Yukon Millers 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 Yukon Millers!   RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/sAP1ZW7aJqI" data-type="link" data-id="https://youtu.be/sAP1ZW7aJqI">- Yukon Video Preview With HC Brent Barnes</a>   Yukon Millers   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #9 In Class 6A-1   Head Coach: Brent Barnes - 4th Season - 10-22 Record At Yukon   2025 RESULTS (6-6 Record - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals)   Aug. 29th - Beat Putnam City 48-35 Sept. 5th - Lost To Mustang 44-20 Sept. 12th - Beat Sapulpa 40-0 Sept. 26th - Beat Westmoore 49-24 Oct. 3rd - Lost To Broken Arrow 42-14 Oct. 10th - Lost To Edmond Memorial 37-13 Oct. 16th - Lost To Union 49-27 Oct. 24th - Beat Norman North 48-40 Oct. 30th - Beat Edmond Santa Fe 29-7 Nov. 7th - Lost To Owasso 47-27 1st Round - Beat Deer Creek 24-7 Quarterfinals - Lost To Owasso 45-7   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 28.3 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 31.4 Points Per Game   The Yukon Millers came into the 2025 season looking to take the next step and make it back to the 6A-1 playoffs. After going a combined 2-18 in 2022 and 2023, the Millers took a small step in the right direction with a 3-7 season in 2024. They doubled that win total in 2025 and certainly took a positive step in the right direction. They started the season with a 3-1 record, with the lone loss coming to rival Mustang. The start of October was not kind to the Millers as they would drop three straight in district play. They would win two big games to wrap up October and then tripped up against Owasso in the regular season finale. But ultimately, the Millers were 5-5 at the end of the regular season and had earned their way back into the playoffs. Yukon beat Deer Creek 24-7 in the first round and that was the school's first playoff win in nearly three decades. The last time they won a playoff game was the 1997 semifinals when they punched their ticket to the state championship game. That playoff losing streak came to an end in 2025. They lost to Owasso in the quarterfinals, two weeks after playing them in the regular season. The season came to an end at 6-6 but there is no way you can describe this season as a failure. Yukon had been a program that had struggled to even make the playoffs, let alone win a playoff game and flirt with having a winning record. This is a program that is certainly going in the correct direction and the next hurdle is to start beating those west side programs that have started to contend with those east side powers in the “SEC” of Oklahoma high school football that is Class 6A-1.    2026 OUTLOOK   Yukon comes into this season as the number nine team in our Class 6A-1 preseason rankings. We have to think that's one of the first times in recent memory that they come into the season as a top ten team. They have the firepower to continue their momentum from last season. Offensively, the Millers bring back six starters and they'll have a trio of skill players that will end up playing P4 college football so the conversation with the offense starts right there. Now, the biggest hurdle the Millers will have to overcome this season is the play on the line of scrimmage. They have to replace everyone on the offensive line and that will not be an easy task. But if they can bring a group together, they have the skill talent to be one of the better offenses in Class 6A-1. Defensively, the Millers bring back six starters from last year's team. It's going to be the same story on that side of the ball as the back seven of this defense will look really impressive. They will need to bring some new names along on the defensive line to have a complete unit. But we think both the offense and defense will be able to take positive steps in 2026. The new district is one that the Millers should be able to be competitive in. Getting a higher seed for the playoff run is going to be important. The schedule is highlighted by a three-week stretch in October where they play Union, Owasso and Jenks in three consecutive weeks. By the end of that stretch, the Millers are going to know exactly where they stand in the district and ultimately the playoff hunt. On paper, Yukon looks like a team that should definitely take another step forward when they kick off the 2026 season this fall.    KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Cayden Carter - Offensive Lineman (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Destry Lujan - Running Back/Linebacker (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Michael Johnson - Defensive Lineman   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1839492' first='Antawan' last='Grayson'] is the first of several newcomers to the Yukon program that should provide an immediate impact this season. Grayson was at El Reno and now looks to compete on both sides of the ball against 6A-1 competition week in and week out. Grayson has shown from his time at El Reno that he can be incredibly productive on the offensive side of the ball at the running back position. He gives the Millers a bigger running back and depth at that position. But we have a feeling that his most significant impact will come on defense. Grayson will line up at the linebacker position and help out the front seven immediately.     2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1330007' first='Daniel' last='Yebit'] comes into this season as one of the unquestioned best athletes in Class 6A-1. Earlier this offseason, he announced his commitment to TCU and has continued to climb the charts in the state's 2027 rankings. Whether it's on offense or defense, Yebit is a complete game changer. He's considered a defensive back at the next level but it's hard not to look at what he can do on the offensive side of the ball. There's a chance that he ends up being one of the best wide receivers from a production standpoint in Class 6A-1 this season. There's no doubt that the talent and overall athletic ability is there. Yebit will be fun to watch week in and week out this fall.    (2025 All State Honorable Mention)     2028 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1829398' first='Prince' last='Charles Shelburn'] is a prospect that we really liked earlier this year when we went back and watched some of his film from last fall. He's still a prospect coming into this season that probably isn't talked about enough considering he's quickly emerging as one of the top 2028 running backs in the state. His recruitment has started to take off and there's a chance that he absolutely blows up this fall. There are two reasons behind that statement. First off, once you get that first offer, there's always a potential for it to snowball. Second, Shelburn is expected to get a much bigger workload in 2026. So he's going to be in the spotlight much more this season.     2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1745314' first='Wyatt' last='Jones'] is the perfect example of the “ultimate program guy” when it comes to Yukon football. Jones has been a big part of Yukon football since entering high school several years ago. Last year, he was QB1 for the Millers and now has stepped aside and is helping the Millers more on the defensive side of the ball. Jones will start for Yukon in the secondary at the safety position and he has the potential to be a big boost to what they do on defense. Yukon's coaches mentioned him as the “quarterback” of the defense and that completely checks out when you look at the path of his career. He's a leader on and off the field and looks to finish his career in a big way.     There aren't many players that we want to see in person more than 2028 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1717719' first='Zealand' last='Danielson'] when he takes the field for the Millers this season. Danielson is not only a move-in to the Yukon program, he's a move-in from out of state so it'll be our first time seeing him in Oklahoma period. Danielson comes into this season with a lot of expectations considering the hype around him landing in Yukon. He's a 2028 quarterback prospect that already has a handful of D1 offers. But there's still so much mystery around him and his game, coming from out of state. He certainly has the potential to be one of the bigger instant impact players in Oklahoma this fall.    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   Brycen Vaxter - 2030 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1834121' first='Connor' last='Cannon'] - 2028 Linebacker Dexter Smith - 2030 Tight End/Defensive End [player_tooltip player_id='1829391' first='Elijah' last='Taylor'] - 2028 Defensive Back Jax Taylor - 2030 Linebacker Kash Park - 2027 Wide Receiver Koda Fish - 2030 Quarterback/Defensive Back Landen Carter - 2029 Wide Receiver Luke Brush - 2029 Linebacker Nick Jones - 2030 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Parker Ellis - 2029 Offensive Lineman Stone Candeleria - 2030 Tight End/Defensive End [player_tooltip player_id='1306528' first='Tahir' last='Neal'] - 2027 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1837738' first='Trendon' last='Turner'] - 2028 Defensive Back   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - AT Putnam City - The 2026 season opens up with a short trip over to OKC to face Putnam City in week zero. The Millers have opened the season against the Pirates in each of the last two seasons. They started playing each other in 2024 and it's been a favorable series for Yukon. They won the first meeting in 2024 by ten points and then won 48-35 last year.  