H.S. Football: Small Classification Players See Big Time Colleges In Their Futures

As a new high school season begins, look forward to seeing plenty of major conference talent. 

You often match top talent to higher classifications. For example, Jenks has two Division I verbal commits going to SEC and Big 12 schools while Booker T. Washington has Power Five conference commits as well, including Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill.

Hill was an OSU fan long before he committed to the program. "When that was my first offer, I always knew I wanted to go there, so I jumped on the opportunity," he said.

But it's not just 6A; Power Five coaches are also finding players in lower classes that have big potential like Oologah's Jimmy McKinney (Kansas State commit) and Collinsville Junior Levi Taylor (OSU verbal commit). "Good coaching and tough kids equals good football players and Oklahoma's full of both," said Collinsville Football Head Coach Kevin Jones.

Lincoln Christian quarterback Micah Wilson says there’s talent in every class. "People think that just because they're in the 6A that's the only class that has talent in Oklahoma, but really, there's talent in any class. You just got to find it," he explained.

Satellite camps and coaches with connections are helping increase the amount of Power Five attention small classes are gaining. Victory Christian's Jon Michael-Terry (Oklahoma commit) is one example. "Coach Cale Gundy of OU talked to me about Jon when he was a sophomore, Coach Saban at Alabama talked to me about Jon [and] Gary Patterson [of TCU] talked to Jon," said Victory Christian Head Coach Ron Smith.

Terry says he spoke with some coaches, attended their junior day, and soon after an offer was extended.

So as you start attending high school football Friday, regardless of location, you could be watching a future college starter.