2024’s Freshmen To Watch

<!-- 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. We're not slowing down in August. This week in particular, we're putting the spotlight on all of the players that you need to know about going into the 2024 season. Earlier this week, we put out our 2024 Preseason All State Teams and today, we're taking a look at ten freshmen to keep an eye on this season and definitely beyond. Despite not taking a snap at the varsity level, these ten players are already on our radar for a variety of reasons. At this time last year, we wrote about Jenks standout [player_tooltip player_id='478124' first='Semaj' last='Stanford'] in this post and he would end up being our PRZ-Oklahoma Freshman Of The Year and he earned All State honors. Will we see that from one of the ten on this list? We'll find out in a few months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1054230' first='Aiden' last='Augustine'] - Offensive Lineman - Mangum</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of two offensive linemen on this breakdown is [player_tooltip player_id='1054230' first='Aiden' last='Augustine'] out of Mangum. The Tigers are high on this freshman coming into the 2024 season and we're high on the Tigers in Class A-2. They have a very talented and young team going into this season and it will be fun to see how Augustine meshes with some of the returning players. This is an extremely experienced team but Mangum's coaches anticipate Augustine being a big part of what they do, not only this season but definitely moving forward. The Mangum freshman should be a name to know moving forward in the smaller classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1164571' first='Ashton' last='Newport'] - Offensive Lineman - Checotah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Checotah offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1164571' first='Ashton' last='Newport'] is another offensive lineman to keep an eye on going into this season. And just like Augustine, Newport first got on our radar this offseason when he performed very well at one of our PRZ-Next camps. Newport immediately passes the eye test and this spring, we also caught him in action at the Hilldale team camp. He was taking reps at center but was working with Checotah's starters throughout the afternoon. It's hard not to anticipate seeing Newport on the field for the Wildcats this season somewhere along the line of scrimmage. He could be their biggest lineman already.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166475' first='Chandler' last='Johnson'] - Tight End/Defensive Lineman - Stillwater</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of two Stillwater Pioneers on this breakdown is [player_tooltip player_id='1166475' first='Chandler' last='Johnson'] and we cannot wait to see where he ends up on the field. We watched Johnson a lot this offseason from our PRZ-Next camps to the 7v7 circuit. At our camps, Johnson really impressed us with his ability on the defensive line, coming off the edge. On the 7v7 circuit, he was a reliable pass catcher as a traditional tight end and big target down the field. It's only a matter of time before he has an impact on the Pioneers on Friday nights and the only question we have is which side of the ball will become the most natural spot for him moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1164507' first='CJ' last='Wright'] - Running Back - Lincoln Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We don't think this is a bold claim but there are few 2028 prospects that are faster than Lincoln Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='1164507' first='CJ' last='Wright'] and we cannot wait to see that speed under the Friday night lights. Wright got on our radar back in January after he tore it up at our PRZ-Next camp. He would then follow that up with multiple big-time performances in various 7v7 tournaments and now he shifts his focus to his freshman season with Lincoln Christian. And the Bulldogs have been one of the better offensive teams in Oklahoma for well over a decade so they'll find a way to get the most out of him. He's absolutely electric and fun to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473891' first='Creed' last='Barrett'] - Quarterback - Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Washington Warriors have to replace a three-year starter at quarterback. They've won back to back state titles, have been to four straight state title games and they might be turning the keys over to a freshman in 2024. That freshman is [player_tooltip player_id='473891' first='Creed' last='Barrett'] and if he gets his number called, he won't flinch. Barrett has absolutely excelled every time we've seen him and that includes this spring at the Noble team camp. Now, Barrett is still going to be a freshman so there will be a learning curve and growing pains. But it would not surprise us at all if he earns the QB1 job, if not early on in the season, at some point in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214367' first='David' last='Thomas'] - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back - Stillwater</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If we had to predict which player on this breakdown would be the PRZ-Oklahoma Freshman Of The Year when we announce the winner in December, it might be [player_tooltip player_id='1214367' first='David' last='Thomas'] out of Stillwater. He's already earned an offer from hometown team Oklahoma State and his ceiling is unbelievably high moving forward. Thomas had an outstanding offseason on the 7v7 circuit and Stillwater's coaches are incredibly high on him moving forward. He gives the Pioneers another weapon in the passing game and he also has the ability to play defense. But if Thomas goes off this year, look for him to do it on the offensive side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='474035' first='Josiah' last='Dickerson'] - Running Back - Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other Washington Warrior freshman to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='474035' first='Josiah' last='Dickerson'] at the running back position. And we'll put Dickerson in the same category as Wright from Lincoln Christian. We've watched Dickerson in the offseason over the last two years absolutely tear things up on the camp and 7v7 circuit. Like Barrett, it's only a matter of time before Dickerson makes some big plays on Friday nights. Now, the Warriors have a very experienced senior running back returning, but they also are the favorites to win another title. We could see a blow out or two and that means Dickerson could get some decent playing time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1328118' first='Kamieon' last='Nero'] - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back - Rejoice Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rejoice Christian freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1328118' first='Kamieon' last='Nero'] is another intriguing athlete to keep track of as he goes into his freshman season. We've seen video of Nero running around but it's been on the basketball court. He's an athlete. And one thing we've seen with Rejoice Christian over the last five years is they know what they're doing when it comes to versatile athletes who can do a little bit of everything. As of right now, we're not sure how Nero is going to be utilized this season with the Eagles but that's a big reason why he's going to be a freshman to watch. We're looking forward to seeing what kind of impact he has for them in 2024 and beyond. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1374361' first='Kristopher' last='Grimaldo'] - Athlete - Madill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madill freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1374361' first='Kristopher' last='Grimaldo'] is the other 2028 prospect that already has a D1 offer before he even enters high school. And for Grimaldo, he has multiple offers. No surprise, Grimaldo is another southern Oklahoma product that has been training and working with C4 and Grimaldo is the latest C4 guy to earn multiple offers before entering high school. Grimaldo is going to be a very intriguing player to watch because everything we've seen has been on film and there isn't much to complain about. Madill is a program that could be ready to explode with some of the young players they have coming up and Grimaldo leads the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1035151' first='Nate' last='Boeck'] - Tight End/Defensive Lineman - Ada</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this time last year, we mentioned Ada's [player_tooltip player_id='1035151' first='Nate' last='Boeck'] as another freshman to keep an eye on heading into the 2023 season. Shortly after that, we found out that Boeck actually reclassified to the 2028 class. So this feels a little like deja vu as we're mentioning Boeck as, once again, a freshman to watch. Boeck has stood out to us in person when we've seen him at our PRZ-Next camps. He's long, athletic and as he continues to improve his natural movement, he's going to be an absolute problem. Right now, Boeck looks like a tight end or defensive end but we're leaning to the defensive side of the ball with him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->