SBLive Oklahoma All-State Football 2023: Meet the first and second team members

Some of the best of the best players from Oklahoma this past football season

SBLive Oklahoma is proud to announce the players who will comprise the Oklahoma All-State football team from this past season. 

The top superlative award winners this season were: Midwest City Carl Albert running back Xavier Robinson (MVP); Muskogee quarterback Jamarian Ficklin (Offensive Player of the Year); Del City defensive back LaDainian Fields (Defensive Player of the Year); Blanchard coach Jeff Craig (Coach of the Year); and Midwest City Carl Albert quarterback Kevin Sperry (Newcomer of the Year).

Here are the players who have made the first team or the second team squads, as determined by the staff of SBLive Oklahoma. 

First Team

Offense

Quarterback

Andy Bass | OKC Heritage Hall | Sr.

Bass came into the season with plenty of expectations and somehow surpassed nearly all of them. The future Oklahoma Sooner finished the season with 66 total touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards of offense. Through the air, he had 3,155 passing yards on 66 percent completions and 35 passing touchdowns to just two interceptions, while also rushing 138 times for 1,478 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also had a 70-yard touchdown reception. In the Class 3A semifinals against Marlow, Bass racked up 485 yards of offense and five touchdowns to help the Chargers reach a second straight championship game. Bass was on his way to another stellar performance in the title game – 176 rushing yards, 103 passing and four total touchdowns – before getting injured early in the third quarter.

Running Backs

Malachi Nicholson | El Reno | Sr.

Nicholson led the state in rushing by a margin of more than 600 yards. He cemented his place among prep football legends in Oklahoma history by breaking the state record for rushing yards in a game, going for 521 and eight touchdowns in a wild 68-67 win over Noble. The star running back finished the season with 2,890 yards (good for 262.5 per game) and 28 touchdowns on the ground, helping the Indians win some crucial district games that earned them a playoff spot. Nicholson will play collegiately at Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Demarius Robinson | Edmond Santa Fe | Jr.

At just 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Robinson might not look too imposing at first glance. But his play makes up for his lack of size. He ran for 2,139 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, averaging 194.5 yards a game and 10 yards a carry. Robinson holds offers from several Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, including Kansas State, Houston, Arizona State and Tulsa.

Wide Receivers

Gage Deckard | Claremore | Sr.

While he showed the ability to beat the defense deep, Deckard was an expert at taking the quick pass and turning it into a long gain, usually for a touchdown. As a senior, he had 68 catches and led the state with 1,370 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a major part of Claremore’s run all the way to the Class 5A state semifinals. Deckard will take his talents to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Kayden McGee | Muskogee | Sr.

The UNLV signee was on the receiving end of many of quarterback Jamarian Ficklin’s passes (56 to be exact) and was a big play waiting to happen. McGee had 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, and was a big reason why the Roughers won their first state title in 37 years.

Tight End

Nate Roberts | Washington | Jr.

A few tight ends had exceptional seasons in Oklahoma, but Roberts still managed to stand out. A key cog in the Washington machine that won its third consecutive Class 2A state championship, Roberts’ 816 yards and 41 receptions are pretty high numbers for tight ends in the high school game these days. Roberts’ numbers are especially impressive when you consider the Warriors had another outstanding tight end (Iowa State-bound Cooper Alexander) on the team. Roberts has over 30 Division I scholarship offers, including from the likes of Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame (where he originally committed before de-committing), Alabama, LSU and Georgia.

Offensive Line

Brody Duffel | Bixby | Sr.

The 6-5, 270-pound Duffel served as the left tackle for the Spartans over the last two seasons. His ability to block in both the pass and run game helped the Bixby offense continue to dominate the state, as Duffel graduated as a four-time state champion. He will continue his career at the University of Tulsa.

Josh Aisosa | Edmond Santa Fe | Sr.

Aisosa is a big man at 6-4, 305 pounds, and he played like a monster for the Wolves. Playing mostly at left guard, he was nearly impossible for defensive linemen to get past, as he routinely demolished opponents. He will look to continue his success in Norman as he signed with Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Gavin Kirby | Jenks | Jr.

Kirby is another mauler on the interior who never flinched against the top competition. He was a stalwart for the Trojans as they made their way back to the state championship game this past season.

Ross Johnston | Blanchard | Sr.

