Union Redhawks 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 2026 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 Union Redhawks!    RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/zLbhCnwJvHE" type="link" id="https://youtu.be/zLbhCnwJvHE">- Union Video Preview With HC Antonio Graham</a>   Union Redhawks   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #6 In Class 6A-1   Head Coach: Antonio Graham- 2nd Season - 5-7 Record At Union   2025 RESULTS (5-7 Record - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals)   Aug. 29th - Lost To Bentonville, AR. 28-14 Sept. 5th - Lost To Stillwater 41-15 Sept. 12th - Lost To Jenks 48-30 Sept. 26th - Beat Edmond Santa Fe 16-6 Oct. 3rd - Lost To Owasso 49-15 Oct. 10th - Beat Norman North 51-30 Oct. 16th - Beat Yukon 49-27 Oct. 24th - Lost To Broken Arrow 29-10 Oct. 30th - Beat Westmoore 44-7 Nov. 6th - Lost To Edmond Memorial 16-10 1st Round - Beat Norman 49-42 Quarterfinals - Lost To Bixby 51-14   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 26.4 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 30.6 Points Per Game   A new era began for Union football in 2025 as Antonio Graham took over as head coach of the Redhawks, replacing Kirk Fridrich, who was Union's coach for nearly two decades and won five state championships with the Redhawks. But there's no doubt that Union was going to look different with new faces on both sides of the ball and an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. Union stumbled out of the gates, dropping their first three games and they were 1-4 at the halfway mark of the regular season. Union would need to turn things around in a major way or they would actually be in danger of missing out on the playoffs. After the 1-4 start, Union won three of their next four to solidify their spot in the playoffs. They dropped a close game to Edmond Memorial in the regular season finale and that set up a first round match-up against Norman in the first round. That turned out to be one of the more exciting first round games in either 6A-1 or 6A-2. The Redhawks prevailed 49-42, setting up a quarterfinal showdown on the road against reigning champion Bixby. The season came to an end there as they lost 51-14 to the Spartans. The season came to a close at 5-7 and it was a rare losing record for the Redhawks. It wasn't the easiest year one and it certainly didn't play out like what Union had hoped for heading into the season. But as they turn the page to the 2026 season, the Redhawks have room for hope and optimism as they start focusing on the new season ahead.    2026 OUTLOOK   The Redhawks come into the 2026 season as a borderline top five team in an absolutely loaded Class 6A-1. Union is one of those programs that year after year got penciled into the top five in their class. There is more competition than ever before at the top and the Redhawks are hungry to get back into that pack. Eight starters return for Union on the offensive side of the ball. This will be a group that is led by the guys up front on the offensive line. Not only does Union bring back the majority of their dudes on the line of scrimmage, but they have some dudes that will be playing at the next level on that offensive line. The quarterback returns and should get the green light after splitting time with a QB that graduated. And the Redhawks are not lacking talent at the skill positions heading into this season. Defensively, Union brings back four starters from last year's team so they will definitely need the offense to put up some points as they work in those new faces on defense. Just like the offense, Union's strength on defense will start with the defensive line. The Redhawks look like they have at least two guys that will end up at the next level and they can set the tone on the line. They will make everyone else's job easier for a defense that is breaking in quite a few new faces. The first month of the season could be another bumpy one as the Redhawks play some of their toughest competition. But if they come out of the gates hot, they could get right back into that conversation as one of 6A-1's elite teams.   KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Daijon Gaines - Defensive Back (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Stone Turner - Wide Receiver (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Tayveon Parry - Running Back (2025 All State Honorable Mention)   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='2138053' first='Adrian' last='Moton'] is a player that immediately grabbed our attention at Union's team camp back in the spring. In a camp that featured athletes everywhere for multiple teams, Moton was one of the more impressive guys. He's a rangy wide receiver that has a borderline unguardable catch radius. Because even if the cornerback stays with him step for step, Moton has a leaping ability that not many in the state can contend with. There were multiple instances this spring where Moton was blanketed in coverage and used that leaping ability to make big play after big play. We expect him to emerge as an absolute playmaker in this Union offense.      