Champion Check In - Muskogee Roughers

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   We're deep in the heart of the offseason and there isn't much football going on other than your occasional 7v7 tournaments in the area. And we miss football. So over the next month, we'll be checking in with the reigning state champions and taking a very early look at what they'll look like heading into 2024. Of course, we'll have a better idea after spring ball and team camps in May but until then, we can at least get the conversation started.   And the conversation continues this week with Class 6A-2 and the defending champion Muskogee Roughers. As we head into the 2024 season, Muskogee will be the team to beat in 6A-2 and they were our team to beat heading into the 2023 season. The Roughers lived up to expectations and had a season to remember, capturing the school's first state championship in nearly four decades. Muskogee is a community that loves football and this is a community that has been starving for a state championship. They got the job done in 2023 and they won't want to settle for just one.   In order to go back to back as state champs, Muskogee has some work to do this offseason. The Roughers lose a ton of experience and production on the defensive side of the ball. While they do have talent returning on defense, the majority of their starters will have graduated. On offense, the Roughers might have the best group of skill players with the quarterback, running backs and talent at receiver. But in order for that skill group to light up the scoreboard, they will need the offensive line to come together after replacing some big names. Muskogee isn't even close to lacking talent as we head into a new season. But this spring and summer will be big for those holes that need new names to step up. As we look at the 6A-2 landscape, not much has changed. It appears that Choctaw, Deer Creek and Stillwater will once again join the Roughers as the top challengers in the class.   Below, we take a look at three categories. We look at some of the toughest players that Bixby will have to replace. We'll also look at the top guys they have coming back and three players to keep an eye on this fall as potential breakout players.   Key Losses To Graduation   [player_tooltip player_id='202153' first='Anthony' last='Watson'] - Tight End/Defensive End   Muskogee's [player_tooltip player_id='202153' first='Anthony' last='Watson'] might have been one of the more underrated players in the state over the last two seasons. Watson was Muskogee's swiss army knife on both sides of the ball. Whatever the Roughers needed, Watson could fill that role and did a great job. He was one of our favorite players to watch in person because of his versatility and the Roughers will certainly miss that on both sides of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='655698' first='Jayden' last='Swanson'] - Defensive Back   Muskogee's secondary is taking a massive hit with graduation and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='655698' first='Jayden' last='Swanson'] is one of the guys that the Roughers will have to replace. Swanson emerged as a really strong defensive back over the last two years and he did a great job improving his game during that stretch. Swanson is going to be a tough name to replace with the Muskogee secondary this fall and is a position to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back   Muskogee wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] has been arguably Muskogee's top playmaker at the receiver position for the last three seasons. He's heading off to UNLV and you don't just plug in another name that immediately fills those shoes. While Muskogee does have some talent at the receiver position, they will also miss the "big play" element from McGee's game where he routinely was one of the best on the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='154218' first='Teyon' last='Brewer'] - Defensive Lineman   Muskogee defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='154218' first='Teyon' last='Brewer'] could fit in that category with Watson as one of the more underrated players for the Roughers during their championship run. Brewer was outstanding along the defensive line and the Roughers aren't going to be able to just plug in another prospect that has as much experience and production as Brewer has had. Defensive line is another group to watch this offseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='360246' first='Wesley' last='Harvey'] - Offensive Lineman   Similar to the secondary, the Muskogee offensive line will look very different in 2024 after the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id='360246' first='Wesley' last='Harvey'] at the left tackle position. Harvey has been the anchor of this offensive line over the last several seasons and he's headed to the next level to play at TCU. Harvey was a big prospect in terms of his play on the field and his size. Replacing that and some of the other names on the line will be tough.   