Super 30: Markus Wakefield’s IQ is his biggest asset
Heritage Hall's Markus Wakefield is ready to become one of the team leaders for the Chargers.
He’s certainly not the fastest Heritage Hall player. He’s not the biggest. But if you ask me, there isn’t a smarter Charger than lineman Markus Wakefield. His dedication to film and to scouting reports really started to show up during this past season.
Will intelligence be the thing that grabs colleges’ eyes? Not sure, but if someone takes a chance on Wakefield, they’re not taking a risk in the character department.
Wakefield first stood out to me before his sophomore season. Unfortunately for Wakefield, his story is all too familiar. He was a big boy going into his sophomore year. Now going into his senior? Well, he’s pretty much that same big boy.
Put Wakefield in that same spot as Guthrie’s Landry Chappell, Midwest City’s Zeke Lewis, Millwood’s Marc Robinson and Connor Myers of Edmond Memorial from last year. ‘Two inches taller’ and they’d be breaking down his door.
Wakefield does have an offer from Colorado State, and he should pick up at least a couple of more. When talking about Wakefield, also have to mention his quick feet. He has tremendous footwork for a big man.
He’s the first Heritage Hall player to make the Super 30. Obviously he won’t be the last. And if you love quarterbacks, well, you’re going to enjoy the next couple of days of the Super 30.
And for my story on Wakefield, go here.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Super 30 review: Nos. 28-26
Mustang's Brandon Taylor comes in at No. 28 on the Super 30.
Gonna split up the reviews of the Super 30 kids into two posts per week instead of one. In this trio, we begin to see how deep the quarterback spot is in the state. Spoiler alert: you’re going to see even more quarterbacks in the very near future.
However, here’s a recap of Nos. 28-26:
28. Brandon Taylor, QB, Mustang
It irked quite a few Varsity followers that Taylor wasn’t on the original list in February. Taylor worked his way onto the list. Taylor obviously received a lot of looks because of stud WR David Glidden last season, but he’s proving he’s more than capable and deserving of his own attention. And seriously, any excuse to show this photo shot by Chris Landsberger is good enough for me.
For Scott Wright’s story on Taylor, go here.
27. Keon Hatcher, WR, Owasso
Starting to separate himself from the field just a bit. There was a logjam in my eyes at wide receiver a couple of months ago, but Hatcher is pulling away down the stretch. Great camp performances combined with getting an offer from Arkansas has me believing No. 27 might end up being too low when we get right down to it.
For Anthony Slater’s story on Hatcher, go here.
26. Darrack Harger, QB, Sand Springs
Been a name on the radar for a while. I say that because I remember the lack of panic for the Sandites when Johnny Deaton got injured a couple of years ago. Here you have an Oklahoma State commit (at the time) going down, and Sand Springs was still feeling good about things. That said to me all I needed to know about the future of Harger, who was just a sophomore at the time.
For Tariq Lee’s story on Harger, go here.
Who is No. 25? Find out Thursday in The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com/Varsity. And catch up on all your Super 30 goodies as our daily countdown continues until we reach No. 1 on July 24.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Super 30: Week 1 review
Norman's George Kittle has gone from unknown to sought after commodity.
Saturday began our second annual summer series on the Super 30, a countdown of the top 30 football recruits for the class of 2012.
Last year we announced who they were before the series, not this year. If you wanna know who they are, keep yourself locked in at NewsOK.com/Varsity.
This is going to be a daily countdown until we reach No. 1 on July 24.
30. George Kittle, WR, Norman
Most sons of college coaches get some extra looks as a courtesy. And then when you see Kittle play, you realize it’s not a courtesy thing at all. He is Bruce Kittle’s son, but he’s a lot more than that. Kittle is the real deal on either side of the ball. At 6-4, he could be a wide receiver. He also has the intelligence to lead the defensive backfield. He was 6-0 after his sophomore season and is now 6-4 and close to 200 pounds.
