Booker T Washington Hornets OK 2025 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and even into August, we are publishing well over 100 of the most in-depth team previews that you'll find anywhere to get you completely ready for the 2025 football season. This is something that began for us at PRZ-Oklahoma in 2021 and it continues to get bigger and better every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state in every class. From defending champions, to the top contenders and plenty of dark horses and other teams to know, we'll have complete coverage every single day. There will be multiple previews dropping every single day! In this post, we take a look at the Booker T Washington Hornets!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Booker T Washington Hornets&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #3 In Class 5A</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Nate Goodman - 1st Season</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30th - Lost To Muskogee 56-21<br>Sept. 6th - Lost To Del City 33-0<br>Sept. 13th - Beat Central 42-6<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Durant 28-14<br>Oct. 4th - Beat Shawnee 35-7<br>Oct. 10th - Beat Bishop Kelley 23-0<br>Oct. 18th - Beat East Central 34-22<br>Oct. 25th - Beat McAlester 13-7<br>Nov. 1st - Beat Coweta 30-10<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Edison 36-14<br>1st Round - Beat Collinsville 25-20<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Guthrie 29-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2024 Offensive Scoring Average: 25.6 Points Per Game</em></strong><br><em><strong>2024 Defensive Scoring Average: 18.2 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this time last year, Booker T Washington was in a rare position. They were coming off a 2-8 season in 2023 and were completely under the radar heading into 2024. But dropping down to Class 5A, a new head coach and one of the best defensive lines in the state would make the Hornets an immediate turnaround team to watch. They stumbled out of the gate against a tough non-district slate. They lost to Muskogee in the season opener, followed by a shutout loss to Del City. But the Hornets wouldn't lose again in the regular season. They beat Central to wrap up non-district play and then went on a run. Booker T Washington went 7-0 in district play and went from a 2-8 team that missed the playoffs altogether to district champion in the span of a year. The Hornets were outstanding in district play, beating every team, with the exception of McAlester, by double digits. Simply put, the Hornets were back and they left no doubt that they were going to be a team to take seriously in the Class 5A playoffs. They opened up the playoff journey at home against Collinsville and that was a Cardinal team that wasn't a typical four-seed. They had some serious talent. The Hornets survived and moved on following a 25-20 victory, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Guthrie. Booker T Washington would come up short in that match-up, losing 29-20 at home as the Blue Jays would go on to play for the Class 5A state championship. We can't help but wonder what could have been because the Hornets were certainly on the more favorable side of the 5A playoff bracket. But now as we fast forward to looking ahead to 2025, the Hornets are right where they are used to being, a serious contender for the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight season, Booker T Washington is coming into the season with a first year head coach. After Dan Bitson led them to a 9-3 record and district title, he stepped down as head coach this offseason. Nate Goodman was hired to replace him and expectations are significantly higher this year compared to this same time in 2024. The Hornets are a preseason top five team in Class 5A and they certainly expect to be in the mix for the state championship this season. Offensively, seven starters return, including one of the more experienced quarterbacks in Class 5A this season. And with him comes several skill players that will make the Hornets one of the more talented units to watch in the class. Defensively, they also return eight starters. While they lost one starter this offseason to an out of state transfer, this is still a unit that has the potential to be incredibly talented. And when you look at the schedule, we're going to find out real quick where this team stacks up against the rest of the top contenders in Class 5A. They will open the season at home against 6A-2 contender Muskogee before traveling to face another 5A top five team in Del City. And the district looks like it will be more competitive than we saw a year ago so that's another thing to consider when you're looking at this year's Booker T Washington squad. But those first few games will certainly get this team ready for what will be a tough district grind. It's hard to believe but it's been nearly a decade (2017) since Booker T Washington last won the state championship. But at this time last year, the Hornets were a borderline top ten team. Now they are back among the best in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Harris - Linebacker (All State Honorable Mention)<br>Derreon Overstreet - Defensive Back (All State Honorable Mention)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1035135"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686babd4e4172"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1035135' first='DaWayne' last='Jones'] comes into this season as one of the state's absolute best pass rushers. Around this time last year, Jones moved over to Booker T Washington from Owasso and he combined with fellow junior DL Joseph Graves to make up one of the best duos in the state. Graves has transferred out of state so now all eyes will be on Jones to see what impact he can have without his running mate. It is an interesting question but based on his athleticism and deep bag of moves, we don't think Jones will have any problems causing havoc on the line of scrimmage. He'll go into the 2025 football season as one of the state's more dominant defenders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284116"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686babd4e41d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior [player_tooltip player_id='284116' first='Keynan' last='Farley'] continues to be one of the more underrated prospects in the state's 2026 class. For the last 18 months, he has done nothing but impress us every time we've watched him in person. Offensively, Farley is a can't-miss playmaker at the wide receiver position, and he is so tough to stop in a one on one situation. Defensively, Farley is starting to emerge as a cornerback to watch in the state's 2026 class as well. Earlier this offseason, Farley committed to Tulsa. The Booker T Washington senior has the chance to be the next two-way star to come out of this Hornet football program. His ceiling continues to be incredibly high as we move closer to the 2025 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595677"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686babd4e4224"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned earlier in the preview how Booker T Washington was going to benefit from having one of the more experienced quarterbacks returning in 2025. Senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='595677' first='Levi' last='Brooks'] is back and ready to lead this offense to new heights. We've seen Brooks quite a bit over the last 18 months. Whether it's with the pads on or off in various 7v7 tournaments or camps, Brooks has always been a consistent passer and can put the ball where it needs to be. When you take a look around at this roster, Brooks has plenty of playmakers to get the ball to so that accuracy and consistency