One of the more athletic offensive linemen you’ll find, Johnston was equal parts big and agile at his left tackle position. He routinely got to the second level and destroyed opposing defenders. He has the size (6-5, 290 pounds), but has the footwork that helped make the Lions' offense one of the toughest to stop in the state. The Golden Hurricane of Tulsa continue to hold on to homegrown talent, as they landed one of the best in the state.

Ryker Haff | Owasso | Jr.

While the blind-side blockers may get more attention, right tackles are just as important. Haff kept his quarterback clean all year, allowing zero sacks and helping the Rams to another great year. Haff has offers from Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Texas Tech, and should hear from more colleges as a senior.

Kicker

Liam Evans | Moore | Sr.

One of the top kicking prospects in the entire country, Evans was only called on to attempt eight field goal attempts this season, but drilled all but one. He converted twice from 51 yards out, breaking the school record for field goal distance. He will stay in state, signing with Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on.

Return specialist

Kordell Gouldsby | Bixby | Sr.

One of the most versatile players in the state, Gouldsby was a force for Bixby in all phases of the game. While he was a valuable receiver, rusher and defender, there might not have been a more dangerous return man in Oklahoma than Gouldsby. He racked up five punt return touchdowns and a kickoff return touchdown during his senior season. He’ll continue his career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

Defense

Defensive Line

Alex Shieldnight | Wagoner | Jr.

Shieldnight was a beast for the Bulldogs. He accounted for 83 tackles, 13 sacks and blocked a PAT. He has committed to the University of Oklahoma, but hopes to bring a state championship back to Wagoner next season.

Hudson Ball | Jenks | Sr.

Ball had 89 tackles and 14 sacks during his senior year. During his time at Jenks in two seasons, he tallied 188 tackles. As an underclassmen, he played at Shiloh Christian (Arkansas) before moving to Jenks to play football.

Xadavien Sims | Durant | Sr.

Sims is a four-star University of Oregon signee after having several Division I offers. He played as an upperclassmen at Durant for two seasons and was an underclassmen for two season at Denison (Texas). During his senior year, he also competed in the Adidas All American Bowl.

Linebackers

Connor Cavnar | Westmoore | Sr.

Cavnar made several plays for the Jaguars, including 190 tackles this season, with 29 of those tackles going for a loss and he also tallied 9.5 sacks. Cavnar made 407 career tackles, which is a school record.

Hank Puckett | Bixby | Sr.

Puckett recorded 110 tackles and eight sacks. He was ready to play in the season opener against Owasso when he made 13 tackles. Puckett is a warrior, as before the playoffs, he fractured his thumb and even had surgery.

Colyn Donnelly | Elgin | Jr.

Donnelly got after it on defense as he made 156 total tackles, with 82 of those tackles solo and 18 tackles for loss. He also tallied three interceptions and forced four fumbles.

Micho Lavine | Oklahoma City Millwood | Sr.

Lavine was part of a defense that allowed about 15 points per game and held six opponents to seven points or less. Lavine, who also is a three-star recruit, recently signed with Abilene Christian University after previously having committed to North Texas.

Defensive Backs

De'Von Jordan | Tulsa Union | Sr.

The University of Oklahoma four-star signee was a stud for the Redhawks. He covered receivers well and made 35 tackles. During his time with Union, he made five interceptions and one of those was a 100-yard pick six this season.

Dax Collins | Poteau | Sr.

Collins was a huge playmaker for the Pirates, who went undefeated in the regular season and won the District 4A-4 title. This season, he made 59 tackles and two of those tackles were for a loss. He was a ball-hawking defender, as he tallied five interceptions. He is taking his talents to play football for the University of Tulsa.

Dax Noles | Norman | Sr.

Noles was a beast for the Tigers, as he made 157 tackles and 87 of those were solo tackles. He recorded five interceptions and returned one to the house. He also played on the offensive side of the ball and scored 10 touchdowns, including a kickoff and punt return.

Trystan Haynes | Midwest City Carl Albert | Jr.

Haynes is currently a four-star recruit and is a two-way player for the Titans. On defense, he recorded 51 tackles and caught three interceptions. He currently is being recruited by college blue bloods such as Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma, just to name a few.

Punter

Caden Lesnau | McAlester | Sr.

