Sallisaw Black Diamonds OK 2026 Team Preview

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   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 Sallisaw Black Diamonds!   RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/NpbN67XgsBU" data-type="link" data-id="https://youtu.be/NpbN67XgsBU">- Sallisaw Video Preview With HC Brandon Tyler</a>   Sallisaw Black Diamonds   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #7 In Class 4A   Head Coach: Brandon Tyler - 4th Season - 23-12 Record At Sallisaw   2025 RESULTS (7-4 Record - Lost In Class 4A 1st Round)   Aug. 29th - Lost To Pryor 45-22 Sept. 5th - Beat Stigler 27-0 Sept. 19th - Beat Eufaula 57-19 Sept. 26th - Beat Hilldale 41-29 Oct. 3rd - Beat Broken Bow 40-30 Oct. 10th - Beat McLain 45-7 Oct. 16th - Beat Glenpool 35-13 Oct. 24th - Lost To Poteau 28-13 Oct. 30th - Beat Stilwell 42-0 Nov. 7th - Lost To Ada 21-20 1st Round - Lost To Grove 35-14   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 32.4 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 20.6 Points Per Game   The Sallisaw Black Diamonds came into the 2025 football season after back to back trips to the 4A quarterfinals. They had the majority of their starters returning and they were a top five team in our Class 4A preseason rankings. For seven weeks, they looked like one of the best teams in Class 4A. They dropped the season opener to Pryor but Pryor would go on to finish 10-0 and win the district title in the regular season. Following the Pryor loss, the Black Diamonds would win their next six games, including back to back wins over Hilldale and Broken Bow. Then injuries started to really take a toll on the roster in the final few weeks of the season. After starting the season 6-1 and unbeaten in district play, the Black Diamonds finished the year at 7-3, suffering losses to Poteau and Ada in the final three weeks that cost them a shot at the district championship. Sallisaw would face Grove in the first round and the season came to an end there as they lost 35-14 to the Ridgerunners. Sallisaw's season wrapped up with a 7-4 record. When we look back on their 2025 campaign, we can't help but wonder “what if” when it comes to how they finished. Injuries are part of any sport but what if Sallisaw didn't get hit with the injury bug? They beat Broken Bow and the Savages went on to win the district title. That could have easily been the Black Diamonds. There's no doubt that Sallisaw will be one of a handful of teams that come into the 2026 season feeling like they have unfinished business.    2026 OUTLOOK   Sallisaw comes into this season as a top ten team looking to go on a run and erase the memories of how the 2025 campaign came to an end. The Black Diamonds return the majority of their starters and the thing that will make this season unique is a lot of those returning starters have been guys that will be three-year starters. Offensively, the Black Diamonds bring back a three-year starter at the quarterback position. He'll be one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in Class 4A this season. They also bring back plenty of talent in the skill positions and their best offensive lineman. Sallisaw averaged a little over 30 points per game last season. With the firepower that they have returning, it wouldn't be crazy to see them flirt with averaging around 40 points per game this fall. Defensively, the Black Diamonds bring back six starters on that side of the ball. They will lean on bringing back everyone in the secondary while they work on new names in the front seven. If Sallisaw can get some decent play from some of those newcomers, they have an offense that can outscore quite a few teams that they'll play this season. But there's no doubt that the biggest hurdle will be the schedule. Sallisaw once again finds themselves in one of the toughest districts in the state. A team went 7-3 last season (including a win over Sallisaw) in this district and missed the playoffs. There are no “easy” games in this district. But on the other hand, 4A feels more wide open than the last two seasons so perhaps Sallisaw is one of those teams that can go on a run and find their way to Edmond in December.   KEY LOSS TO GRADUATION   Caden Blount - Linebacker (2025 All State Honorable Mention) [player_tooltip player_id='2146690' first='Jackson' last='Harris'] - Running Back (2025 All State Honorable Mention)   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1830922' first='Brodi' last='Nickell'] was one of the breakout stars for the Black Diamonds last season. At this time last year, Nickell was not on our radar and that turned out to be a pretty significant mistake. Nickell ended up leading the team in every receiving category during his junior season. Granted, Sallisaw was a very run-heavy team last year and will continue to have an emphasis on that this fall. But Nickell returning at the wide receiver position gives them a playmaker with some experience on the outside. Sallisaw needs some other guys to step up at the position so Nickell will definitely be the go-to target in the Sallisaw passing attack this fall.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)     2029 defensive back and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1596849' first='Calvin' last='Kilpatrick'] is a young player to keep an eye on as he moves into a bigger role this season. We've gotten a chance to watch Kilpatrick in the last two offseasons on the 7v7 circuit and each year, he's gotten better and better. This year, he was outstanding as a cover corner and a playmaker at the receiver position. So on one hand, the Black Diamonds have a returning starter on defense in the secondary with Kilpatrick. But he could also provide some meaningful minutes for them on the offensive side of the ball at receiver. His older brother was a star with the Black Diamonds a few years ago and now it's his turn.     It was a little over a year ago that we first watched 2027 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1678733' first='Dagan' last='Grizzle'] in person and we've been sold that he's one of the more underrated prospects in the state's 2027 class. In our opinion, he's one of the better guys on the offensive line in the state's 2027 class and certainly doesn't get the pub that he should. And when it comes to the upcoming season, Grizzle is going to come out of the gates with a massive chip on his shoulder. He got hurt late in the regular season and missed the playoff game against Grove. He is a dominant guy on the line of scrimmage and for a run-first offense, he helps pave the way forward for this offense.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)     2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1678735' first='Kase' last='Adams'] emerged as Sallisaw's QB1 during his sophomore season and last year he got to have a full year at the position and made the most of his opportunity. Adams is a terrific run threat but he also got to showcase his ability to push the ball downfield and he really emerged as a true dual-threat quarterback for the Black Diamonds. If he's healthy all season, we could see him being a guy that throws for 1,500-2,000 yards and adds 1,000-1,500 yards on the ground. We got to watch him in person at our showcase camp back in February and in a purely passing setting, he really showed the tools to make a lot of throws on a consistent basis.