Heritage Hall’s Markus Wakefield commits to Howard
Heritage Hall's Markus Wakefield committed to Howard on Monday. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Heritage Hall lineman Markus Wakefield committed play his college football at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon on his official visit to the school.
“The first thing was the top level education,” Wakefield said of his commitment. “Then I fell in love with the people.
“I also like coach (Gary) Harrell and the direction they were going with the program.”
Howard, which plays in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision, finished 5-6 last season, its first under Harrell.
Wakefield (6-foot-1, 280 pounds) was a first-team offensive lineman on The Oklahoman‘s 2011 All-State team, but he was key to the Chargers’ success on both sides of the ball.
Heritage Hall coach Andy Bogert said in November that his team, which featured Stanford commit Barry J. Sanders in its backfield, would “probably have trouble running the ball” without Wakefield.
Bogert said he designed the Chargers’ offensive scripts each week with Wakefield in mind on each play.
Wakefield will sign with Howard on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
Video: Quintaz Struble talks about his dad, Mandrell Dean
Heritage Hall’s Quintaz Struble is proud of his father’s legacy as one of Oklahoma’s greatest-ever high school athletes.
But he also knows well the lessons of Mandrell Dean‘s tragic demise.
Check out this video interview with Quintaz, where he talked to me about his dad, his mom and his family’s legacy.
(Note: This interview was filmed well before his official visit to Arkansas State, where he committed Sunday, was planned).
Video: Mandrell Dean, one of Oklahoma’s greatest high school athletes
Ever seen an eighth-grader break a backboard?
That’s exactly what Millwood’s Mandrell Dean did in junior high.
The footage is here, in a video I recorded with Oklahoman sports editor Mike Sherman, who covered Mandrell as a high school beat writer in the early 1990s.
We talk about Dean, his legacy, and his son, Heritage Hall’s Quintaz Struble.
Quintaz Struble commits to Arkansas State
Heritage Hall's Quintaz Struble committed to Arkansas State on Sunday. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Heritage Hall’s Quintaz Struble will do Wednesday what his father couldn’t nearly 20 years ago — sign with an NCAA Division I college football program.
Struble committed this morning to Arkansas State on his official visit, he said.
He held offers from some smaller, non-Division I schools, and Wyoming wanted him to “grayshirt,” meaning he’d join the program next January as part of its class of 2013.
Struble’s commitment to a Division I program is significant because of his father’s legacy. Mandrell Dean, considered one of Oklahoma’s greatest high school athletes ever, committed to Oklahoma out of Millwood but couldn’t qualify academically.
I wrote a feature in this morning’s Oklahoman about Struble and the lessons of his father. Struble found out late last month that he had qualified academically for D-I football.
Struble joins a Red Wolves team coming off a 10-3 season and an appearance in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Former Auburn, Tulsa and Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is entering his first season as Arkansas State’s head coach.
After his senior season, Struble was named to The Oklahoman’s elite, 25-man All-State football team.
Coming Sunday: The story of Quintaz Struble, son of an Oklahoma legend
Millwood legend Mandrell Dean's son, Quintaz Struble, is a senior at Heritage Hall. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
Five years ago today, an Oklahoma high school legend died.
Mandrell Dean is one of the greatest athletes in Millwood — and Oklahoma high school — history.
His 85 total touchdowns — including a stunning 28 on kick returns — had college football programs flocking to eastern Oklahoma City to recruit him.
He committed to Oklahoma in January 1993, but never signed with the Sooners because of academic issues.
After touring the country playing for semipro and arena teams, Dean returned home, became involved with the wrong people and was shot and killed while allegedly committing a home invasion.
His son, Quintaz Struble, is a senior at Heritage Hall and is on the verge of a college football career his father didn’t have.
This story was originally supposed to run two weeks ago, but we held it to gather more information and plan for a big presentation. I posted a blog about it then, but took it down when we decided to hold off on the story. I apologize for jumping the gun back then, but I think you’ll see this weekend that it was worth the wait.
Heritage Hall senior Quintaz Struble's father is Millwood legend Mandrell Dean. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Pick up a copy of The Oklahoman on Sunday to read the inspiring story of a young man with some of his father’s talent, but few of his personal burdens, and the mother who sacrificed everything to make him who he is today.
Also Sunday, on NewsOK.com, we’ll have lots of photographs, a video interview with Quintaz Struble about his dad and video highlights of Mandrell Dean.
I’ve been working on this story since October, and I’m so excited for you all to read the final product.
The Oklahoman’s Class 3A All-State
Offense
QB: Andrew Hearon, Metro Christian
RB: Sheldon Wilson, Anadarko
RB: Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall
RB: Caleb Muncrief, Madill
WR: Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
WR: Drew Hillenburg, Metro Christian
OL: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
OL: Geoffrey Schelb, Seminole
OL: Dalton Wilson, Purcell
OL: Shawn Moore, Pauls Valley
OL: Hunter Endres, Kingfisher
K: Erik Testa, Cascia Hall
KR: Zac Robinson, Sequoyah Tahlequah
Defense
DL: Quintaz Struble, Heritage Hall
DL: Hunter Hart, Cascia Hall
DL: Grant Hamilton, Idabel
DL: Brett Gilstrap, Bethany
LB: Connor Sherwood, Cascia Hall
LB: Wes Satoe, Anadarko
LB: Justin Tomlinson, Berryhill
DB: Kyle Bert, Anadarko
DB: Cade Shearwood, Stigler
DB: Tanner Dearman, Anadarko
DB: Adam Dolan, Berryhill
P: Jake Blair, Kingfisher
Edmond North, Heritage Hall coaches win awards
Edmond North golf coach Jeff Doherty and Heritage Hall tennis coach Dick Villaflor were named as winners of the National Federation of State High School Association Coaches Association’s coach of the year award for 2011, the NFHS announced Tuesday.