Lesnau knew how to flip the field and averaged 37 yards a punt. Along with his punting duties, he also played quarterback, wide receiver and returned kicks. When starting at QB, he had a record of 30-9. 

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback

Jax Bernard | Fairview | Jr.

The Yellowjackets had a tremendous two-year run in Class A, claiming back-to-back state championships in the division. And Bernard was the unquestioned leader, passing for 3,385 yards and 47 scores with a 67 percent completion rate. He also rushed for 866 yards and another 17 touchdowns. And Class A coaches still have to deal with Bernard for another season as he will look for the three-peat his senior year.

Running Backs

Rodney Fields Jr. | Del City | Sr.

Fields rushed for 1,605 yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging more than 11 yards per carry for the Eagles' high-powered attack after transferring from Oklahoma City Southeast. For his high school career, Fields rushed for more than 3,100 yards and 54 touchdowns and averaged 10.9 yards per carry for his career. He will join his cousin LaDainian, another star Del City product, up the road at Oklahoma State in the fall.

Moses Fullingim | Tulsa Lincoln Christian | Sr.

The Bulldogs are turning into a Class 3A powerhouse in Tulsa, and Fullinghim had a lot to do with it on both sides of the ball in 2023. He accumulated more than 2,000 total rushing and receiving yards and found the end zone 26 times as Lincoln capped off his senior season with an incredible come-from-behind effort to defeat Oklahoma City Heritage Hall and claim the Class 3A state championship.

Wide Receivers

Hudson Henslick | Collinsville | Sr.

Henslick caught 86 passes for 1,150 yards and found the end zone 14 total times between offense, defense, and special teams. It was the second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season for the Cardinal senior, who also is a former state champion on the wrestling mat. Henslick will continue his football career competing for Northeastern State in the fall.

Mason James | Norman North | So.

The 6-foot, 170-pound James exploded onto the scene as a sophomore for the Timberwolves. James caught 17 touchdown passes and had 1,135 receiving yards while also making big plays as a cover corner for Norman North. He figures to garner continued Division I looks, having already received offers from Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, Miami (Florida) and others.

Tight End

Cord Nolan | Bixby | So.

The next big thing at the tight end position for the powerhouse Spartans is this impressive sophomore. Nolan pulled in 23 catches for 632 yards - an average of 27.5 yards per catch - and 10 touchdowns, while also physically beating down opponents as a blocker on offense and a disruptive force defensively. The future is bright and the present already is impressive.

Offensive Line

Wesley Harvey | Muskogee | Sr.

The 6-foot-8, 265-pound Harvey looks like a man among boys on the field. And he was the focal point of the offensive front for Class 6AII's state champion Roughers. Muskogee's powerful offense generated 51 points per game, and the Roughers could always count on Harvey to be a big part of clearing the way and keeping quarterback Jamarian Ficklin protected. He'll play collegiately in the Big 12 after signing with Texas Christian.

Keith Ferguson | Elgin | Sr.

The Owls have been on a resurgence the past two seasons, taking another big step in claiming the District 5A-1 championship. Much of that was on the backs of Ferguson and an offensive line that spearheaded one of the state's most effective rushing attacks. Ferguson was the leader of that group, helping Elgin pile up 52 points a game during an unbeaten regular season. His next stop is Oklahoma Baptist, where he signed in February.

Harrison Utley | Norman North | Sr.

Utley took on tough assignments as the focal point of the Timberwolves' potent offense. North piled up more than 400 yards a game with a mixed attack that saw run blocking and pass blocking as a necessity, and Utley shined at each. Utley was an early commitment to Kansas and despite some other opportunities that came up late in recruiting, stuck with the Jayhawks and will head to Lawrence in the fall.

Colten Christian | Collinsville | Sr.

The Cardinals produce top teams and tough talent year-in, year-out, and Christian is the latest stalwart along the offensive line. Christian will play close to home in college, making an early commitment to Tulsa before his senior season even started and signing with the Golden Hurricane in December.

Eli Kirkes | Minco | Sr.

Kirkes towers over opponents at the Class A level, or at any level for that matter, at 6-foot-4, 345 pounds. He was a dominating force at left tackle as the Bulldogs took on opponents with their powerful rushing attack. Kirkes was named to both the 2023 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Team and the Class A West All-Star Team.

