2A State: Washington Players To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A state championship game is set! #1 Washington will square off with #2 Millwood in Edmond on Saturday night at 7PM. It's a rematch of the Class 2A title game a year ago that the Warriors won to complete a perfect season. Washington is looking for another perfect season while the Falcons are going to be looking for redemption on Saturday after settling for silver last year. In this post, we put the spotlight on the defending champions with ten players to watch from Washington, plus more names to know! Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more state championship coverage!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>RELATED</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/12/class-2a-title-first-look-2/">– Class 2A State Title First Look</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>WASHINGTON'S TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595752"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We kick off the players to watch with one of the more underrated wide receivers in the state's 2024 class. Washington's [player_tooltip player_id='595752' first='Cage' last='Morris'] might go overlooked in this Washington offense considering they have two absolute stars at the tight end position. That would be a mistake to overlook him. He is an absolute playmaker on the outside and has been able to burn defenses deep multiple times this season. On the year, he's third on the team in receiving but he's made the most of his opportunities this fall. He's averaging the most yards per catch on the year. He has over 500 yards and six touchdowns on just 23 receptions this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["473879"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Coming into this season, Washington freshman [player_tooltip player_id='473879' first='Case' last='Alexander'] was a name to watch for us but we weren't sure what impact he would really have so early on in his high school career. It was apparent very early on that the impact would be major. Alexander emerged as one of the team's leaders on the defensive side of the ball. he's second on the team in tackles and has excelled at the linebacker position. Alexander was really impressive when we watched him in person back in April at our PRZ-Next camp on both sides of the ball. This season, he's proved that he's going to be one of the top players in the state's 2027 class for a long time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1109229"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1109229' first='Case' last='Taylor'] is the other backer named Case to keep an eye on this Saturday. While Alexander has a very bright future moving forward, it's Taylor that leads the Warriors in tackles this season. He comes into Saturday's championship game with just under 100 tackles on the season. He also leads the team in solo tackles with over 50 and has become a tackling machine for the Warriors this fall. Taylor also has a nose for the football in the backfield as he's closing in on ten tackles for loss this season. Taylor and the Warriors will look to give Millwood and their dynamic rushing attack a lot of problems when they square off.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["154210"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Washington senior and Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='154210' first='Cooper' last='Alexander'] has been one of the top prospects in the state's 2024 class for a while now. Alexander is one half of a two-headed monster at tight end for Washington that has been nearly impossible to slow down this season. Alexander leads the team in receiving touchdowns with eight on the season. Alexander is also second on the team in receptions and yards and has been an extension of the offensive line for a while now. Alexander is incredibly productive from the tight end position and is just as dangerous as a blocker as he is going out as a receiver. We're looking forward to what he does Saturday.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["311986"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Coming into this season, the running back position was a spot that we had circled as a position of interest. The Warriors had to replace a very productive running back in Cole Scott and junior [player_tooltip player_id='311986' first='Hudson' last='Howard'] erased any doubts that the Warriors would be just fine in the running game. Howard emerged early on this season with some big performances and comes into Saturday's championship game. He leads the team in rushing with nearly 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season. Most of Washington's games have been over by halftime so Howard doesn't have that many miles on the tires. He's averaging just ten carries per game this fall.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1109227"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Joining Howard in the Washington backfield as an outstanding option at running back has been senior [player_tooltip player_id='1109227' first='Kade' last='Norman'] and he's been excellent in short yardage situations or just giving Howard a breather. Norman is the second-leading rusher on the team with over 600 yards but he's also found the end zone 14 times on the season. He's made the most of his opportunities on the offensive side of the ball and he's proven to be an impact player for the Warriors this season. Saturday's game will more than likely be a back and forth battle for all four quarters, don't be surprised if Norman gets into the game and provides a big boost for Washington.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["215208"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Washington senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='215208' first='Major' last='Cantrell'] has been as close to perfect as you can be from the quarterback position. This season, Cantrell has thrown for just over 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also has added over 500 yards rushing and has been wildly efficient this year. He's completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and like we mentioned with Howard, there are a lot of instances this season when Cantrell's night is over by halftime. Cantrell has taken his game to new heights this season and he's emerged as a very interesting quarterback prospect to watch with the first signing day approaching this month.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["595681"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Washington senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='595681' first='Naithen' last='Spaulding'] was a big name to watch coming into this season. The Warriors were losing one of their better players over the last two seasons from the defensive line with Hayden Millner and it was expected that Spaulding was going to explode this fall. That's been the case as Spaulding leads the team in tackles for loss and it's not particularly close. He has 24 tackles for loss on the year and he also leads the team in sacks with nine this season. In last week's semifinal win, Spaulding went over 200 tackles for his career. He is an absolute game-wrecker coming off the edge for the Warriors.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["353411"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"The other half of that two-headed monster at tight end with Alexander is junior [player_tooltip player_id='353411' first='Nate' last='Roberts'] and Roberts might be the best overall prospect in the state's 2025 class. Roberts is your prototypical tight end prospect and he might be the best of an absolutely stacked 2025 class in Oklahoma this year. He leads the team in receptions and receiving yards and he is a match-up nightmare for just about every team that he lines up against. He has size, athleticism and hands that most teams just can't contend with in one on one situations. Roberts was also big for Washington in last year's title game. He caught what would be the game-winning touchdown.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["522806"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Our final player to watch on Saturday is Washington senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='522806' first='Tanner' last='Winlock'] and he has a very interesting stat to watch. Winlock will be making his 58th career start on Saturday when the Warriors square off with the Falcons. It's also the 20th career start for Winlock in the playoffs. Now, we don't have official or comprehensive stats for career starts but we have to think that there aren't many players in state history that have started as many games as Winlock has in the last four years. Winlock and the Warriors are making history on Saturday and the offensive lineman is hungry to finish off his career with another state title.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65735f0b943da"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>PLAYER</strong></td><td><strong>CLASS</strong></td><td><strong>POSITION</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1109231' first='Dawson' last='Thomas']</td><td>2026</td><td>Defensive Back</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='311959' first='Keller' last='Howard']</td><td>2024</td><td>Linebacker</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1109230' first='Tanner' last='Olson']</td><td>2025</td><td>Defensive Back</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->