For my story on Kittle, go here.
29. Marc Robinson, LB, Millwood
Just like a couple of guys last year, if Robinson was a couple of inches taller, he’d be in the top 10. No doubt in my mind about that. Nobody is going to play with a bigger chip on his shoulder than Robinson, who is getting back on the field after missing last season. A transfer from Heritage Hall, Robinson is ready to show everybody he still belongs among the elite.
For Scott Wright’s story on Robinson, go here.
And for No. 28, check out Monday’s Oklahoman.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Edmond Santa Fe’s Gunnar Nixon named Gatorade’s National Boys Track Athlete of the Year
Edmond Santa Fe graduate Gunnar Nixon was named the Gatorade National Boys Track Athlete of the Year on Thursday.
Thursday was quite a day for Edmond Santa Fe’s Gunnar Nixon.
He started by taking the lead in the decathlon through five events at the US Junior National Track Meet in Eugene, Ore., and he closed the night by being named the Gatorade National Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
Earlier in the day, it was announced that Nixon was the state award winner, but he received the national award as part of a surprise reception Thursday following the first day of events at the US Juniors.
“I don’t think we’ll see a high school decathlete like Gunnar Nixon come along for a long time,” said Ray Davis, one of Nixon’s private coaches and head coach of the Arizona Puma Track Club. “He’s not just an athlete excelling while doing decathlon. He’s a pure combined-events guy. I first saw him when he was 10 years old and you knew even then that he had a chance to be special.”
In May, Nixon became the first Class 6A athlete to win four individual gold medals at the state meet. He followed that up by setting the national high school decathlon points record at the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque, N.M., when he scored 8,035 points for the runaway victory.
On Thursday, he scored 4,192 points to take a slim lead on Kevin Lazas (4,103), an Arkansas freshman who will be Nixon’s teammate with the Razorbacks next season. The US Junior decathlon concludes Friday afternoon.
Nixon is the second Oklahoma athlete to win one of the national Gatorade awards. Owasso’s Dylan Bundy was the player of the year in baseball.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Heritage Hall’s Barry J. Sanders content with playing waiting game
Heritage Hall's Barry J. Sanders in no rush to make a verbal commitment.
Heritage Hall running back Barry J. Sanders was at Florida State earlier this week for a camp, but he said that it is not an indicator that he is closer to committing.
Sanders, who has said in the past he wants to wait before committing, stood by that stance Thursday.
“I’m not going to rush into any thing,” Sanders said. “Right now I’m just taking a couple of visits before I narrow it down.”
Sanders said he plans on naming a top five when the school year begins and those five schools will be where he makes his official visits.
Sanders named Oklahoma State, Alabama, Florida State and UCLA as his four favorites last year. Stanford has also become one of his favorites.
Though Sanders was at FSU for the second time, he didn’t work out. He said he is not 100 percent recovered from foot surgery in the winter.
“I’m close. Definitely. I would say in the 90s (percent), but I’m not there, and I don’t want to risk anything,” Sanders said.
Sanders, a four-star prospect, has offers from more than 15 schools, including Tennessee, Auburn and Notre Dame, to go with his top four schools and other universities.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Heritage Hall’s Dick Villaflor named National Tennis Coach of the Year
Heritage Hall girls tennis coach Dick Villaflor almost didn’t believe it at first. Villaflor, the face of Charger tennis, was named the national tennis coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association on Wednesday night in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Villaflor was the only Oklahoma coach to win a national honor.
“I was kind of stunned,” Villaflor said. “This is really pretty amazing.”
Villaflor led Heritage Hall to another Class 4A state championship. The year was also special for Villaflor as it was the final time he would be able to coach one of his kids.
His daughter Carissa, who has signed to play at Newman University in Kansas, won her third state championship.