Sept. 4th - Mustang - The annual rivalry game against Mustang takes place in week one this season as the Millers will host the Broncos. Yukon is incredibly hungry to turn things around in a series that has been one-sided for the last two decades. The Millers have lost eight straight in the series and will be looking for their first win over Mustang since the 2018 season.  Sept. 11th - AT Westmoore - The Millers go back on the road in week two as they square off with Westmoore. This has been a series that has been even since 2020. The Jaguars dominated this series in the 2010's, going unbeaten against the Millers. But since 2020, each team holds a 3-3 record. Yukon beat the Jaguars 49-24 to snap a three-game losing streak in the series. Sept. 18th - Edmond Santa Fe - The Millers will actually open up district play here in week three when they host Edmond Santa Fe. These two have been district opponents since Class 6A was split in 2014. The series is another one that has been one-sided for Yukon's opponent. But things have turned around recently with Yukon winning the last two, including last year's 29-7 win.  Sept. 25th - AT Deer Creek - Yukon goes on the road in week four to face Deer Creek and this will be a new district match-up for the Millers but not a new opponent. Yukon snapped their playoff losing streak in the first round of the playoffs last year when they beat Deer Creek. Last year's meeting was the first time they had met since playing in non-district play in 2020 and 2021. Oct. 2nd - AT Bartlesville - Because district foe Enid was granted independence, Yukon was going to have a bye week here in week five. Instead, they will play a non-district game against 6A-2's Bartlesville. This will be the first meeting between these two teams. The Bruins will also look different with a head coach that turns programs around immediately everywhere he goes. Oct. 9th - AT Union - The Millers go back on the road for the third straight week in week six with a trip to Tulsa to face Union. Yukon has never beaten the Redhawks and this will be the fifth straight year that they are in the same district. This also begins a three-week stretch where Yukon is playing one of Tulsa's five powerhouse 6A-1 programs each week in October.  Oct. 15th - Owasso - Yukon returns home for the first time in nearly a month when they host Owasso on a Fall Break Thursday night in week seven. These two got very familiar with one another last season. They met in week ten and then two weeks later in the 6A-1 quarterfinals. Similar to Union, Yukon is still searching for their first win over the Rams.  Oct. 23rd - Jenks - The gauntlet stretch of the schedule concludes in week eight with a home game against Jenks. The Millers and Trojans haven't met on the gridiron since they were district opponents from 2014-2021. And just like with the other two 6A-1 powers from the east side of the state, Yukon is hunting for that first win over Jenks in program history.  Nov. 6th - AT Moore - After a week off following that three-week stretch, the Millers go back on the road in week ten to wrap up the regular season against Moore in week ten. These two teams haven't met since playing in non-district play in 2018 and 2019. They split that series with Yukon winning in 2018 and Moore winning in 2019. They've never been in the same district since the 6A split.    NOTABLE   The theme of this preview has been “taking a step forward” for a Yukon football program that is looking to get back in the mix in Class 6A-1. After back to back 1-9 seasons in 2022 and 2023, the Millers took that small step forward by going 3-7 in 2024. Last season, they took a major step forward with a 6-6 year and a playoff victory that was the first since they played for the state championship nearly three decades ago in 1997. Prior to last season, Yukon had lost in eight consecutive playoff appearances and that streak came to an end in 2025. And if you drive around the high school campus, it looks completely different. They recently opened a brand new indoor facility that might be the nicest indoor facility in the state. They've had one of the state's nicer football stadiums for a while now and they have paired it with an indoor facility that some D1 colleges would be jealous of. Things are changing in Yukon and the foundation is certainly being built for the Millers to join the conversation in 6A-1. It's not something that happens overnight. But the foundation is there and the dedication to changing the culture is set.    LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 6-6 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals 2024 - 3-7 - Missed Playoffs 2023 - 1-9 - Missed Playoffs 2022 - 1-9 - Missed Playoffs 2021 - 4-7 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Quarterfinals   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   0 State Championships

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!