By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
First Team All-State Defense
Stacy McGee
Defensive Line
6-5/275/Senior
Muskogee
Next Stop: Undecided (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Florida, Tennessee, LSU)
McGee was the anchor of Muskogee's "Legion of Doom" defense, picking up 98 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks while leading the Roughers to the 6A state semifinals, where they gave Tulsa Union all it could handle. Showed his athleticism by also intercepting two passes and breaking up six others in 2007.
Nathan Badger
Defensive Line
6-2/250/Junior
Norman North
Next Stop: Junior
Badger led a stingy Norman North defense by registering 106 tackles and nine sacks. As a team, the Timberwolves allowed just 95.7 yards per game on the ground. Badger will return next season for a Norman North team that could arguably be considered the favorite heading into 2008.
Tony Gillespie
Defensive Line
6-1/300/Senior
Jenks
Next Stop: Undecided (Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Central Florida)
Gillespie, when the chips were down, was completely dominant. Against Midwest City in the Class 6A semifinals, Gillespie spent the entire evening in the Midwest City backfield disrupting a shotgun attack. Gillespie finished his senior season with 64 tackles, three sacks, and an interception for the Class 6A champions.
Joey Fowler
Defensive Line
6-4/260/Senior
Westmoore
Next Stop: Texas Tech
The Texas Tech commit had 80 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks in just 10 games for the Jaguars. Fowler missed two games to open the season and returned with a vengeance. Fowler will enroll early at Texas Tech and is good enough to make an immediate impact in Lubbock.
Jack Dumas
Linebacker
5-10/190/Senior
Guthrie
Next Stop: Undecided
Dumas had 161 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks for a defense that had eight shutouts in 14 games. Other than Shawnee scoring 44 points in two meetings against the Bluejays, Guthrie allowed just 45 points in 12 games. Dumas also had two fumble recoveries and became Guthrie's all-time leading tackler with 383.
Beau Traber
Linebacker
6-0/215/Junior
Norman North
Next Stop: Junior
Plenty of people around Oklahoma believe Traber is mentioned among the elite because his father is a regional radio personality and a former Major League baseball player. Traber's 164 tackles, one sack, and one interception while playing with a broken thumb should trump that theory. Traber is a hard-hitting run-stopper that has a nose for the football.
Beau Bentley
Linebacker
5-11/210/Senior
Bixby
Next Stop: Undecided
Bentley had a whopping 30 sacks for the Class 5A runner-up in 2007 to go along with 193 tackles. Against Guthrie in the 5A title game, Bentley had five sacks. For his career, Bentley finished with an unbelievable 82 sacks.
R.J. Bartley
Linebacker
6-1/215/Senior
Grove
Next Stop: Undecided
In just 12 games, Bartley picked up 163 tackles, five sacks, and an interception for the Ridgerunners. As Grove made a run to the Class 4A state final as a junior, Bartley had nearly 200 tackles in 14 games.
Joe Stoner
Defensive Back
5-10/210/Senior
Carl Albert
Next Stop: Undecided
After spending his junior year as the quarterback for the Class 5A state champions, Stoner moved to defense for his senior season. The result was 73 tackles and two interceptions. Also rushed for 17 touchdowns while playing fullback for the Titans.
Kyle Ebert
Defensive Back
6-0/170/Senior
Tuttle
Next Stop: Undecided
Ebert was everywhere for the Class 3A semifinalists as a senior. Ebert picked off nine passes for the Tigers to go along with 71 tackles. On offense, Ebert caught 45 passes for 749 yards and nine touchdowns. Over his career, Ebert registered 20 interceptions.
John Flanders
Defensive Back
5-11/175/Senior
Midwest City
Next Stop: Undecided (Kansas State, New Mexico, Rice, Tulsa)
Throw his way if you dare. Flanders was a legit shutdown cornerback for the Class 6A Cinderella story. Flanders had 39 tackles and four interceptions. Flanders also scored seven touchdowns, three of them coming via defense and special teams for the Bombers.
