Choctaw Yellowjackets OK 2025 Team 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>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and even into August, we are publishing well over 100 of the most in-depth team previews that you'll find anywhere to get you completely ready for the 2025 football season. This is something that began for us at PRZ-Oklahoma in 2021 and it continues to get bigger and better every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state in every class. From defending champions, to the top contenders and plenty of dark horses and other teams to know, we'll have complete coverage every single day. There will be multiple previews dropping every single day! In this post, we take a look at the reigning Class 6A-2 state champion Choctaw Yellowjackets!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Choctaw Yellowjackets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #1 In Class 6A-2</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Jake Corbin - 9th Season - 65-28 Record At Choctaw</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 RESULTS (11-2 Record - Class 6A-2 State Champions)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30th - Beat Lubbock Monterey, TX. 40-25<br>Sept. 12th - Lost To Gardner-Edgerton, KS. 66-44<br>Sept. 20th - Lost To Bixby 55-27<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Piedmont 56-40<br>Oct. 4th - Beat Putnam City 54-14<br>Oct. 11th - Beat Southmoore 51-17<br>Oct. 17th - Beat Stillwater 35-28<br>Oct. 25th - Beat U.S. Grant 48-0<br>Nov. 1st - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 59-14<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Northwest Classen 57-0<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Sapulpa 52-0<br>Semifinals - Beat Sand Springs 31-21<br>Championship - Beat Muskogee 26-25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2024 Offensive Scoring Average: 44.6 Points Per Game<br>2024 Defensive Scoring Average: 23.5 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choctaw came into the 2024 season as the #3 team in Class 6A-2 but they would finish on top. For the first time in over six decades, the Yellowjackets were state champions in Oklahoma. It wasn't an easy start for Choctaw as they faced a brutal non-district schedule. They lost on the road to Gardner-Edgerton in Kansas and then at home to Bixby. Both of those teams would end up winning state championships in their state's largest class. Despite a 1-2 start, Choctaw was still considered a serious contender in Class 6A-2 and rightfully so. They would turn things around with three straight dominant wins over Piedmont, Putnam City and Southmoore. Then came the Thursday night showdown against Stillwater in week seven. The Yellowjackets would prevail 35-28 and were in control of the district race from there. They closed out the regular season with an 8-2 record, district championship and had a ton of momentum going into the playoffs. After a first round bye, Choctaw took care of business against Sapulpa and then the Yellowjackets became the cardiac kids in the semifinal and championship games. First, they beat Sand Springs 31-21 in the semifinals but that came after they trailed 21-6 late in the first half. They would score 25 unanswered to punch their ticket to the championship game. In that championship game, they fell down 25-7, late in the third quarter to defending champion Muskogee. They would score 19 unanswered to take the lead with a little over five minutes left. But the champs marched down the field and had a 21-yard field goal to win but it would miss right and the Yellowjackets finished on top of the Oklahoma mountain for the first time since 1960.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellowjackets come into the 2025 football season looking to defend that crown that they earned in 2024. They also come into this season with as big of a target as they've had in recent memory. Choctaw enters 2025 with the preseason #1 ranking in Class 6A-2 and they'll look to reload for another run. Offensively, the Yellowjackets have to replace a lot of production off a unit that averaged nearly 45 points per game. Only four full time starters return on the offensive side of the ball and that could end up being an area for concern. But their breakout star at the running back position is one of those returning starters so that should help while the other new starters get used to their new roles. Defensively, the Yellowjackets bring back seven starters and that's another massive strength for a team that will be relatively inexperienced on offense. And when you look up and down this Choctaw roster, they have a lot of players that have either already earned a lot of major D1 attention or it should be coming sooner rather than later. Choctaw will lean on the experience they have coming back for another tough early schedule. The entire non-district schedule is on the road, with two of those games coming in Kansas and Texas. And we would make the argument that their two toughest district games are also going to be away from home. Choctaw was battle-tested by the time they captured a gold ball in 2024 and there is no doubt that will be the case as we start looking ahead to the 2025 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braven McConnell - Linebacker (Signed With Pitt State - All State 