Midseason MVP’s
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It’s hard to believe but as the calendar has flipped to October, we are officially at the halfway point of the 2022 regular season as we enter week six. Before you know it, we’ll be into November and we’ll be talking about the playoffs and eventually state champions will be crowned. This week, we have several midseason spotlights on the site. From top players, breakout players, surprise teams, etc. And in this post, we put a spotlight on the best of the best. These players are the Midseason MVP’s for their respective classes. How many of these guys will end up being finalists for Prep Redzone Oklahoma Player Of The Year? We’ll find out in a few months. For now, let’s take a look at some of the best football players in Oklahoma and how dynamic they’ve been this fall.
CLASS 6A-1 MVP
It was apparent from the first scrimmage in August that Union senior running back DJ McKinney DJ McKinney 6’0″ | RB Union | 2023 State OK would have a massive impact on the Union offense. As a running back and as a receiver out of the backfield, McKinney has been truly dynamic. And full disclosure, Class 6A-1 might have been the toughest class to put a spotlight on just one player. And Union was a tough team to spotlight the best player to their 5-0 start. But we’re giving the edge to McKinney because of the impact he can have on the offensive side of the ball. McKinney enjoyed a breakout season last year at Booker T Washington. He’s continued that momentum this fall with the Redhawks. McKinney and the Redhawks appear to be on a crash course for Bixby in the 6A-1 state championship game. As long as McKinney stays healthy, he’s going to continue to put up monster numbers as Union looks to capture their first state title since 2016.
CLASS 6A-2 MVP
Muskogee has jumped out to a 5-0 start and the Roughers really look like a team that can contend for the state championship. Leading the way has been sophomore quarterback Jamarian Ficklin Jamarian Ficklin 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Muskogee | 2025 State OK . The dynamic left-handed quarterback has thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions on the season. Ficklin has also completed over 70 percent of his passes. In the last two games alone, Ficklin has been on fire with 13 touchdowns in wins over Sand Springs and Putnam City West. Muskogee’s toughest district games are still ahead of them with Booker T Washington and Stillwater, but this team is ready. After going through growing pains and a 2-8 record last season, Ficklin and the Roughers are ready to contend with the other serious title contenders. Ficklin’s best game came in a road win over 5A powerhouse Carl Albert when he threw for nearly 350 yards and ran for over 100 yards.
CLASS 5A MVP
Bishop McGuinness junior quarterback River Warren River Warren 6’4″ | 195 lbs | QB Del City | 2024 State OK has already established himself as the top quarterback in the state’s 2024 class. He’s already on the radar for D1 programs with a handful of offers. And so far through the first half of the regular season, Warren is backing up that offseason hype. He’s leading a McGuinness offense that is averaging nearly 50 points per game. He’s been incredibly efficient while also lighting up the scoreboard every single week. There’s a good argument that Bishop McGuinness is the top team in Class 5A this season. They came into the season with almost everyone back from last year’s team and they’ve been one of the more dominant teams in the state. However, the next two games on the schedule will tell us more about the Irish. They travel to Guthrie this week before hosting Carl Albert next week. Warren and the Irish are ready to make a statement.
CLASS 4A MVP
On paper, this pick seems like an obvious one when you consider the player. Cushing has been the top ranked team in Class 4A since July. They’ve been absolutely dominant and he’s put up monster numbers. Plus, he’s been a finalist for the Prep Redzone Oklahoma Player Of The Year award twice already and is looking to do it for a third year in a row. Camden Crooks Camden Crooks 6’0″ | 190 lbs | WR Cushing | 2023 State OK has been one of the top two-way players in Oklahoma since his freshman year. He’s been absurdly good since his sophomore season and he’s back to making an impact in all three phases of the game. It’s criminal how Crooks isn’t getting as much attention from college coaches as some other playmakers in the state’s 2023 class. All this kid does is perform and produce. He gets another opportunity this week on a big stage in arguably the biggest game of the season in Class 4A as #1 Cushing will host #2 Wagoner on Friday night.
Highlights
CLASS 3A MVP
Metro Christian senior quarterback Kirk Francis Kirk Francis 6’1″ | 185 lbs | QB Metro Christian | 2023 State OK is one of the best quarterbacks in the state and he’s been backing that statement up all season long. Francis, in our opinion, is the best pure thrower of the football in the state and he has the numbers and performances to back that up. Not only is Metro Christian 6-0 on the season and looking like one of the top teams in Class 3A, Francis has been clutch. In the toughest game of the year, Francis stunned 4A power Poteau on the road with a touchdown pass with less than a minute to play. He makes throwing for 300-400 yards and six touchdowns look easy. In the last three games alone, Francis has thrown for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns with only 1 interception. Francis has the Patriots back into contending for the state championship and is looking to finish off his career with a third state championship in four seasons.
CLASS 2A MVP
It’s only the halfway mark of the regular season and all the players on this list are fitting but you would have to put Rejoice Christian senior quarterback Chance Wilson Chance Wilson 6’3″ | 185 lbs | QB Rejoice Christian | 2023 State OK at the top of the list in terms of favorites for Player Of The Year this season. Not only does Wilson have insane numbers, he’s doing it against strong competition and he’s shown the ability to put the team on his back and carry them to a win. Rejoice is 5-0 on the season and Wilson has thrown for over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Wilson has also added over 500 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. And that ground game was important last week against Claremore Sequoyah. The Eagles got their biggest scare of the season so far and Wilson led them to a win with nearly 30 carries for over 150 yards and a season-high four touchdowns. Wilson and the Eagles are definitely must-watch going down the stretch.
Highlights
CLASS A MVP
Joining McGuinness quarterback River Warren River Warren 6’4″ | 195 lbs | QB Del City | 2024 State OK as the only juniors on this list is Hominy quarterback Jaxon Woods Jaxon Woods 6’0″ | ATH Hominy | 2024 State OK . We knew Woods had the potential to be one of the best players in Class A coming into this season after a breakout sophomore year, but he’s exceeded those expectations. Woods is such a special talent and at the Class A level, we’ve seen in recent memory that all it takes is one player to help lead their team to a state championship. And we’ve even seen it in the last decade at Hominy. Now, we’re not comparing Woods to former Hominy standout and current Arizona Cardinal Zaven Collins. They’re two different players in terms of physical build. But what they can do on the offensive side of the ball as a legit dual-threat weapon is similar. And we saw Collins put the Bucks on his back and lead them to a state championship. Perhaps we’ll see Woods follow in those footsteps and lead Hominy to another title.