Daytawion Lowe
Defensive Back
6-0/180/Junior
Carl Albert
Next Stop: Junior
Lowe has the potential to become a solid Division I prospect as a senior. Lowe logged 116 tackles, four interceptions, and three sacks for the Titans as a junior. Lowe also scored four touchdowns on defense and special teams.
Ricky Holba
6-1/185/Senior
Morrison
Next Stop: Undecided
Normally, eight-man high school football players do not garner All-State consideration. Holba is the exception to the rule. In 14 games, Holba only managed 108 carries. His limited touches went for 1,828 yards 40 touchdowns. Holba also had 565 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, Holba had four interceptions. Holba finished with 101 touchdowns throughout his career and led the Wildcats to three consecutive Class B state titles. Wow.
Tress Way
Punter
6-1/190/Senior
Tulsa Union
Next Stop: Oklahoma (commit)
Way, committed to Oklahoma, drilled 17-of-22 of his field goal attempts for the 13-1 and Class 6A runner-up Redskins as a senior. Way also averaged 38.4 yards per punt for Union and had a field goal long of 47 yards.
Second Team All-State Defense
DL- Jess Jenkinson, Bethany
Jenkinson registered 80 tackles and 22 sacks for the Bronchos and also hauled in 14 touchdown receptions.
DL- Pearlie Graves, Tulsa East Central (Junior)
Graves had 65 tackles and five sacks in 2007 for the Cardinals.
DL- Jakob Gaither, Kingfisher
Gaither had 123 tackles and three sacks for the Class 3A state finalist as a senior.
LB- Colby Blondell, Henryetta
Blondell had 137 tackles and four sacks to help Henryetta reach the Class 2A quarterfinals.
LB- Erik Howell, Muskogee (Junior)
Howell led Class 6A with 176 tackles and two sacks for the Roughers.
LB- Braydon Lockhart, Clinton
Lockhart had 196 tackles, four sacks, and four interceptions for the Red Tornadoes in 2007.
LB- Sean Murphy, Cascia Hall
Murphy had 119 tackles and 13 sacks for the Class 2A state champions. Cascia Hall's starting defensive unit allowed just one touchdown the entire season.
DB- Jermaine Sherman, Wagoner
Sherman had 78 tackles and two sacks for the Class 4A Bulldogs.
DB- Gabe Lynn, Jenks (Junior)
Already been offered by Nebraska and North Carolina. Lynn swiped three passes for had 45 tackles for the Trojans.
DB- Trent Wilkins, Duncan
Wilkins was another stat stuffer. The Tulsa commit rushed for 1,840 yards and 25 scores, threw for 1,399 yards and 13 touchdowns, and had 32 tackles on defense.
DB- Austin Giles, Lawton MacArthur
Giles missed time due to injury, but threw for 2,007 yards and 15 touchdowns. Giles rushed for 11 scores and on defense, had 42 tackles.
DB- Ronnell Lewis, DB, Dewar
Lewis had 13 interceptions for the Class B Dragons and also rushed for 2,258 yards and 38 touchdowns, averaging 14.3 yards per carry.
P- Cornelius Douglas, Lawton
Douglas could have been named at a lot of positions. Douglas averaged 42.4 yards per punt for the Wolverines in 2007.
Honorable Mention
Jacob Inbody, Bixby (Junior)
Inbody had 176 tackles and 16 sacks for the Class 5A state finalist.
Gus Jones, Wagoner (Junior)
Jones had 171 tackles and three sacks. On offense, the junior rushed for 1,188 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Ford Binning, Heritage Hall
Binning registered 145 tackles and nine sacks for the Class 2A runner-up.
Alex Mathunas, Glenpool
Mathunas had 100 tackles and 10 sacks for the Class 4A runner-up.
Jamel Rucker, Morris
Rucked recorded 157 stops and picked off four passes for Morris in 2007.
Dustan McClenny, Rush Springs
McClenny had 163 tackles for Class A Rush Springs.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net
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