Class 6A-2 Players To Watch – Playoff Edition
In this article:
Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! The 2023 regular season is in the books! And it’s time to start talking playoff football across Oklahoma. It feels like yesterday that we were previewing…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGet 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!
The 2023 regular season is in the books! And it’s time to start talking playoff football across Oklahoma. It feels like yesterday that we were previewing the 2023 football season and the year was kicking off. Now, teams truly begin their journey on the road to Edmond. Before we know it, we’ll be at UCO crowning state champions to wrap up a fantastic 2023 season. Prep Redzone Oklahoma will have you completely covered for the 2023 playoffs. From all the teams and players you need to know about to the best state championship coverage in the state, we’ll have wall to wall coverage of the 2023 playoffs.
In this post, we’re taking a look at Class 6A-2 and some of the top players that will have an impact on the playoffs. We put a spotlight on one player from each team in the playoffs and also give you more names to know in the postseason. And if you want a complete breakdown on the playoffs, you can check out our Class 6A-2 Playoff Preview. And check back each day for more playoff preview content ONLY on Prep Redzone Oklahoma!
Tahlequah will open up their playoff journey on the road against Putnam City. Arguably Tahlequah’s best player is junior standout Beckett Robinson Beckett Robinson 6’2″ | 170 lbs | DB Tahlequah | 2025 State OK at the wide receiver position. Robinson is a terrific looking athlete and has had several games where he’s posted some eye-popping numbers. It began in their season opener against Sapulpa when he went for over 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also recently had a strong performance against defending champion Stillwater late in the regular season, so he’s playing with confidence. If Robinson and the Tigers are able to get first ever playoff win in 6A-2, they’ll have a rematch with district foe Stillwater in the quarterfinals.
A few months ago, Choctaw junior Cash Williams Cash Williams 6’1″ | 205 lbs | ATH Choctaw | 2025 State OK found himself in a battle for the starting quarterback spot. Eventually, he took the reigns at QB and has had an outstanding junior season for the Yellowjackets. In the last two weeks, Williams has taken his game to new heights. It began in week nine when he accounted for well over 500 yards of total offense. Then in the week ten win over Ponca City, Williams led a fast start for the Yellowjackets as they ran away with the win. The playoffs bring a new kind of pressure but it’s one that Williams has been waiting for. He had his sophomore season end last year before the postseason and he’s looking forward to making up for lost time.
Ponca City is one of the more intriguing teams in the 6A-2 playoffs. For the second straight season, they began the year 0-4 and then rattled off five straight wins to have a legitimate shot to get a first round bye. So anything can happen when Ponca City takes the field. One of their more intriguing players to watch is senior Gavin Cunningham Gavin Cunningham 6’4″ | 195 lbs | WR Ponca City | 2024 State OK at the wide receiver position. Cunningham had a really good offseason and has carried that over to this season. He’s a wide receiver prospect that has good length and the ability to catch just about anything thrown his way. Cunningham and the Wildcats will play Putnam City West in the first round and that’s the marquee first round game in Class 6A-2.
Highlights
Deer Creek junior quarterback Grady Adamson Grady Adamson 6’1″ | 215 lbs | QB Deer Creek | 2025 State OK is one of the best quarterbacks in the state so there’s no doubt he’s going to be a player to watch as the Antlers begin their pursuit of a state championship. Adamson enjoyed a breakout season last year with the Antlers and has come back this season as more of a dual-threat weapon. As a passer, Adamson is incredibly efficient with the football and has some legitimate weapons at wide receiver that certainly deserve more recognition. But this season, Adamson has opened things up on the offensive side of the ball. He’s shown off the ability to run and that has to terrify opposing defenses because he can beat you in multiple ways.
Highlights
We like a good comeback story and there aren’t many that are better than Stillwater senior running back Holden Thompson Holden Thompson 5’10” | 180 lbs | RB Stillwater | 2024 State OK this season. After missing all of his junior year with a knee injury, Thompson came back this season and immediately was an impact player for the Pioneers. And despite coming off an injury and the Pioneers having a pretty new offensive line, Thompson still shined. He’s been one of the best overall players in the state this season and he’s coming off two of his best performances of the year. He set the school’s single game rushing record in week nine and then led the way again for the Pioneers in a win over top-ranked Muskogee in week ten. We’re looking forward to what’s next.
Muskogee junior quarterback Jamarian Ficklin Jamarian Ficklin 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Muskogee | 2025 State OK is another example of a player in 6A-2 that isn’t just one of the best players at his position in his class. He’s one of the best players overall in any class. This season, he’s been lights out throughout the year and we really like the production he’s had on the ground as well as his play in the air. We got a chance to see Ficklin in person in the last week against Stillwater and his ability to throw at several different angles and at an efficient clip always impresses us. Muskogee came into this season as the top-ranked team and high expectations. After a week ten stumble in Stillwater, Ficklin and the Roughers are hungry to flip the switch and prove they are the best in 6A-2.
