athlete - Nathan Hale</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There aren't many things that Nathan Hale's [player_tooltip player_id='1160818' first='Deon' last='Franklin'] can't do on the football field. Franklin has the potential to be an absolute star as the Rangers look to win big in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402375' first='Evenson' last='Malaska'] - 2026 Defensive Back - Bethany</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethany standout [player_tooltip player_id='402375' first='Evenson' last='Malaska'] has to be hungry to get back on the field. He was a standout for the Bronchos as a freshman and missed his sophomore season because of an injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094507' first='Hudsen' last='Periman'] - 2025 Athlete - Blanchard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1094507' first='Hudsen' last='Periman'] is yet another Blanchard standout that is returning and will provide a ton of versatility to the defending champs. Periman is going to be a big name to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='917666' first='Jackson' last='Payne'] - 2025 Quarterback - Bethany</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethany quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='917666' first='Jackson' last='Payne'] was a breakout player for the Bronchos in 2023. As we look ahead to 2024, it's hard not to think that Payne will be one of the top QBs in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587270' first='Jerrod' last='Williams'] - 2026 Defensive Back - Heritage Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heritage Hall standout [player_tooltip player_id='587270' first='Jerrod' last='Williams'] has started for the Chargers since he was a freshman and will be one of the best DBs in 4A this fall. He just picked up his first D1 offer this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160815' first='Judd' last='Rudd'] - 2025 Running Back - Fort Gibson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Gibson running back [player_tooltip player_id='1160815' first='Judd' last='Rudd'] had some really good performances last season and was a breakout star. Heading into 2024, Rudd should be one of the top backs in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911962' first='Julius' last='Wilson'] - 2026 Wide Receiver - Holland Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holland Hall standout [player_tooltip player_id='911962' first='Julius' last='Wilson'] is an absolute star in the making. When he's not dominating on the court, he's turning into one of the best wide receivers in the state's 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530573' first='Kale' last='Charboneau'] - 2025 Quarterback/Linebacker - Wagoner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wagoner standout [player_tooltip player_id='530573' first='Kale' last='Charboneau'] made a big leap as a quarterback last season. We're looking forward to seeing what he does this fall and he's also a star at linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1030447' first='Kailib' last='Dillard'] - 2027 Defensive Back - Lincoln Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Christian has a very special 2027 class and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1030447' first='Kailib' last='Dillard'] is one of those players to watch moving forward. Dillard is only going to get better from here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='979658' first='Malakai' last='Dillard'] - 2026 Wide Receiver - Lincoln Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Dillard from Lincoln Christian to watch is [player_tooltip player_id='979658' first='Malakai' last='Dillard'] as he goes into his junior season. He emerged as Lincoln Christian's leading receiver and is a star in the making. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897689' first='Steele' last='Chism'] - 2025 Linebacker - Weatherford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weatherford returns their leading tackler in 2024 with linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='897689' first='Steele' last='Chism'] going into his senior season. The Eagles have the guys on paper to be one of 4A's best teams this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='924955' first='Titus' last='Johnson'] - 2025 Linebacker - Harrah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrah has to replace some experienced and talented seniors but they do bring back [player_tooltip player_id='924955' first='Titus' last='Johnson'] and he could end up being a star for the Panthers on both sides of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='449184' first='TJ' last='Bradford'] - 2026 Running Back - Newcastle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcastle running back [player_tooltip player_id='449184' first='TJ' last='Bradford'] emerged as one of the top running backs in 4A football last season. With a new QB in the backfield, look for Bradford's production to go up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901851' first='Zaedon' last='Collins'] - 2025 Running Back - Clinton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton will once again be in the mix and no surprise, they will have a running back that deserves attention. [player_tooltip player_id='901851' first='Zaedon' last='Collins'] returns and was a big playmaker in their biggest games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PREDICTING 4A'S BREAKOUT STARS THIS FALL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1101281' first='Carter' last='Ricke'] - 2026 Quarterback - Lincoln Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Christian will have a new quarterback and let's face it, this has been a program that ALWAYS has one of the best passers in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='1101281' first='Carter' last='Ricke'] should be the next signal caller for the Bulldogs and he will have some weapons to have that breakout season. If history has shown us anything, Ricke will be one of the top passers in 4A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='898159' first='Jackson' last='Schanuel'] - 2025 Quarterback - Newcastle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcastle is going to have a new quarterback for the first time in a while but they are going from one Jackson to another this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='898159' first='Jackson' last='Schanuel'] should take over after backing up [player_tooltip player_id='154215' first='Jackson' last='Bergt']. When Schanuel takes over, he has the potential to have a breakout season because the Racers are going to have some playmakers around him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1100459' first='Trenton' last='Edwards'] - 2025 Running Back - Wagoner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wagoner running back [player_tooltip player_id='1100459' first='Trenton' last='Edwards'] could turn into one of Class 4A's top running backs in 2024. Edwards enjoyed a breakout season last year but we think he could see his production absolutely explodes. With Edwards and Charboneau returning to the Wagoner backfield, they might make up the best 1-2 punch in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->