A Way Too Early Look At Class 5A

<!-- 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>Throughout the month of January, we've been recapping the 2024 football season with All State teams, season recaps and many more player awards. But it's now 2025 and it's time to take a far too early look at the 2025 football season and we continue in Class 5A. Now again, it's January and we are seven months away from the 2025 season kicking off so there are quite a few things that can change between now and then. For instance, looking back at our way too early look at the 2024 season in Class 5A, we couldn't see what was coming with the emergency redistricting shuffle in April. We had Elgin #3 in our January rankings and they would actually get dropped down to Class 4A and would eventually win the state title. Another one we got absolutely wrong was Guthrie ranked #8 and the Blue Jays would play for the state championship. But nevertheless, it's time to take a look ahead and see how 2025 could shape up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>WAY TOO EARLY TOP TEN FOR CLASS 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) CARL ALBERT<br></strong>- Who else are we going to put here? This was an easy choice in 2023 and 2024 but to be honest, it's not as easy as we start looking ahead to 2025. The Titans are going to have to reload after losing a very special senior class. They do have a young running back in [player_tooltip player_id='693905' first='Delijah' last='Matthews'] that appears to be ready to take the next step and a dominant defensive lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='1539931' first='Lebron' last='Royal'] that had a breakout 2024 season. But they have question marks in a lot of different areas of both sides of the ball. But while we have more questions than answers, we're not putting anyone else in the top spot right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) DEL CITY<br></strong>- Del City certainly surprised us in 2024 when they reloaded following their 2023 state title game appearance and were right back in the mix. We think that's where the Eagles will be again in 2025. 2026 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='587262' first='Ricklan' last='B Holmes II'] made a significant step in 2024 and he'll be one of the better two way players in Class 5A. 2027 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1035154' first='Kaleb' last='Blackwolf'] is going to be another player to keep an eye on because he was a ball hawk in 2024 but he could have an impact on offense as well and 2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1511450' first='Cash' last='Koertner'] could take another step this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) BOOKER T WASHINGTON<br></strong>- We could make a very strong argument that Booker T Washington will actually be the team to beat in Class 5A this fall. The Hornets, on paper, look very good in a lot of different areas. They bring back 2026 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='595677' first='Levi' last='Brooks'] and his backfield running mate in 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='858873' first='Mykah' last='Washington'] at running back. They also return 2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='284116' first='Keynan' last='Farley'] who we think is a high upside prospect. And the headliners are 2027 defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1035135' first='DaWayne' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='473952' first='Joseph' last='Graves'] who will probably make up the best 1-2 punch on a defensive line of any team in the state this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) COLLINSVILLE<br></strong>- Collinsville had a roller coaster of a season in 2024 but if they avoid the injury bug, 2025 could look very different. The Cardinals will go into the 2025 season with one of the best group of offensive skill talent in the class returning. 2026 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='402384' first='Skyler' last='Moorman'] returns and he's joined in the backfield by 2026 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1018641' first='Scott' last='Rigby'] and he might be the best RB in 5A football after running for 27 touchdowns in 2024 and he wasn't even 100%. Finally, 2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='805100' first='Ben' last='Daniels'] returns after leading the team in receiving and he'll certainly be hungry for more in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) McALESTER<br></strong>- McAlester cracks the top five with a very talented roster returning in 2025 but the Buffaloes will be under new leadership. Longtime Blanchard head coach Jeff Craig is now in charge and he has a lot to work with this fall. For us, it starts with 2026 running back [player_tooltip player_id='858875' first='Jordan' last='Clark'] after the junior had a fantastic 2024 campaign. The Buffaloes also bring back their top three wide receivers, including 2027 standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1175581' first='Brandon' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='649775' first='DeVeion' last='Bickham'] but one area they'll need to improve is defense. The Buffaloes lose some of their most productive players from that side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) NEWCASTLE<br></strong>- Newcastle was one of those teams in April that got moved because of the emergency redistricting shuffle and they went from 4A to 5A and the Racers didn't back down from the challenge. They won a district championship and made a run to the 5A semifinals. They'll need to replace their quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='898159' first='Jackson' last='Schanuel'] and that won't be easy but they do bring back 2026 running back [player_tooltip player_id='449184' first='TJ' last='Bradford'] and we think he could be one of the top backs in Class 5A if he stays healthy. Also keep an eye on 2026 standout [player_tooltip player_id='482118' first='Kaden' last='Longman'] after his breakout season in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) PRYOR<br></strong>- Pryor nearly made a run to the 5A semifinals in 2024 and it wouldn't be surprising to see them knock on the door of the final four again in 2025. The Tigers will have to find some new starters to step in, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. But we really like the talent they have coming back on the offensive side, making them a very dangerous unit to watch in 2025. 2026 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1366322' first='Braden' last='Ward'] will return following a fantastic junior season where he threw for 25 touchdowns while running for ten more and he brings back his top three receivers from 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) LAWTON MACARTHUR<br></strong>- Looking at Lawton MacArthur on paper, there is a lot to like because the Highlanders have multiple 2026 prospects that are either committed or are being recruited at the D1 level. Arkansas commit [player_tooltip player_id='403509' first='Adam' last='Auston'] returns at safety and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1045555' first='Joshua' last='Rushing'] will be one of the top receivers in Class 5A this fall. They bring back experience at quarterback with [player_tooltip player_id='670654' first='Aivan' last='Locklin'] but the Highlanders need to bring all that talent together to make a run. It was a tough ending to the 2024 season, losing three out of their last four games and the Highlanders do not want that trend to continue in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) GUTHRIE<br></strong>- So maybe we're just doing the same thing we did last year and in 12 months we'll learn our lesson. Guthrie surprised a lot of people by making a run to the 5A state championship game but we have them here at #9 and that's probably a mistake. The Blue Jays do lose some very productive players like [player_tooltip player_id='1340787' first='Eli' last='Plagg'] and Kolton Carlock but they do bring back 2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1706912' first='Daelon' last='Rice'] and a pretty solid group in the 2026 and 2027 classes respectively. So maybe we'll be fooled for the second straight year but again, it's still January and a lot can change between now and August.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) BISHOP McGUINNESS<br></strong>- Rounding out the top ten is Bishop McGuinness and the Irish were a team in 2024 that we just couldn't get a good feeling on. They'd rattle off four straight wins and then get upset by Midwest City. It was a pretty unpredictable team but there are some pieces returning that we really like moving forward. 2026 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='587264' first='Aiden' last='Monigold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1010142' first='Andrew' last='Harris'] are both players that we think could have big offseasons and have a ton of momentum going into the 2025 season. The biggest challenge will be a very competitive district, especially at the top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->