Early Season Standouts – Film Breakdown Pt. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the early part of the 2026 football season, several Oklahoma high school athletes have already begun to make their presence felt on the field. From established veterans stepping into bigger roles to emerging players starting to turn heads, this group of early-season standouts has shown the ability to impact games in a variety of ways. These are athletes who have caught our attention from early-season performances. As the season continues to unfold, we will continue to keep an eye on these players and see how they build on their early success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1522515' first='Cole' last='Rolland'] - QB - Checotah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Checotah is off to a 2-0 start, and [player_tooltip player_id='1522515' first='Cole' last='Rolland'] is a big reason behind the hot start. A three-year starter who will be a four-year starter when it's all said and done, Rolland brings valuable experience and leadership to the Checotah offense. Last week in their win over Beggs, he put together a true dual-threat performance, throwing for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns while adding more than 100 rushing yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. Rolland does a good job leading the offense and keeping his team on schedule, consistently finding ways to move the chains and put his offense in good situations. With district play approaching, Rolland is certainly someone we will be keeping an eye on as the season continues. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1262599' first='Oakley' last='Caruthers'] - DL - Norman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Air Force commit [player_tooltip player_id='1262599' first='Oakley' last='Caruthers'] is off to a really strong start this season and has been incredibly disruptive at the line of scrimmage. His play up front has been a big part of Norman's hot start as they make the move down to 6A-II, giving them the look of a team that could quickly become a contender in the new classification. Caruthers is someone I had the opportunity to watch during my Friday Film Review, and I came away impressed with his overall game. I really like his initial burst off the line of scrimmage and the knockback he creates at the point of attack. He does a good job getting that first push and disrupting plays before they have a chance to develop. Caruthers is athletic enough to play at nose guard and can play at defensive end. With his experience and physicality up front, he will be an important player to watch as Norman continues through the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1830547' first='Darion' last='Thomas'] - LB - Carl Albert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carl Albert has an absolute tackling machine in [player_tooltip player_id='1830547' first='Darion' last='Thomas']. After facing Newcastle and BT Washington in the first two weeks, Thomas already has 30 tackles on the season. He led the team in tackles a year ago, but it looks like he has taken his game to another level to start this fall. Thomas does a great job with his eyes and reads, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and get to the point of contact in a hurry. He plays fast, physical, and with a good understanding of where he needs to be. I really like his game overall and am excited to see how he performs tonight against Del City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1522522' first='Ryder' last='Waddell'] - Jumbo Athlete - Poteau</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This kid is one of the better 2028 prospects in the state, and he played incredibly well in their bounce-back win last week. He continues to show why he is a player to keep an eye on, impacting the game on both sides of the football. In his previous game against Grove, he recorded 13 total tackles, including 11 solo stops and two tackles for loss, while adding six receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns on offense. I really like his game on both sides of the ball. At linebacker, he shows good instincts and does a nice job reading the play and attacking the ball carrier. Offensively, he doesn't wait for the ball to come to him—he attacks it and makes plays. He is a versatile, physical athlete who has already shown he can get the job done in multiple phases of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976705' first='Isaiah' last='Butcher IV'] - QB - Bixby</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part of a three-headed monster at quarterback for Bixby, [player_tooltip player_id='976705' first='Isaiah' last='Butcher IV'] has shown he can make an impact with both his legs and his arm. He is a run-first quarterback who fits the style Bixby has traditionally utilized at the position, but he has also shown the ability to be accurate when he is asked to throw the football at 87.5% passing so far this season. Butcher does a good job putting the ball in a spot where his receivers can find the open window and make a play. Through the first three games, he has accounted for 177 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 463 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. His ability to create with his legs while still making plays through the air gives Bixby another dimension in its offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->