2024 Class 5A Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 football season is right around the corner! Since July 1st, we've published well <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/team-previews/">over 100 of the most in-depth team previews</a></strong> to get you ready for the upcoming season. And we have not slowed down in August. The past week has been all about the individuals to watch this season. From our Preseason All State teams to comeback players and freshmen to watch and much more, we have you covered. In this post, it's time to continue our class by class previews. Again, this is all put together to get you ready for the 2024 season. We continue with Class 5A and this is a great look at all the teams, players and games to watch this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PRESEASON RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/carl-albert-titans-ok-2024-team-preview/">CARL ALBERT</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/lawton-macarthur-highlanders-ok-2024-team-preview/">LAWTON MACARTHUR</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/collinsville-cardinals-ok-2024-team-preview/">COLLINSVILLE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/bishop-mcguinness-irish-ok-2024-team-preview/">BISHOP McGUINNESS</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/del-city-eagles-ok-2024-team-preview/">DEL CITY</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/midwest-city-bombers-ok-2024-team-preview/">MIDWEST CITY</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/guthrie-blue-jays-ok-2024-team-preview/">GUTHRIE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/mcalester-buffaloes-ok-2024-team-preview/">McALESTER</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/bishop-kelley-comets-ok-2024-team-preview/">BISHOP KELLEY</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/booker-t-washington-hornets-ok-2024-team-preview/">BOOKER T WASHINGTON</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OTHER TEAM PREVIEWS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/claremore-zebras-ok-2024-team-preview/">CLAREMORE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/coweta-tigers-ok-2024-team-preview/">COWETA</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/duncan-demons-ok-2024-team-preview/">DUNCAN</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/durant-lions-ok-2024-team-preview/">DURANT</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/nathan-hale-rangers-ok-2024-team-preview/">NATHAN HALE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/newcastle-racers-ok-2024-team-preview/">NEWCASTLE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/pryor-tigers-ok-2024-team-preview/">PRYOR</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/tahlequah-tigers-ok-2024-team-preview/">TAHLEQUAH</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ALL 5A TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - [player_tooltip player_id='670654' first='Aivan' last='Locklin'] - Junior - Lawton MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='1332266' first='Jahhim' last='Mahmoud'] - Senior - Midwest City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='1018641' first='Scott' last='Rigby'] - Junior - Collinsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='449184' first='TJ' last='Bradford'] - Junior - Newcastle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='1045555' first='Joshua' last='Rushing'] - Junior - Lawton MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='598825' first='MiShaun' last='Graham'] - Senior - Del City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='867297' first='Carter' last='Couch'] - Senior - Bishop Kelley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='353418' first='Cody' last='Voelker'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='595750' first='Drake' last='DeVore'] - Senior - Collinsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1262594' first='Ja'Qwon' last='Evans'] - Junior - Shawnee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1160764' first='Quaylin' last='Goodman'] - Senior - Del City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1323090' first='Chris' last='Goodman'] - Senior - Collinsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='402371' first='Colton' last='Yarbrough'] - Junior - Durant</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='473952' first='Joseph' last='Graves'] - Sophomore - Booker T Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='353419' first='Caden' last='Davis'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='377954' first='Marcus' last='James'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='587262' first='Ricklan' last='B Holmes II'] - Junior - Del City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='529848' first='Will' last='Spears'] - Senior - McAlester</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='403509' first='Adam' last='Auston'] - Junior - Lawton MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1187305' first='AJ' last='Vaughn'] - Senior - Lawton MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='598829' first='D'Marion' last='Turner'] - Senior - Del City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='356897' first='Jashawn' last='Mccalister'] - Senior - Del City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KICKER/ALL PURPOSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>K - [player_tooltip player_id='615813' first='Ethan' last='Spiwak'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='211566' first='Beckett' last='Robinson'] - Senior - Tahlequah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='1160818' first='Deon' last='Franklin'] - Senior - Nathan Hale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='294261' first='Trey' last='Washington'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='598824' first='Trystan' last='Haynes'] - Senior - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='1161856' first='Ty' last='McKnight'] - Senior - Claremore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MARK YOUR CALENDARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 20th - Del City AT Midwest City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are quite a few marquee non-district games