There were eight Oklahoma coaches up for the national honor. In order to be considered, each had to earn the Region 5 award, which includes Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The other Oklahoma coaches considered were Okmulgee’s Danny Morgan (athletic director), Red Oak’s Trey Booth (baseball), Capitol Hill’s Donny Tuley (boys basketball), Bethel’s Jerry Johnson (girls basketball), Ardmore’s Steven Ross (golf), Barnsdall’s <strong>Joe Gilbert (softball) and Muskogee’s Bobby Jefferson (wrestling).
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Justin Schanbacher leads eight-man all-star roster
Cherokee’s Justin Schanbacher led the Chiefs to a magical run and a state championship in 2010. He’s hoping to do the same thing Saturday.
Schanbacher will be a part of the Gold team in the Gold-Green eight-man all-star football game Saturday night at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Tickets will be available at the gate and are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Game time is 7 p.m. The Oklahoma Eight-Man Football Coaches Association also will give out $10,000 in scholarships for the athletes that are continuing their education.
Gold
Coby Iliff, Shattuck; Tayler Eagan, Forgan; Cody Cottom, Sharon-Mutual; Matt Morris, Forgan; Connor Babcock, Shattuck; Tyler Lai, Tyrone; John Srader, Shattuck; Dylan Sterling, Covington-Douglas; Levi Reese, Deer Creek-Lamont; Patrick Swaggart, Deer Creek-Lamont; Josh Dickson, Covington-Douglas; Dustin Maxwell, Waukomis; Trevor Lopez, Coyle; Hunter Whitehead, Deer Creek-Lamont; Logan Latta, Timberlake; Justin Schanbacher, Cherokee; Cody Coats, Pond Creek-Hunter; Tony Herara, Pond Creek-Hunter; J.R. Haliburton, Laverne; Derek Maly, Garber; Chase Wallace, Cherokee; Eddy Pittman, Seiling; Matt Kennedy, Geary; Ross Britt, Dewar; Dalton McCarroll, Dewar; Taylor Freeman, Wetumka; Terrance Yahola, Wetumka; Roger Beherens, Caddo; Kaleb Kepke, Gans; Scott Manuel, Allen; Chris Roberts, Dewar; Brett Tiger, Dewar; Brayden Nixon, Cherokee; Clint Tevebaugh, Boise City; A.J. Phillips, Covington-Douglas.
Coaches: Bryce Schanbacher, Cherokee; Josh Been, Dewar; Doug Bowles, Forgan; David Zachary, Deer Creek-Lamont.
Green
Caullen Alexander, Alex; Zach Crabtree, Bowlegs; Charlie Cho, Oklahoma Christian Academy; Tyler Teafatiller, Fox; Ryan Day, Macomb; Chris Freeman, Paoli; Ray Pierce, Cyril; Jeromy Russell, Central; Tyler Deshazo, Kiefer; Danny Bradley, Summit Christian; CJ Ashwood, Kiefer; Dillons Edens, Watts; Mark Mitchell, Depew; Josh Stanley, Copan; Sergio Shadowens, Kiefer; Eddie Loco, Oaks; Trevor Bettis, Ryan; Isaiah Wilson, Ryan; Houston Huff, Tipton; Ethan Ladymon, Cement; Kyle Baze, Temple; Tyler Henry, Corn Bible; Kevin Rice, Duke; Colten Wolfe, Tipton; Shane Bailey, Maud; Michael Campbell, Midway; Cody Williams, Maud; Chaz Moody, Maud; Trey Hale, Maud; Jake Hollingshed, Midway; Kerry Hollie, Bokoshe; Joseph Madwell, Midway; Spencer Huiatt, Corn Bible; Joseph Puente, Tipton; Johnathan Mefford, Kiefer; James Root, Welch.
Coaches: Justin Savage, Alex; Josh Calvert, Kiefer; Stan Mueggenborg, Ryan; Bruce Harrell, Maud.
