2025 Rankings – Top Ten Spotlight
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Throughout the month of February, Prep Redzone Oklahoma is updating our prospect rankings for each class. And for the state’s 2025 class, we’re updating the rankings and expanding it to 175 prospects. Earlier this week, we released the 2025 Top 175 and throughout the week, we’ll be putting the spotlight on different players and position groups. In this post, we’re putting that spotlight on the top ten prospects in the 2025 class. We’ve said it for a while now but the state’s 2025 class has a chance to be one of the more elite classes that this state has produced in a while. There is next level talent all over the state and the top ten is absolutely loaded. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more prospect breakdowns within the 2025 class. And check back each Monday this month for another class update!
Washington tight end Nate Roberts Nate Roberts 6’4″ | 235 lbs | TE Washington | 2025 State OK is holding on to the number one spot in yet another ranking update. In a class that is full of elite talent that will not only play at the next level, but at a very high level, Roberts could be the best of the bunch. He looks like he’s ready for the next level right now and he still has another year of high school football ahead of him. He’s an outstanding pass catcher but he’s incredibly physical and that has helped him become a top blocker from the tight end position. He has size, hands, deceptive speed and it’s not impossible to suggest that he could be playing on Sundays in the future. All of the tools are there for Roberts and just about every school in the country is making trips to Washington, Oklahoma, trying to land the star prospect.
Carl Albert standout Trystan Haynes Trystan Haynes 6’2″ | 165 lbs | ATH Carl Albert | 2025 State OK is right there with Roberts and has a legitimate argument for being the top prospect in the class. On an absolutely loaded Carl Albert team in 2023, you can make the argument that Haynes was the most dominant player on that title team. On offense, Haynes was Carl Albert’s leading receiver in all three categories. On defense, Haynes was a dynamic defensive back that was able to lock down some talented wide receivers throughout the season. And on special teams, opponents learned the hard way that you should avoid kicking to Haynes because he was going to cause a lot of problems in the return game. For now, we have Haynes listed as an “athlete” but it’s starting to look like the secondary will be his home at the next level.
Out of the ten prospects on this breakdown, Weatherford’s CJ Nickson CJ Nickson 6’6″ | ATH Weatherford | 2025 State OK is without a doubt the most intriguing prospect to watch over the next 12 months. As we write this, Nickson is focusing all of his attention on helping lead Weatherford back to the state tournament in basketball. The Weatherford star is one of the top basketball prospects in the state and there’s no doubt after talking with others about his game that he has a love for hoops. But the ceiling for him as a prospect could inevitably be higher on the football field. He is being recruited by every elite program in the country. Whether they see him on offense or defense is up for debate but there is no debate that he belongs at the next level and a high level at that. His recruitment is going to be one to follow.
Douglass standout Jaden Nickens Jaden Nickens 6’4″ | WR Douglass | 2025 State OK is right there with Nickson as one of the best two-sport stars in this 2025 class. In fact, now that Nickens is at Douglass, these two could be on a crash course for each other on the hardwood in March. But just like with Nickson, you can make the argument that the ceiling is much higher for Nickens on the football field moving forward. After joining Millwood’s football team prior to his sophomore season, Nickens immediately became one of the state’s more intriguing prospects because of his abilities in both sports. Nickens would commit to Oklahoma prior to his junior season and then helped Millwood back to the state title game. A few weeks after that, he transferred to Douglass and we’re looking forward to seeing him this fall.
Wagoner star Alex Shieldnight Alex Shieldnight 6’3″ | 230 lbs | DL Wagoner | 2025 State OK is another example of a prospect that has been on our radar for a while now. Head coach Dale Condict was not shy about what he thought about Shieldnight early on in his career and is even more vocal now. He thinks that he could be the best prospect he’s ever coached and that’s saying something. Shieldnight already holds the school record for career sacks and he’s going to put that number at a spot that may never be reached. During his junior season, Shieldnight committed to Oklahoma and the Sooners landed a prospect that they’ve been high on for a while now. Shieldnight is an absolute monster coming off the edge and whether he’s lining up as a traditional edge rusher or somewhere else, he makes an impact.
Carl Albert quarterback Kevin Sperry Kevin Sperry 6’2″ | 190 lbs | QB Denton Guyer | 2025 TX had an instant impact when he moved from Texas to Oklahoma last summer. He joined a Carl Albert program that was already the favorite in Class 5A and made a star-studded program even better. Sperry lived up to the hype last season as he helped guide the Titans to a state championship. He was easily one of the best quarterbacks in the state and the thing that impressed us the most was his ability and poise in the toughest games of the year. We saw Sperry and the Titans in person in arguably their three toughest games. Muskogee, Guthrie and the title game against Del City. Sperry did some very impressive things in all three games and it’s just like they say, big time players make big time plays in big time game.s
Muskogee quarterback Jamarian Ficklin Jamarian Ficklin 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Muskogee | 2025 State OK was one of the very best football players in Oklahoma last season. He’ll go into the 2024 season as the front runner for Player Of The Year. As a prospect, he is right there with the best of the best. What Ficklin is able to do on the football field is amazing to watch. And we’ve watched a lot of Ficklin in the last two years between Muskogee football and 7v7 in the offseason. We don’t make this comparison lightly because it’s crazy to compare a high schooler to one of the best quarterbacks in the world. But there are times when Ficklin looks like a left-handed Patrick Mahomes. From the throws that he’s able to make, to arm angles and on or off platform, Ficklin is a special prospect and the ceiling for him is as high as anyone in this class.
Yet another Carl Albert Titan within the top ten once again is Trey Washington Trey Washington 6’3″ | WR Carl Albert | 2025 State OK at the wide receiver position. And out of the three Titans in the top ten, Washington has been that guy for the longest amount of time. He was a freshman, leading the team in receiving in 2021 and has just continued to climb the ladder and evolving his game. And just like with Haynes, he also helped the Titans on defense in the secondary and was elite in the special teams department as a punter. And it’s been well documented on this website at this point, but Washington’s physical transformation at this time last year was a big part of him staying as an elite prospect in this class. Washington lived in the weight room and has gotten bigger, making him a very intriguing prospect.
We’ve mentioned this before but it deserves being mentioned again here. Checotah wide receiver Elijah Thomas Elijah Thomas 6’0″ | WR Checotah | 2025 State OK was on our radar before he was a freshman in high school. His coach let us know that they had a player coming up that was going to be special. Thomas was that player and he’s lived up to that potential. Thomas has been absolutely electric but it was around this time last year that major college programs started to take notice. Thomas absolutely tore it up at the Oklahoma camp last summer and would earn an offer and eventually commit to the Sooners. As a junior, Thomas was one of the best players in the state. He was lights out in all three phases of the game and completely took over games, week after week and looks to do the same in 2024.
Beggs standout Ryan Grayson Ryan Grayson 6’0″ | 160 lbs | DB Beggs | 2025 State OK has been one of the top prospects in this class since his freshman season. Whether he’s lined up at running back, wide receiver or on defense at corner or safety, Grayson has always been a playmaker. For now, we have Grayson listed as a defensive back prospect but he could very well fit under the “ATH” category because he can do so many things well. Just like Thomas, Grayson is absolutely electric with the football in his hands. And it seems like every time we’ve seen him in person, he’s always making plays and is one of the best athletes on the field. We’re looking forward to seeing where his recruitment takes him this spring because he should have several opportunities waiting for him at the next level.