Top Five 2026 Newcomers This Fall

<!-- 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>Over the last two months, we've been updating the prospect rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma. We finished the update this week with an updated look at the state's 2026 class. We went from a Top 200 to a Top 250 on this update. If you missed it, you can check out the rankings <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2026-rankings/">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. In this breakdown, we're taking a look at the top five newcomers in the latest update. All five of these guys not only debuted in the rankings but they are debuting in the Top 100. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2026 breakdowns!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["670656"],"_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-69232d687f2ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mustang defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='670656' first='Derek' last='Straughn'] has been a 2026 prospect that has been on our radar for a while. Straughn is one of the top track athletes that also plays football in the fall. He has multiple D1 track offers and we thought it was only a matter of time before he broke out as a true football prospect. As it turns out, it also needed Straughn to move from offense to defense. He had been a receiver but moved to defensive back this season and had a terrific 2025 campaign. He was also part of a Mustang secondary that had legitimate D1 guys everywhere. College coaches have started to notice Straughn this fall and he's going to have a chance to be a late bloomer in this cycle. The combination of his size, speed and overall athletic ability make him a 2026 prospect that has an incredibly high ceiling moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1838604"],"_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-69232d687f367"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This offseason, Broken Arrow had quite a few new additions after they hired Travis Hill as their next head coach. One of the new additions was linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1838604' first='Nate' last='Jackson'] after he moved over from Metro Christian. Jackson was one of the more underrated moves this offseason but man his impact has been anything other than underrated. Jackson has been a big part of the Broken Arrow defense this season. The secondary gets a lot of the attention because of the next level talent they have there but don't overlook the front seven and with Jackson in particular. He has a nose for the football and talking with some of Broken Arrow's coaches earlier in the season, they pointed to Jackson as being a guy that should be on more radars moving forward. This 2026 linebacker group is deep but Jackson definitely belongs in that conversation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1326361"],"_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-69232d687f3dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ada senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1326361' first='Caron' last='Richardson'] is another 2026 prospect that has been on our radar for a while now. He's been productive for the Cougars but this season, that production absolutely exploded and he became one of the top running backs in Class 4A and that is a class that is loaded with running back talent. Richardson put up big numbers this season and became a guy that would consistently go for 150 yards and two or three touchdowns. Simply put, he became one of the breakout stars this season and he's a guy in the state's 2026 class that should get more attention from college coaches in the next few months. It hasn't mattered who Richardson and the Cougars were going against, he was able to produce at a high level. He's definitely a guy who's improved to the point of becoming a legitimate big time RB prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1921423"],"_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-69232d687f453"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pocola's [player_tooltip player_id='1921423' first='Antwoine' last='Thomas'] is the first of two newcomers that moved into Oklahoma this offseason. Thomas was in Fort Smith, Arkansas before crossing the Oklahoma border and landing in Pocola. We got a chance to watch Thomas in person earlier this season and he immediately passes the eye test. In a match-up where there were multiple D1 athletes on the field, Thomas looked like he belonged from a size and overall athleticism standpoint. Thomas was lining up for Pocola in the secondary as a safety but he has the frame and overall size to possibly come down and play some linebacker at the next level. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if Thomas' ceiling is much higher at the next level if he comes down and plays linebacker. Thomas has also been a big part of Pocola going further this season than ever before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1103004"],"_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-69232d687f4c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Three-time defending champion Washington got a major addition this offseason when running back [player_tooltip player_id='1103004' first='Javen' last='Hall'] moved into Oklahoma from out of state. Hall instantly became a name to know within this Washington offense and the Warriors weren't exactly lacking talent at the skill positions coming into this season. Hall backed up the preseason hype by becoming that instant impact player in the backfield. Hall split carries with Washington's other star running back and the two of them combined to become one of the top running back duos in the state. Hall came into this season with a handful of offers from his time out of state but he's definitely a running back prospect to keep an eye on over the next two months. When we were looking at the new faces in this update, he was a no doubter to debut in a high spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->