The awards honor 21 coaches in 10 boys sports, 10 girls sports and one other sport that isn’t included in those categories. Doherty won for boys golf while Villaflor won for girls tennis.
Coaches are awarded state and sectional (Oklahoma is in a group with Texas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico) awards before reaching the national level. The NFHS Coaches Association advisory board, consisting of a chair and eight sectional representatives chooses the sectional and national winners.
OCA All-State
The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced its All-State football team Monday. The OCA All-State Football Game will be played at 8 p.m. July 27 at a to-be-dtermined site in the Tulsa area.
EAST
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Andrew Hearon, Metro Christian
Tony Kiefer, McAlester
Running backs
Dakota Biswell, Stroud
Caleb Muncrief, Madill
Cole Scheulen, Catoosa
Willie Zackery, Woodland
Wide receivers
Levi Copelin, Broken Arrow
Michael Fraley, Adair
Ty Miller, Caddo
Victor Williams, Muskogee
Tight ends
Matt Gallagher, Owasso
Zac Veatch, Broken Arrow
Linemen
John Connor, Tulsa Kelley
Jeremy Iron, Pawhuska
Lance Kloker, Owasso
Talon Miles-Satepauhoodle, Hominy
Montana Poorboy, Catoosa
Sam Sabin, Jenks
Chris Wallace, Sperry
Punter/kicker
Tom Carwile, Tulsa Washington
DEFENSE
Linemen
Hunter Hart, Cascia Hall
Orion Jones, Jenks
Gcory Rahmings, Broken Bow
Travis Sandlin, Vian
Max Simmons, Lincoln Christian
Gary Wilson, Sand Springs
Linebackers
Patrick Bartlett, Woodland
Jevonte Cross, Tulsa East Central
Aaron Dolan, Berryhill
Connor Sherwood, Cascia Hall
Blace Walser, Tulsa Union
Defensive backs
Kent Booze, Spiro
Adam Boyd, McAlester
Kevin Peterson, Wagoner
Dillon Proctor, Caddo
Jermy Reynolds, Wewoka
Jesse Vester, Stillwater
Coaches
Mike Mobra, Catoosa; Eddy Scott, Pawhuska; Kevin Harmon, McAlester; Darren Melton, Lincoln Christian.
WEST
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Corben Jones, Yukon
Garrett Lorah, Elgin
Running backs
Casey Curtis, Putnam City
James Flanders, Midwest City
Josh Way, Wayne
Sheldon Wilson, Anadarko
Wide receivers
Gage Diffee, Bethany
Javis Flynn, Watonga
Tre Kelley, Edmond Santa Fe
Tylor Seabolt, Jones
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
Linemen
Blake Belcher, Guthrie
Daniel Burton, Putnam North
Brandon Dewitt, Lawton
Devin Dobbins, Millwood
Carrie Farmer, Minco
Adam Kelley, Wynnewood
Cole Parsons, Edmond North
DEFENSE
Linemen
Josh Crouch, Edmond Santa Fe
Patrick Diaz, Lawton
Kyle Factor, Westmoore
Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
Braylon Freeman, Lawton MacArthur
Ricky Rodriguez, Clinton
Linebackers
Landry Chappell, Guthrie
Zeke Lewis, Midwest City
Payton Marsh, Thomas
Brandon Nguyen, McGuinness
Wes Satoe, Anadarko
Jas’Sen Stoner, Douglass
Defensive backs
Rashaad Copeland, El Reno
Jared Griffin, Duncan
Rico Hogan, Norman
Aaron Holden, Temple
Aaron McCandless, Shattuck
Ivan Moreno, Hennessey
Michael Thomas, Lawton MacArthur
Coaches
Bob Ward, Thomas; Curtis Lorah, Elgin; Tracy Scott, Blanchard; Jeremy Dombek, Edmond North.
District 3A-3 postseason honors
Here are the coaches’ postseason awards for District 3A-3:
Coach of the Year: Andy Bogert, Heritage Hall
MVP: Sterling Shephard, Heritage Hall
Offensive Player of the Year: Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall
Defensive Player of the Year: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
Back of the Year: Brett Gilstrap, Bethany
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Ryley Clayborn, Bethany
Co-Quarterback of the Year: Quinn Shanbour, Heritage Hall
Offensive Lineman: Hunter Endres, Kingfisher
Receiver of the Year: Cale Courtney, Heritage Hall
Defensive End of the Year: Quintaz Struble, Heritage Hall
Defensive Tackle of the Year: Willy Hanvold, Kingfisher
Outside Linebacker of the Year: Ross Clifton, Heritage Hall
Inside Linebacker of the Year: Colton Cheap, Kingfisher
Defensive Back of the Year: Grayson Haws, Bethany
Co-Kicker of the Year: Cole Rinke, Bethany
Co-Kicker of the Year: Ryan Ross, Newcastle
Special Teams Player of the Year: Gage Diffee, Bethany
Special Recognition: Mark Ryan, Centennial head coach
Injured Athlete Recognition: Brent Gaddis, Heritage Hall
Injured Athlete Recognition: Garrett McGrady, Bethany
Fall signing day coming Wednesday
This might be the opening week of high school football playoffs, but it also includes signing day Wednesday for sports other than football. Know of an athlete signing? E-mail me at raber@opubco.com or leave it as a comment here. Please include as much information as possible.