Top Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='1097273' first='Coda' last='Barnoski'] - 2026 Linebacker   Muskogee's defense is certainly taking a hit to graduation so this offseason is going to be critical on that side of the ball. But the linebacker position will be the strength as they have several names coming back and 2026 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1097273' first='Coda' last='Barnoski'] is one of them. Barnoski had a breakout sophomore season last fall and emerged as one of the team's top tacklers. We expect Barnoski to take that next step this fall and become even more productive and more of a leader on an inexperienced unit.   [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] - 2025 Quarterback   Simply put, Muskogee quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] is going to be the front runner for PRZ-Oklahoma Player Of The Year as we head into the 2024 season. So despite all the losses on the defensive side of the ball and a new look offensive line, the Roughers will be just fine with Ficklin returning at the quarterback position. The dynamic lefty has emerged as the top quarterback prospect in the state's 2025 class and has been hard at work this offseason, looking to improve his game and leave no doubt this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='479391' first='Latavion' last='Johnson'] - 2025 Running Back   Muskogee 2025 running back [player_tooltip player_id='479391' first='Latavion' last='Johnson'] enjoyed a breakout junior season and he's hungry for more as we look ahead to the 2024 season. The 1-2 punch of Ficklin and Johnson in the backfield already had the Roughers as one of the top teams in the class but Muskogee's backfield has become even deeper this offseason. Johnson emerged as a playmaker in the Rougher offense last season and there's no doubt that he's going to try and take his production to another level when the 2024 season begins.   [player_tooltip player_id='1073029' first='Miguel' last='Chavez'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman   Losing Harvey on the offensive line to graduation is a tough loss but the Roughers might be replacing him with another prospect destined for the D1 level. 2025 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1073029' first='Miguel' last='Chavez'] emerged last fall as a legitimate prospect for the next level and his ceiling only continues to climb. Chavez has a handful of offers and this could be a very busy spring and summer for Chavez as he tries to establish himself as one of the better prospects at his position. For Muskogee, he'll anchor the new look offensive line.   [player_tooltip player_id='598826' first='Ondraye' last='Beasley'] - 2025 Athlete   Muskogee's 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='598826' first='Ondraye' last='Beasley'] has the chance to put up some monster numbers yet again on the offensive side of the ball. Last fall, Beasley was an absolute monster on offense. He was producing on the ground and also as a receiver in the Muskogee offense. Beasley's greatest asset this fall will more than likely be his production as a receiver because that Muskogee backfield is getting crowded. Beasley could very well step into a new role as Muskogee's leading receiver in the offense.   Breakout Stars To Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1097272' first='Anthony' last='White'] - 2025 Defensive Back   As we mentioned earlier, the secondary is going to be full of new names but one of the returning players will be [player_tooltip player_id='1097272' first='Anthony' last='White'] as he heads into his senior season. White got plenty of playing time last season and even made some big plays in their biggest games. But because of the losses to graduation, White is going to be one of the top guys back at the position and that could open the door for him to have a massive senior season. We're thinking he could turn into an absolute star this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1136250' first='Gervon' last='Washington'] - 2025 Tight End   Another 2025 prospect for Muskogee that could turn into a breakout star this fall is [player_tooltip player_id='1136250' first='Gervon' last='Washington'] at the tight end position. The Roughers have some excellent skill players back but finding that guy to replace Watson as the offense's safety blanket will be key. Washington definitely passes the eye test when it comes to the physical attributes. He could certainly step into a new role this fall and become one of the top targets for Ficklin and the passing game. And if that happens, his stock sky rockets.   [player_tooltip player_id='515901' first='PJ' last='Wallace'] - 2025 Running Back   So this one is kind of cheating but it's our article so we'll bend the rules. 2025 running back [player_tooltip player_id='515901' first='PJ' last='Wallace'] is already established as one of the top running backs in the class and won't be a breakout star. But he doesn't fit under the "returning player" category either. Wallace moved from Bartlesville to Muskogee this offseason and will add even more depth to an already loaded backfield with the reigning 6A-2 champions. Wallace is coming off a fantastic junior season and is hungry for much more.

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