We’ve mentioned this throughout the regular season but it deserves to be repeated here. Union’s linebacker group has been outstanding this season and several of their starters played different positions in the past. Senior Lane Wood Lane Wood 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Union | 2024 State OK is one of those players that moved to linebacker and has flourished. Wood leads a Union defense that will look to slow down the Jenks rushing attack. Wood is a 2024 prospect that has been on our radar for several years but his move to linebacker has been fun to watch this fall.

In one of the best overall games this week, we’ll see #2 Union travel to Edmond to face #4 Edmond Santa Fe in a battle of two teams that are tied atop the district standings. When you look at Santa Fe over the last month, it’s hard not to be impressed with their rushing attack and the success that their star running back has had. So a major key in Thursday’s game will be Union’s front seven and their defense overall going against Santa Fe’s running game. Senior linebacker Lane Wood Lane Wood 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Union | 2024 State OK has successfully changed positions this season as he has been a tight end for the last few years. But in the offseason, he moved over to linebacker and he has played really well over the last few weeks. But there’s no doubt that this week’s game is going to be a tough test. If Wood and the Union front seven can contain Santa Fe, they will be in good shape.

We’ve watched Union 2024 prospect Lane Wood Lane Wood 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Union | 2024 State OK since the spring of his freshman season. Ever since then, we’ve had Wood listed as a tight end because that’s been the primary position he’s played. But he TE depth chart is pretty full at Union this season and one area of need is linebacker. And Wood was playing with the first team defense at linebacker quite a bit on Friday. He had a good day roaming around and making plays. It doesn’t feel like a position that is completely foreign to him and he could end up becoming an impact player on that side of the ball for the Redhawks this fall. As Union looks for some new names to emerge at the linebacker position, Wood could be a familiar face that steps into that role and does a good job.

One of the first tight end prospects in this class that we recognized was Lane Wood Lane Wood 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Union | 2024 State OK out of Union. Similar to his 2024 teammate Jino Boyd Jino Boyd 6'0" | WR Union | 2024 State OK , Wood also got onto the field as a freshman. And Union coaches were quick to point out how rare that was for freshmen at a program like Union. Wood hasn’t grown much physically since early on in his prep career but his play on the field continues to get better. In Union’s offense this season, the Redhawks have weapons everywhere. So Wood isn’t going to have some of the production that others might have this year. But every time we’ve seen Wood and the Redhawks in person, when his number is called, he seems to always make the play. He’s an impressive prospect that has been on the radar for a while and definitely belongs with the other names here.