There aren't many quarterbacks in the state's 2027 class that we've seen more than Dylan Turner at Union. Turner is one of those quarterback prospects that is always better than the last time we've seen him. That was the case again this spring when we caught the Redhawks in person. We're looking forward to seeing what Taylor does in the Union offense this season. At this time last year, he was battling another QB for the starting position and that battle lasted throughout the season. This year, he looks like he is the guy and there's plenty of potential there for a breakout season. Taylor is going to be a fun quarterback to watch when Union takes the field.     Talking with Union coaches this offseason, it's clear that they are very confident with the group they bring back on the offensive line. And when you start to talk about this group up front, it's hard not to start the conversation with [player_tooltip player_id='1836865' first='E'Mareon' last='Edison'] as he prepares for his senior season. This offseason has been a strong one for Edison, building off a fantastic junior season. Edison has earned multiple D1 offers and has been noticed by coaches at various camps this offseason. The Union senior leads an offensive line that is made up exclusively of seniors. They are deep and it all starts with Edison, setting the tone and paving the way for Union's offense.      It feels like 2027 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1637574' first='Ian' last='Castellanos'] should be in college at this point. He's one of those players that stood out to us early on in his career and made big plays in big games and it's crazy to think that he still has one year of high school ball ahead of him. Looking at this Union roster, Castellanos is hands down the most experienced player on either side of the ball. He started as a sophomore and made big plays right from the jump. Now, Castellanos will be one of the rare returning starters on the defensive side of the ball. He'll look to be an extension of the coaching staff on that side as Union brings along some of those new faces on defense.      2028 defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1642542' first='Rocky' last='Bright III'] is the first of two ‘28 defensive linemen that the state needs to know about coming into this season. Last year, Bright showed flashes of being a dominant defensive end and overall terror coming off the edge for the Union defense. When we got a chance to watch Union back in the spring, Bright was arguably their best player on the defensive side of the ball. The ceiling for him is incredibly high and he has a very unique blend of size, athletic ability and overall moves that makes him a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. In the spring, he was matched up with elite OL and he held his own on every rep.      Joining Bright on the defensive line is 2028 defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1532195' first='Terrance' last='Evans'] and he might be one of, if not the first 2028 prospect in the state to earn a P4 offer. It happened very early in his freshman year and now Union expects Evans to take that next step up front for them on defense. Evans is an absolute monster on the line of scrimmage. And he's trimmed up this offseason and is getting more explosive. The ceiling for him moving forward as a prospect is incredibly high. He's flirted with it in the past and has shown how dominant he can be. Evans is on our shortlist of 2028 prospects that we want to watch in person when the 2026 season kicks off.      2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1297670' first='Tristian' last='Birmingham'] moved over to Union from Sand Springs this offseason. Birmingham emerged early in his career as a fantastic wide receiver prospect. We've also benefitted from seeing the 2027 product many times on the 7v7 circuit in the last few years. Last season, Birmingham helped Sand Springs win a state title and moved around to wherever they needed him. He played running back and wide receiver. This season, with Union, Birmingham will be used at wide receiver but they'll also turn around and play him at the cornerback position. The versatility and overall athletic ability is off the charts with Birmingham so he'll be fun to watch this fall.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   Devin Bailey - 2029 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1828679' first='Grayson' last='Betts'] - 2028 Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1834396' first='Jeremy' last='Foster'] - 2028 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1830597' first='Jordan' last='Avington'] - 2027 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1525400' first='Jordan' last='Johnson'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman Pat Thompson - 2027 Wide Receiver Khoriyan Williams - 2027 Running Back/Linebacker   Tay'Vonne Hankins - Linebacker   2026 SCHEDULE    Aug. 28th - AT Bentonville, AR. - Union is opening the season against a NW Arkansas powerhouse for the third straight season. The Redhawks will go over to Arkansas to face Bentonville in week zero. They lost to the Tigers last season but won a very entertaining game in overtime two seasons ago. This season will feature the grudge match between these two powers.  