3rd Team Selection)<br>Cash Williams - Quarterback (Signed With Tennessee (Baseball) - All State Honorable Mention)<br>JuJu Smith - Athlete (Signed With Nebraska-Kearney - All State 3rd Team Selection)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1179994"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686360a3c3940"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've mentioned this before but it deserves to be mentioned more. Choctaw has become one of the top programs in the state at developing next level defensive backs. Senior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1179994' first='Da'Jon' last='Green'] is the next example of that. Green started to really see his recruitment take off a little over a year ago and it hasn't slowed down. He had a terrific junior season and it will be interesting to see how he uses the momentum he has to continue to grow. Every time we've seen Green in person this offseason, he's immediately passed the eye test. He has the ability to absolutely lock down a side of the field and is an incredibly physical cornerback on this Choctaw defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1176238"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686360a3c39f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1176238' first='Israel' last='Hammons'] is one of the absolute best “swiss army knives” in the state. Last season, as a sophomore, Hammons would see time on the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. That's incredibly rare but Hammons did it at a high level and he was also their top tackler on kickoff. A little over a year ago, we started to watch Hammons as an interesting and versatile athlete in the spring. But he absolutely exploded and was incredibly important to what the Yellowjackets were able to do in 2024. And college coaches have taken notice. Hammons has very quickly become one of the top overall 2027 prospects in Oklahoma.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402379"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686360a3c3a75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After years of splitting time at quarterback and sidelining injuries, senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='402379' first='Landon' last='Gatson'] appears to be ready to step into that QB1 role for the Yellowjackets this fall. Gatson is another player that's going to immediately pass the eye test when he steps on the football field. Gatson is a true dual-threat quarterback that is just as dangerous in the running game, specifically near the goal line. Last season, Gatson finished with nearly 500 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Now, as we start to look ahead to the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Gatson to see how he looks in the passing game. And he's hungry to take advantage of his opportunity.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["476091"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686360a3c3ac4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='476091' first='Mayor' last='Morgan'] was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 football season. He saw all of his running numbers literally double from his sophomore season. He went from running for over 600+ yards to running for more than 1,200 yards in 2024. He also went from 9 touchdowns on the ground to 18 scores last season. Morgan was a touchdown machine and it was incredibly tough to keep him out of the end zone in 2024. Now, all eyes will be on Morgan as he and Gatson have the potential to be one of the best 1-2 punches in the state this season. This offseason, Morgan officially joined the ranks of Yellowjacket standouts with D1 offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1035103"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686360a3c3b0b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1035103' first='Titus' last='Hawk'] is in a similar position to Hammons where he's seen his recruitment absolutely blow up this offseason. The list of offers is getting incredibly long and it's easy to see why. Hawk was one of the best players on the field during that state championship victory over Muskogee. And as we head into the 2025 season, Hawk is going to be the leading returning receiver in the Choctaw offense. And it's clear that Hawk and Gatson already have the connection in that passing game. Hawk was tied for the lead with seven touchdown catches a year ago. A couple years ago, Hawk was listed as a quarterback to watch but now he's arguably the top tight end in the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1626556' first='Braylen' last='Taylor'] - 2026 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1601980' first='Brycen' last='Black'] - 2028 Quarterback<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1655976' first='Caydon' last='Anderson'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1198491' first='Jayce' last='Watson'] - 2027 Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1642493' first='Kentrell' last='Gaddis II'] - 2028 Athlete <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1694828' first='Quaid' last='Smith'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1571077' first='Rocco' last='Tartaglione'] - 2026 Linebacker<br>Romeo Turner - 2026 Wide Receiver<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1831254' first='Tahriq' last='Knighten'] - 2026 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1179983' first='Will' last='Hight'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='587295' first='Zaylun' last='Matlock'] - 2026 Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 29th - AT Lubbock Monterey, TX.