Kicker

David Arriaga | Midwest City | Sr.

Arriaga was an all-around weapon in the kicking game for the Bombers, in particular for booming nearly every kickoff of the season for a touchback. He also was a bright spot working as the Bombers' punter and placekicker after transferring to the school from Stratford, where at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he had played multiple positions. As of yet, the senior is unsigned but is a player that has college-level leg power.

Return Specialist

CJ Simon | Moore | Jr.

Though more acclaimed for what he's done as a wide receiver for the Lions, Simon also was a playmaker in the return game for Moore, both in bringing back kicks for scores and forcing opponents to change their game plan and kick away from him. He's being looked at as a top prospect both at receiver and as an overall athlete. Simon recently decommitted from Nebraska, and has multiple Division I offers out there with more likely headed his way with another entire season still to play.

Defense

Defensive Line

Justin Kirk | Bixby | Sr.

At 5-foot-10, 240 pounds, Kirk was a demon along the Spartans' defensive line. He racked up 48 tackles and 11 sacks and a forced fumble. Kirk ends his career with four state championships.

Danny Okoye | Tulsa NOAH | Sr.

Okoye is the only player on the All-State list that was home-schooled. Despite playing in a league that most people had no idea existed, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound defensive end’s talent was evident. As his senior season progressed, he moved up the ranks and became the top prospect in the state, eventually signing with Oklahoma.

Eli Moroney | Guthrie | Sr.

Guthrie had one of the best defenses in the state during the 2023 season. And no one had a bigger impact than the 6-foot-3, 215-pound defensive lineman. While his 98 tackles were impressive for a lineman, it was his 19 sacks and 35 tackles for loss that made him nearly unstoppable. Moroney signed with Southwestern College.

Linebackers

Jentry Pendergraft | Kiefer | Sr.

Pendergraft, who was voted the SBLive Oklahoma Athlete of the Week in early November, was a key piece for Kiefer this season on both sides of the ball. On the defensive side, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder was a hybrid for the Trojans. He could be seen at middle linebacker and along the line of scrimmage as he tallied 150 tackles and 10 sacks for the 13-1 Trojans.

Caston Meadows | Mustang | Sr.

The numbers alone would make Meadows one of the top defensive players in the state. The middle linebacker closed out his senior season with 168 total tackles, 86 solo, 12 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and two sacks.

Caden Davis | Midwest City Carl Albert | Jr.

On a team full of MVP and future DI athletes, the play of the 6-foot, 205-pound Davis may have been undersold. The junior linebacker tallied 185 total tackles in just 14 games. That includes 139 solo tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles to help guide the Titans to back-to-back 5A state titles.

Defensive backs

Braelon Adamah | Del City | Sr.

While his teammate and defensive player of the year LaDainian Fields received most of the attention, Braelon Adamah quietly had a strong season for Del City. Along with being a playmaker on offense and special teams, he more than held his own as opposing teams tried to find a weakness in the Eagles' secondary. The 5-foot-10, 167-pound free safety was second on the team in tackles.

Daylon Malone | Alva | Sr.

The 5-10, 170-pound Malone was named the District 2A-1 cornerback of the year after finishing the season with seven interceptions to go along with 46 tackles and a sack in just 12 games this season.

Mykel Patterson-McDonald | Westmoore | Sr.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Patterson-McDonald came into his senior season with all eyes on him after already committing to the University of Oklahoma in the offseason. But he more than held up to the pressure as an anchor in the Westmoore secondary. He finished the season with 62 solo tackles, 14 passes deflected and one interception.

Max Wilson | Washington | Sr.

After being a standout wideout at Norman High, Wilson didn’t make the move to defensive back until partway through his senior year with Washington. But the 6-foot-2, 180-pound cornerback quickly showed he was at home in the secondary with three interceptions in his first three games at the position. Wilson finished the year with seven interceptions, and was named the corner of the year in District 2A-3 en route to winning his first state championship and the Warriors' second straight.

Punter

Carson Cooksey | Blanchard | Sr.

While Cooksey was an outstanding quarterback for the Lions and was instrumental in their Class 4A state championship run, don't overlook his punting prowess. He punted 26 times for an average of 33.9 yards. His longest punt went for 54 yards, and he placed nine punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Photo of Westmoore linebacker Connor Cavnar by Michael Kinney