Sept. 4th - Broken Arrow - Union's home schedule opens up with a week one game against Broken Arrow. The Redhawks fell to the Tigers last season in district play but this game goes back to being a non-district affair for at least the next two years. Union will look to get back to their winning ways. Prior to last year's loss, they had beaten Broken Arrow six straight times. Sept. 11th - Choctaw - The Redhawks host 6A-2 powerhouse Choctaw in week two. The last two years, Union played 6A-2 power Stillwater but they've swapped that match-up for Choctaw. These two teams haven't met on the gridiron in nearly two decades. 2008 and 2009 in the old 32-team 6A was the last time these two met. Union has never lost to the Yellowjackets.  Sept. 25th - Jenks - For the first time in nearly three decades, Jenks and Union are in the same district. The annual backyard bowl will serve as the district opener for the Redhawks this season. Jenks beat Union 48-30 last season but the Redhawks won the last game at home against the Trojans two years ago, when they prevailed 9-3. This is certainly not your typical district opener. Oct. 2nd - AT Booker T Washington - Union heads to north Tulsa to square off with Booker T Washington in a rare non-district game in week five. This match-up became possible with Union's district only having seven teams after Enid went independent. It seems crazy to write, but this will be the first time since 2013 that these two Tulsa powerhouses square off on the gridiron.  Oct. 9th - Yukon - The Redhawks host Yukon in week six in another big district match-up. This will be the fifth consecutive season that these two have met in district play. The Redhawks have never lost to the Millers. That includes last year's 22-point victory. But the Millers come into this season with high expectations with a very talented offense leading the way. Oct. 15th - AT Moore - Union travels west for the first time in 2026 with a week seven clash against Moore on a Fall Break Thursday night. These two teams are district opponents for the first time since 2021. They met every year from 2014-2021 after the 6A-1 split. Union was 8-0 during that stretch and the closest game was a 34-point win in 2019.  Oct. 23rd - Deer Creek - You don't see this very often with Union but in week eight, the Redhawks will host Deer Creek and it will be the first time these two teams have met on the gridiron. The Antlers joined 6A-1 a few years ago but this is their first encounter with the Redhawks. And you look at the Deer Creek coaching staff and there is Union DNA scattered throughout.  Oct. 30th - AT Edmond Santa Fe - The Redhawks head back to the Oklahoma City area in week nine when they travel to face Edmond Santa Fe. These two teams have been district opponents the last four seasons and it's been a series that has been controlled by the Redhawks. But Santa Fe could very well look different this season with a first year head coach.  Nov. 6th - AT Owasso - The regular season comes to a close in week ten as Union goes north to Owasso to face the Rams in a game that could be a head to head clash for the district title. Union is looking to snap a two-game skid to the Rams and it will also be the first game for head coach Antonio Graham as Union's head coach at his previous school in Owasso.   NOTABLE   History suggests that Union is destined to bounce back in a major way in 2026. The Redhawks are coming off a 2025 season where they went 5-7. It was the first losing season for Union in 35 years. While they still made the playoffs and won a playoff game, they had a losing record for the first time since 1989. Coincidentally, that 1989 season was the second time in two straight years that Union finished with a losing record. So needless to say, and obvious to many around the Tulsa area, Union is used to winning and winning at a high level. Odds suggest that Union will get back to their winning ways but there's no doubt that they have more competition at the top than ever before. It's not like it was two decades ago when it was Union and Jenks at the top and everyone was playing for third in most years. Both Tulsa powers have plenty of company at the top. But for the Redhawks, they are focused on one thing and that's ending 2026 with a win.    LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 5-7 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals 2024 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals 2023 - 10-2 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Semifinals 2022 - 11-1 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Semifinals 2021 - 11-2 - Class Class 6A-1 Runner Ups   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   9 State Championships   2016 - Beat Norman North 57-43 2011 - Beat Broken Arrow 23-22 2010 - Beat Jenks 50-47 2009 - Beat Jenks 52-19 2008 - Beat Jenks 34-20 2005 - Beat Mustang 33-7 2004 - Beat Jenks 27-17 2002 - Beat Broken Arrow 52-3 1963 - Beat Mooreland 24-14

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