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)     2027 running back and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='2250960' first='Kenyan' last='Hill'] is our pick to be an absolute breakout star in Class 4A this season. Last year, Hill didn't get many opportunities at the running back position because he was behind a senior and the quarterback ate a lot of carries as well. But when he got his opportunities, he made the most of them. We cannot wait to see what his numbers look like this fall with 15-20 carries per game. We think that he has the potential to have a monster season this fall. But don't forget about what he can do on the defensive side of the ball. He emerged as an absolute ball hawk for the Black Diamonds and that playmaking ability hasn't gone away.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1838806' first='Aiden' last='Smith'] - 2028 Running Back/Linebacker Anthony Adams - 2028 Tight End/Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1828968' first='Asa' last='Ulrich'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1678731' first='Cade' last='Tate'] - 2027 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1837172' first='Carson' last='Sharp'] - 2028 Tight End/Linebacker Cash Girdner - 2029 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1830927' first='Grayson' last='Grinstead'] - 2028 Offensive Lineman Gunner Griffey - 2029 Wide Receiver/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1837161' first='Keaton' last='Brant'] - 2028 Wide Receiver/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1830821' first='Logan' last='Bethel'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='2231216' first='Luke' last='Warner'] - 2029 Tight End/Defensive Lineman   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - Claremore - The 2026 football season kicks off with a home game against Claremore in week zero. This is a new game on the schedule for the Black Diamonds as these two teams haven't played in over 35 years. They met every year from 1986-1989 but haven't played since. During that run in the late 80's, Sallisaw did have a 3-1 advantage over the Zebras.  Sept. 4th - Fort Smith Southside, AR. - In week one, the Black Diamonds host Fort Smith Southside out of Arkansas in the first of two straight games against Arkansas opponents. This will also be the first meeting between these two teams in general. Fort Smith Southside is no stranger to playing Oklahoma teams but these two squads have never faced off, until now.  Sept. 11th - AT Rogers Heritage, AR. - After hosting an Arkansas team in week one, Sallisaw will wrap up non-district play over in northwest Arkansas in week two. The Black Diamonds will hit the road and face Rogers Heritage to finish off their non-district slate. Similar to the Fort Smith Southside match-up, this will be the first meeting between these two teams.  Sept. 25th - Broken Bow - After a week off, the Black Diamonds open up their district slate with arguably the toughest game on the schedule. They host Broken Bow in week four and the Savages come into this season as defending district champ and the preseason number one team. This has been a district series that has been back and forth for a long time. Oct. 2nd - AT Mannford - Sallisaw goes on the road to face Mannford in week five and the Pirates are a new district opponent and the only new district opponent this season. This will also be the first meeting between these two teams as Mannford is moving up from Class 3A. They enter a district that is an absolute gauntlet week in and week out.  Oct. 9th - Stilwell - The Black Diamonds return home to face Stilwell and this will be the 11th consecutive season where these two teams have been in the same district. And during that stretch, the Black Diamonds have dominated the series. They have won eight of the last ten meetings, including the last three. They won 42-0 last season.  Oct. 15th - AT Ada - On a Fall Break Thursday night in week seven, the Black Diamonds go on the road to face Ada in district play. These two became district foes in 2022 and the series has been controlled by the Cougars. Ada won 21-20 last season but that was the closest game in this series. They are 4-0 against the Black Diamonds since they started playing in 2022. Oct. 23rd - McLain - Sallisaw hosts McLain in week eight and these two teams have been district foes off and on during this decade. It has been a district series that the Black Diamonds have had a lot of scuccess with since they started playing in 2020. Sallisaw won 45-7 last year and that improved their record to 4-0 against the Titans.  Oct. 30th - AT Hilldale - The Black Diamonds go back on the road to face Hilldale in week nine. The Black Diamonds come into this season with a three-game winning streak over the Hornets. They won 41-29 last season and are looking to keep that streak going this year. These two have been district opponents since 2016 but Hilldale will have a new head coach (sort of) this fall. Nov. 6th - AT Poteau - The regular season comes to a close with a road game against Poteau in week ten. Because of how this district has played out in the last two years, this game could be for the district title, a home playoff game or the winner is in and loser goes home. Poteau has owned this series recently, winning 28-13 last year and eight of the last nine.    NOTABLE   Head coach Brandon Tyler is getting ready for his fourth season as Sallisaw head coach. We typically say this a few times every year but Tyler is hands down one of the best football coaches in the state of Oklahoma. It hasn't mattered where Tyler has coached at, that team finds a way to be successful. Sallisaw was 1-19 in the two seasons before Tyler took over and they have been a playoff team every year with a 23-12 record in the three seasons since he took over. When he was at Gore, prior to Sallisaw, they were a losing program and he immediately turned them around and into a winner. In 2024, Tyler became one of the few active coaches in the state to hit 200 career wins. He shows no signs of slowing down and we're looking forward to seeing how the Black Diamonds look this season. It's been about 25 years since the Black Diamonds were true state championship contenders. In a wide open Class 4A, it wouldn't be surprising to see Sallisaw in the mix when it's all said and done.    LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 7-4 - Lost In Class 4A 1st Round 2024 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals 2023 - 7-5 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals 2022 - 0-10 - Missed Playoffs 2021 - 1-9 - Missed Playoffs   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   2 State Championships   1981 - Beat Newcastle 21-14 1980 - Beat Lindsay 33-22

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