Putnam City West is looking to make history when they hit the road and face Ponca City in the first round of the playoffs. 2016 was the last time that PC West made it to the playoffs but 1994 was the last time they won a playoff game. Senior Jordan Warrior Jordan Warrior 6’0″ | ATH Putnam City West | 2024 State OK is looking to help lead Putnam City West to the next round this week. And Warrior is the right player to do it when you consider just how versatile and athletic he truly is. He’s also one of the better basketball players in the OKC area so he’ll be no stranger to big games after being an impact player for the PC West basketball team. And Warrior and the Patriots have already been in “win or go home” mode after winning their last two games to get in the playoffs.
Putnam City North sophomore quarterback Joshua Lombard Joshua Lombard 6’0″ | 185 lbs | QB Putnam City Original | 2026 State OK definitely has learned with trial by fire this season. He saw some playing time last year as a freshman, getting into two games and seeing significant time, but this season was his first opportunity as the main quarterback in this Putnam City North offense. And just like many young quarterbacks, there’s been some growing pains and he’s had to learn through the ups and downs. Based on the last month however, it does appear that Lombard has turned the corner and is playing some of his best football right now. His touchdowns and completion percentage have gone up and they’ll need efficient play for him on the road against Bartlesville.
Highlights
Putnam City senior quarterback Judson Keefer Judson Keefer 6’2″ | 195 lbs | QB Putnam City | 2024 State OK might be the most underrated player on this breakdown. And anybody who follows us knows how much we don’t like using the word “underrated” because it loses meaning if you use it too often. But when you look at the production that Keefer has had this season, it’s hard to argue many quarterbacks in 6A-2 have been better than him this season. Keefer has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and should reach that number in their first round game against Tahlequah. He’s tossed over 20 touchdowns and he’s also the team’s leading rusher. He leads Putnam City in rushing yards and touchdowns and he’s looking to help lead the Pirates to new heights in the playoffs.
Lawton has had a tough season and the first round assignment isn’t an easy one as they’ll hit the road in the first round to face Sand Springs. The Wolverines have had to play multiple players at the quarterback position this season but despite the losing record, Lawton has still managed to find another standout at the running back position. When we look back on the last decade in 6A-2, it seems like Lawton always has one of the top running backs in the class. Junior running back Nate Jones Nate Jones 5’10” | RB Lawton | 2025 OK has been an absolute touchdown machine for the Wolverines this season. He’s put up some strong numbers throughout the year. So despite the questions at quarterback, they’ve had offensive firepower with Jones.
Bartlesville running back PJ Wallace PJ Wallace 6’1″ | RB Muskogee | 2025 State OK is right there in the conversation with some of the other top running backs in Class 6A-2. He enjoyed a breakout season last year as a sophomore and has built on that this season. The Bruins had a tough start against a competitive non-district schedule. But despite some early losses, Wallace still found a way to shine. For us, he’s one of the best running backs in the state’s 2025 class and doesn’t get enough credit around the state for the production that he’s been able to put up. Wallace and the Bruins will open their playoff journey against Putnam City North in the first round. With a win, they’ll hit the road to face district champion Deer Creek in the quarters.
Highlights
We’ve written about it all season but we’ll do it again here. Sand Springs has one of the best running games in the state when you consider both running backs and the 2023 seasons they’ve had. Opening up running lanes all season has been sophomore offensive lineman Ryley Kester Ryley Kester 6’4″ | 265 lbs | OL Charles Page | 2026 State OK and he’s one of the best OL prospects in the state. Kester is an absolute monster up front for the Sandites and the thing we like most about his game is his mean streak. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, what time of the year it is, he wants to absolutely dominate. It’s no surprise that running backs Ali McCoy Ali McCoy 5’9″ | RB Sand Springs | 2025 State OK and Kenneth Page Kenneth Page 6’0″ | 200 lbs | RB Sand Springs | 2024 State OK have had strong seasons with Kester setting the tone for the Sandites up front.
Highlights
MORE NAMES TO KNOW
Ali McCoy Ali McCoy 5'9" | RB Sand Springs | 2025 State OK – Junior Running Back – Sand Springs
Anthony Watson Anthony Watson 6'0" | 220 lbs | ATH Muskogee | 2024 State OK – Senior Athlete – Muskogee
Brayden Knox Brayden Knox 6'3" | LB Putnam City | 2025 State OK – Junior Linebacker – Putnam City
Chance Acord Chance Acord 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Stillwater | 2024 State OK – Senior Quarterback – Stillwater
JuJu Smith JuJu Smith 5'8" | ATH Choctaw | 2025 State OK – Junior Athlete – Choctaw
Kayden McGee Kayden McGee 6'1" | WR Muskogee | 2024 State OK – Senior Wide Receiver – Muskogee
Kooper Rich Kooper Rich 6'5" | 240 lbs | TE Ponca City | 2024 State OK – Senior Tight End – Ponca City
Mason Smith Mason Smith 6'3" | WR Deer Creek | 2025 State OK – Junior Wide Receiver – Deer Creek
Talon Kendrick Talon Kendrick 6'2" | ATH Stillwater | 2024 State OK – Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back – Stillwater
Will Smith Will Smith 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Choctaw | 2024 State OK – Senior Defensive Lineman – Choctaw