Douglass lineman Cayman Bundage picks Arizona
Another Super 30 player ends the drama as Douglass' Cayman Bundage has committed to Arizona.
Douglass offensive lineman Cayman Bundage gave his verbal commitment to Arizona, coach Willis Alexander told The Oklahoman on Wednesday.
Bundage, 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, also had scholarship offers from Missouri, Arkansas, Tulsa, North Texas.
A tackle for the Trojans’ powerful rushing attack, Bundage is likely a guard or center in college. He started at center for Douglass as a freshman, but moved outside for his sophomore and junior seasons, because that’s where he was needed most.
During his three seasons, Douglass has been among the most dangerous run offenses in the state, reaching the Class 4A state championship game two straight years and winning it last fall.
Arizona has been looking hard for offensive linemen in Oklahoma, also extending offers to Guthrie’s Blake Belcher and Putnam City North’s Daniel Burton.
I’ll have an update later today after I get the chance to talk in detail with Bundage and Alexander about the decision.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Douglass’ battle with DeSoto (Texas) set
Douglass and Jas'sen Stoner will have a national spotlight to showcase their skills Sept. 5 vs. DeSoto, Texas, on Fox Sports.
Douglass is the lone Oklahoma participant in the seventh annual Kirk Herbstreit National Kickoff Classic, and the Trojans will be taking on DeSoto (Texas) on Fox Sports.
The classic is a two-day event on Labor Day weekend with games in Ohio on Sept. 4-5 that will be broadcast on the ESPN networks. Sept. 5 games will also be played at Cowboys Stadium and all games will be broadcast on Fox Sports.
Douglass, the reigning Class 4A state champions, plays DeSoto at 4:30 and is the third of four games. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under. Tickets are on sale through Douglass High.
Though Douglass, coached by Willis Alexander, lost some key parts from last year’s championship squad, the Trojans still have plenty of talented players including running back Diontay Washington and linebacker Jas’sen Stoner.
Teams from Ohio, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana and Florida will also be competing in the classic.
“We are thrilled to join Intersport in showcasing some of the best high school football in the country on national television,” Kirk Herbstreit said in a press release. “Each year, our event helps shine a light on the top young football talent throughout the country and provides a great way to kick off the season.”
Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Sept. 4
St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) vs. Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) /Noon ET/ESPNU
Springfield (Springfield, Ohio) vs. Upper Arlington (Columbus, Ohio)/3:30 p.m. ET/ESPNU
Sept. 5
Camden County (Kingsland, Georgia) vs. Cleveland Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)/Noon ET/ESPN
Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis) vs. Centerville (Dayton, Ohio)/4 p.m. ET/ESPNU
Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Sept. 5
Edna Karr (New Orleans) vs. Arlington Bowie (Arlington, Texas)/10 a.m. CT/FSN
Cocoa (Cocoa, Fla.) vs. Skyline (Dallas)/1:15 p.m. CT/FSN
Frederick A. Douglass (Oklahoma City) vs. DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)/4:30 p.m. CT/FSN
Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, Texas) vs. Denton Guyer (Denton, Texas)/7:45 p.m. CT/FSN
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
McAlester’s Adam Boyd commits to Tulsa
At this point last week, Tulsa had only two in-state commitments and none of them were on the offensive side of the ball.
Seven days later, and the Golden Hurricane have received three more in-state verbals and all three could play offense.
McAlester’s Adam Boyd became the latest in-state recruit, committing to Tulsa on Tuesday night.
“I think it’s the best fit for me,” Boyd told InsideTulsaSports.com. “I called Coach (Bill) Blankenship. He said he was very excited. He said they don’t know what I’ll play yet, but it will probably be inside receiver, safety or I might grow into a linebacker.”
Midwest City running back James Flanders and Madill running back Caleb Muncrief have also committed to Tulsa in the last week.
Tulsa was Boyd’s only offer at the moment though he had been receiving heavy interest from several Big 12 and Ivy League schools.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
