TPS Athletes Making a Difference – Part 4:

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tulsa Schools is full of talented high school football players who are making their presence felt and helping their teams compete every Friday night. From established playmakers stepping into leadership roles to emerging prospects turning heads with their performances, these athletes are finding ways to make a difference on either side or on both sides of the football. In this feature, we take a closer look at some of the players who have caught our attention through film, live evaluations, and their impact on the field. In this 3 part series, we will keep highlighting the athletes who are stepping up for their teams and making their mark on high school football across the Tulsa area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2165496' first='Jeremiah' last='Pearson'] | BTW | Wide Receiver | 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Booker T. Washington has an intriguing 2028 prospect at wide receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='2165496' first='Jeremiah' last='Pearson']. Pearson moves well in space and shows good overall body control, giving him the ability to make plays in a variety of situations. He has good hands and understands how to get open, finding windows in the defense and giving his quarterback a target when the play develops. I like his awareness on the field and his ability to recognize open space, allowing him to turn short gains into bigger plays after the catch. Pearson's versatility is another part of his game that stands out to me. He can work to find openings in coverage, make the catch, and use his athleticism to create additional yardage. His combination of hands, body control, and field awareness gives the Hornets another weapon in the passing game. As he continues to develop in the 2028 class, Pearson is a receiver to keep an eye on as he looks to make an impact for Booker T. Washington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2339327' first='David' last='Love'] | East Central | Athlete | 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Central has an athlete who can make an impact in all three phases of the game in [player_tooltip player_id='2339327' first='David' last='Love']. This athlete is really intriguing overall. What stands out to me is his versatility and the different ways the coaching staff finds opportunities to get the ball into his hands. On the defensive side, he plays fast off the edge and does a good job working down the line of scrimmage. He understands how to get flat, maintain his pursuit angle, and make plays while moving laterally. He also uses his hands well and brings a physical presence at the point of contact, making him an intriguing defensive prospect. His impact extends to special teams and the offensive side of the ball, where he serves as a dynamic kickoff return specialist and a dangerous weapon at running back. As a runner, he flashes good balance, speed, and footwork, giving him the ability to make defenders miss and turn an opening into an explosive play. I like how East Central's coaching staff utilizes his athleticism and finds different ways to put him in positions to succeed. With his ability to contribute on defense, special teams, and offense, he is a versatile athlete worth keeping an eye on as he continues to develop in the class of 2028. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2124560' first='Josiah' last='Wilson'] | BTW | Outside Linebacker | 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Booker T. Washington has a versatile defensive playmaker in 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2124560' first='Josiah' last='Wilson'], who lines up at the nickel position and brings a disruptive presence to the Hornets' defense. Wilson does a good job coming off the edge and creating problems in the opposing team's backfield. He uses his hands well to work through blocks and consistently finds ways to make plays, whether that means getting to the quarterback for a sack or tracking down a ball carrier in the open field. I like the way he plays with an aggressive mindset and puts himself in position to impact the game. What makes Wilson especially intriguing is his ability to contribute in different roles within the defense. He can operate in space at nickel, using his athleticism to pursue ball carriers, but he can also move closer to the box and play inside linebacker. When aligned inside, he does a good job reading the guards and working from tackle to tackle to find the football. That versatility gives the Hornets options in how they deploy him, and his ability to contribute both as a pass rusher and a run defender makes him a key piece of their defensive unit. I like Wilson's overall game, and he is a 2028 prospect worth keeping an eye on as he continues to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Butler | KIPP | C/DT | 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last KIPP standout we are going to highlight is Jeremiah Butler, who contributes at center on offense and defensive line on the other side of the football. On offense, Butler shows some encouraging traits in pass protection. I like how he maintains his posture, stays patient, and avoids lunging at defenders. Instead, he allows the defender to come to him and flashes good technique when engaging at the point of attack. I would like to see more film of him in the run game, particularly how he works in space and gets to the second level to make blocks downfield. Those additional reps would help provide a more complete picture of his overall ability as an offensive lineman. Defensively, Butler does a good job extending his arms to create separation and prevent offensive linemen from getting into his frame. He shows the ability to shed blocks and work down the line of scrimmage to pursue the football. I like the foundation he shows with his hands and his ability to maintain separation at the point of attack. To get a better understanding of his overall defensive upside, I would like to see more clips of his pass-rush ability and block destruction against opposing linemen. Butler has some positive traits on both sides of the ball, and additional film will help round out his evaluation as he continues to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1832786' first='Elijah' last='Hill'] | BTW | Running Back | 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Booker T. Washington athlete worth highlighting is running back [player_tooltip player_id='1832786' first='Elijah' last='Hill']. Hill shows good vision, speed, and the ability to make decisive cutbacks that can turn a routine run into an explosive play. I like his footwork and how quickly he can get to the second level once he identifies an opening. He also brings a physical running style between the tackles and shows good balance when working through contact, allowing him to keep his feet moving and fight for additional yardage. One of the things that stands out to me is Hill's ability to read the field and adjust when the initial running lane closes. On outside-zone plays, he can press the run in one direction, recognize an opening, and cut back against the grain to find space on the opposite side. That vision and change of direction make him a difficult runner to defend. Playing against quality competition in Class 6A-II has given him opportunities to showcase his skill set, and his combination of speed, balance, and physicality makes him an intriguing weapon for the Hornets' offense. Hill is a player I will continue to keep an eye on as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->