will be key. To make it simple, get the playmakers the ball and let them go to work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["858873"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686babd4e426d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='858873' first='Mykah' last='Washington'] is another example of a very underrated playmaker that is coming back this season. Washington has been a standout for the Hornets since his sophomore season and he had a terrific junior season in 2024. One of the things that really impressed us about Washington's junior season was his production in some of the toughest games of the year. It's where Washington seemed to thrive and play some of his best football. Whether it's as a traditional running back or making plays out of the backfield as a wide receiver, the senior standout gives Booker T Washington a very dangerous player to defend this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1522526"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686babd4e42c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sophomore offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1522526' first='Philip' last='Loadholt III'] comes back as one of the top offensive linemen to watch on this year's team. As we've mentioned a few times already, the Hornets have the potential to have one of the best offenses in Class 5A but it's going to start up front on the line of scrimmage. If they can get the job done on the line, the ceiling for this unit is incredibly high. Loadholt was also in a rare position last season. Booker T Washington is one of those programs that features talented rosters every year. Most freshmen don't see the field but that wasn't the case for Loadholt. He would emerge as the team's starting center in 2024 and he's a player to watch this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braylon Jefferson - 2028 Wide Receiver/Linebacker<br>Dyllan Carpenter - 2026 Kicker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1515723' first='Jaymian' last='Compton'] - 2027 Athlete<br>Kayden McClellan - 2026 Wide Receiver<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1347550' first='Tayden' last='Toles'] - 2027 Defensive Lineman<br>Tyler Phillips - 2026 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Yiramiyah Parry - 2026 Tight End/Defensive End</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 29th - Muskogee</strong><br>- While Booker T Washington was in Class 6A-2, these two teams were district foes. Last season, they became non-district opponents and the Hornets will open up their season against the Roughers here. Booker T Washington is looking for their first win over Muskogee since 2021.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 5th - AT Del City</strong><br>- In week one, the Hornets have their first road game of the season against another 5A contender in Del City. The Eagles have dominated the Hornets in the last few years and Booker T Washington will be desperate to snap this three-game losing streak to Del City.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 12th - Central</strong><br>- This match-up will be a meaningful one for new head coach Nate Goodman as he faces a program that he's very familiar with. Last year was the first time the Braves and Hornets met since 2015. Booker T Washington prevailed 42-8 and has historically dominated this series.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 26th - Durant</strong><br>- After taking a week off, Booker T Washington will open up their district slate at home, against Durant. The Hornets went on the road and beat the Lions last year, winning 28-14. Before that, these two teams haven't met since the last time they were district foes, all the way back in 2005.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 3rd - AT Shawnee</strong><br>- In week five, the Hornets will go on the road and this is the beginning of a long October. Four of their five games this month are away from S.E. Williams Stadium. The Hornets beat Shawnee 35-7 in their district meeting a year ago. It will be important for the Hornets to get some momentum here.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 9th - AT Bishop Kelley</strong><br>- The second half of the regular season kicks off on a Thursday night in week six. The Hornets will take a short road trip over to Bishop Kelley in a big district showdown. The Hornets shut out the Comets last season in dominant fashion. They'll look to win their fifth straight in the series against Kelley.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 16th - East Central</strong><br>- It seems hard to believe but last year was the first meeting between these two teams in a decade. 2014 was the last time these two teams played before they found themselves in the same district in 2024. The Hornets went on the road and beat East Central 34-22 last year.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 24th - AT McAlester</strong><br>- Perhaps the toughest district game will come here in week eight. The Hornets hit the road to face McAlester. Booker T Washington beat the Buffaloes 13-7 at home last season but both teams expect to contend for the district title. And both teams will have new head coaches.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 31st - AT Coweta</strong><br>- Last year's meeting with Coweta was the first between these two programs in two decades. But the Hornets will finish up their road trips in October with a tough district match-up against Coweta. The Hornets rolled to a 30-10 win last year and a win here could lock up another district crown.&nbsp;<br><strong>Nov. 7th - Edison</strong><br>- The 2025 regular season will come to an end at home. After four road games in five weeks, the Hornets will finally play in front of the home crowd for their regular season finale. They'll host an Edison team that has a new head coach as well. The Hornets beat the Eagles 36-14 last year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tulsa area was rocked in December as area football powerhouses introduced new football coaches. Programs like Broken Arrow, Jenks, Muskogee, Owasso, Union and Wagoner all introduced head coaches. But that wasn't the end of it. In February, Booker T Washington head coach Dan Bitson was put on leave and in April, he resigned as head coach after one season. A few weeks later, BTW alum Nate Goodman was announced as the new head coach of the Hornets. For the second straight year, Booker T Washington will have a new head coach as they kick off the season. For Goodman, it's an opportunity to lead his alma mater but to also continue building on the turnaround job that Bitson did in 2024. The Hornets went 2-8 and missed the playoffs in 2023. The combination of new leadership and a drop down to Class 5A allowed the Hornets to turn things around immediately. They went 9-3 and nearly punched their ticket to the 5A semifinals. It was a rocky offseason for a lot of area programs but Goodman will head into the 2025 season, looking to give Booker T Washington some stability moving forward.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LAST FIVE SEASONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals<br>2023 - 2-8 - Missed Playoffs<br>2022 - 7-5 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals<br>2021 - 8-3 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals<br>2020 - 7-4 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>9 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2017 - Beat Bixby 28-21<br>2010 - Beat East Central 32-3<br>2008 - Beat Carl Albert 28-17<br>1984 - Beat Moore 14-10<br>1973 - Beat Nathan Hale 39-7<br>1971 - Beat Midwest City 36-22<br>1969 - Beat Midwest City 13-8<br>1968 - Beat Northwest 33-12<br>1967 - Beat Midwest City 30-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->