featuring 5A teams against schools from different classes. But this week three clash features two top six teams in Class 5A and Mid-Del rivals. Midwest City will host Del City and this will also serve as the last "tune up" game for each as they enter district play in the next week. On paper, both of these teams have some serious firepower returning on both sides of the ball but they are also unproven at some of the key positions. So when these two teams square off, we'll certainly learn a lot about both when it comes to where they stand in Class 5A overall. Del City has dominated this series in the last five seasons and they'll look to continue that during the 2024 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 27th - Del City AT Collinsville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Collinsville and Del City, there will be no "easing into" district play. In Week four, they'll open up district play against one another. These are top five teams in the preseason rankings and on paper, they're the two favorites in this district. Del City made a run to the state championship game a year ago and they're ready to reload for another run in 2024. For Collinsville, they aren't that far removed from capturing the 2021 state championship and this is a team that brings back some big names on both sides of the ball. This is another game in Class 5A that is going to give us a great idea of what Class 5A could look like this season. And there should be some hitting in this game as both teams have tough running games with strong linebackers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 17th - Bishop Kelley AT McAlester</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a Fall Break Thursday night, McAlester will host Bishop Kelley and the district title could be on the line but this district is impossible to predict. The group of Bishop Kelley, Booker T Washington, Coweta and McAlester headline this district and while some teams have better chances to win the district, all four teams could make a case to be that team. But coming into this season, the Comets and the Buffaloes are the top two teams from this district in the preseason rankings. This match-up is also a playoff rematch from a year ago. Bishop Kelley would get the best of the Buffaloes in the first round before falling to rival McGuinness in the quarterfinals. McAlester certainly hasn't forgotten about last year and this could be a fantastic match-up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>November 1st - Carl Albert AT Guthrie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one had to make the list considering what we saw from this match-up a year ago. Carl Albert went into Guthrie and walked away with a win in an instant classic. The Titans trailed Guthrie 21-17 and faced fourth and goal with under a minute left. It was either get in the end zone or lose the game. Carl Albert would score and escape with a close win. Now, Guthrie lost a lot of star power to graduation and the Blue Jays are definitely going to look different this season. But overlooking them as we head into the 2024 season would be a mistake. And for Carl Albert, they are in hot pursuit of their third straight state championship and are once again the team to beat in 5A. And after last year's meeting, Guthrie will have Carl Albert's full attention. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>November 8th - Bishop McGuinness AT Lawton MacArthur</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the final week of the regular season, we get a potential district championship showdown in southern Oklahoma. Lawton MacArthur will host Bishop McGuinness and both teams are preseason top five teams. Now look, this might be the toughest district in Class 5A this season so a lot can change between now and then. But on paper, the Highlanders and the Irish look like the two teams to beat in this district and are definitely state championship contenders coming into the season. Both teams come into this year with D1 talent, with the Highlanders having a very special 2026 class at the top. Regardless of whether or not the district championship is on the line, this game is going to feel like the playoffs are starting a week early. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 SEASON OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we look ahead to the 2024 football season in Class 5A, the overriding storyline is Carl Albert and the teams that are chasing the Titans. Carl Albert comes into this season as two-time defending champs and have won seven of the last eight state titles in Class 5A. And then you look at the roster and realize that they definitely aren't slowing down this season. Carl Albert has five players on our Preseason All State 1st Team, including three players committed to Oklahoma. The target is as big as it's ever been for the Titans as they look to accomplish the three-peat. Then you have the other teams in the top five. Lawton MacArthur, Collinsville, Bishop McGuinness and Del City, in that order, all have a chance to knock off the Titans and wear the crown for Class 5A. It's going to be an incredibly competitive and deep class this season. You have other schools like Booker T Washington and Tahlequah dropping down from 6A-2 and they look to have an instant impact in 2024. Schools like Bishop Kelley, Guthrie, McAlester and Midwest City are always in the mix so going into the season, it feels safe to say that all four will be playoff teams and it's not a stretch. But then there are teams outside of the preseason top ten that all have a chance to make some noise. Claremore, coming off an unexpected run to the semifinals looks to build off last year's memorable season. Coweta is young but that youth is very talented and the Tigers are a team that you can't overlook. Then there are other programs like Durant, Newcastle, Pryor and Shawnee that could end up making a run to the playoffs and with some of the players they bring back, it wouldn't be a surprise. Last year, it was Carl Albert and Del City as the top two teams all season. It played out that way from beginning to end. This year, the Titans are still the team to beat but this class is going to be very competitive throughout the 2024 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->