</strong><br>- The 2025 football season begins in week zero with a lengthy road trip for the defending champs. Choctaw heads to west Texas to face Lubbock Monterey. They beat them 40-23 last season but this year, they will have a 350+ mile journey to kick off the 2025 football season.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 12th - AT Hays, KS.</strong><br>- For the second straight year, Choctaw will head north to Kansas to face a championship-quality program. Last year, it was eventual 6A champion Gardner-Edgerton. This year, they travel to Hays to face a program that made it to the 5A state title game a year ago.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 19th - AT Bixby</strong><br>- The non-district schedule comes to an end in week three in Bixby. We'll see a match-up between the defending 6A-1 and 6A-2 state champions here. The Spartans beat the Yellowjackets 55-27 last year and Bixby is without a doubt the “measuring stick” in Oklahoma.<br><strong>Sept. 26th - Piedmont</strong><br>- District play kicks off in week four with a big home game against Piedmont. Last year, these two teams played a back and forth, high-scoring affair. The Yellowjackets eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter, winning 56-40. Perhaps we will see another high-scoring affair this year.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 3rd - AT Putnam City</strong><br>- The first half of the regular season comes to an end here with a road game against Putnam City. Choctaw has won the last five meetings with the Pirates, including a 54-14 victory in 2024. But the Pirates are a top five team coming into this season and could challenge Choctaw.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 10th - Southmoore</strong><br>- The second half of the regular season kicks off with a home game against Southmoore. The Sabercats dropped down to 6A-2 last season and it was the first time they met in over a decade. Choctaw won the 2024 meeting 51-17. This year, Southmoore will have a new head coach.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 16th - AT Stillwater</strong><br>- The district championship could be decided here in week seven as Choctaw goes on the road to face Stillwater and this has become one of the best 6A-2 rivalries in the class. In their last four meetings, both teams are 2-2 and all four games have been decided by seven points or less.<br><strong>Oct. 23rd - U.S. Grant</strong><br>- Following the Stillwater showdown, Choctaw returns home in week eight to host U.S. Grant. The Generals are coming off an 0-10 season and this is a program that just hasn't been able to compete against 6A competition. Choctaw rolled to a 48-0 victory over U.S. Grant last year.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 30th - AT Lawton Eisenhower</strong><br>- The Yellowjackets play their third straight Thursday night game in week nine when they go down to Lawton to face Lawton Ike. These two teams became district foes last year and the Yellowjackets rolled to a 59-14 victory. Lawton Ike will have a new head coach in 2025.&nbsp;<br><strong>Nov. 6th - Northwest Classen</strong><br>- The Yellowjackets will finish up the 2025 regular season at home, against Northwest Classen. These two teams have been district foes for the last three years and the series hasn't been competitive. Choctaw is 3-0 and has outscored Northwest Classen 197-6 during that stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Bixby stopped tormenting Class 6A-2 and moved up to Class 6A-1 in 2022, the immediate question surrounded who would be the next monster in 6A-2. Three years later, and we've seen three different state champions. Stillwater in 2022, Muskogee in 2023 and the Yellowjackets in 2024. What feels unique about those three programs is the fact that all three have made exactly two state championship game appearances in those three years. Those were the three teams that were circled prior to that 2022 season as the three that appeared to be most ready to take the crown. And they've been going to battle with each other ever since. But for the Yellowjackets, they are looking at one of the more successful stretches in program history. They're defending champs, they've made three trips to the state title game in the last five years and they show no signs of slowing down, anytime soon. The slogan around Choctaw surrounds Yellowjacket football being the “GOLD Standard” in Oklahoma and it's starting to feel like they are living up to it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LAST FIVE SEASONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 - 11-2 - Class 6A-2 State Champions<br>2023 - 8-2 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals<br>2022 - 11-2 - Class 6A-2 Runner Ups<br>2021 - 8-3 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals<br>2020 - 9-4 - Class 6A-2 Runner Ups</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 - Beat Muskogee<br>1960 - Beat Stigler 32-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->