Meet The Oklahoman's 2023 All-State Football Defensive Player of the Year watch list

It’s Week 9 of the Oklahoma high school football season, and several players are making strong cases for postseason awards.

The Oklahoman unveiled Wednesday a list of 20 early contenders for All-State Offensive Player of the Year. Next, it’s time to look at the top defensive players.

Although this could change through the postseason, here are 20 candidates to watch for The Oklahoman’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year:

More: Meet The Oklahoman's 2023 All-State Football Offensive Player of the Year watch list

Tot Chandler, Tulsa Victory Christian, senior linebacker: Chandler set an unofficial state record with 545 career tackles in September, and he has since increased that total to 586. This season, he has racked up 74 tackles, including 44 solo stops.

Dax Collins, Poteau, senior defensive back: Collins leads an undefeated Poteau squad on both sides of the ball. His defensive stat line features 49 tackles and three interceptions. He also has 625 rushing yards and 116 receiving yards for a combined 11 touchdowns.

Issac Covington, Tulsa Union, senior safety: Covington is the leader of a 7-1 Redhawks defense which has allowed just 17 points over the last three weeks. He has 64 tackles, two interceptions and one sack while rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns on offense in his last three games.

Caden Davis, Carl Albert, junior defensive end: He’s leading Carl Albert with 101 total tackles (75 solo), including 17 for loss, and three fumble recoveries. Davis has also forced two fumbles, blocked a punt and has one interception.

More: The Oklahoman's Week 9 picks for every high school football game in the state

LaDainian Fields, Del City, senior defensive back: Since arriving from Southeast for his senior season, Fields has made a monumental impact on an undefeated Del City team. He has 45 tackles, 13 pass breakups and three interceptions as a cornerback, rarely allowing a catch. The TCU commit also has 750 receiving yards for 12 touchdowns and 415 yards on kick returns and punt returns.

Kordell Gouldsby, Bixby, senior defensive back: A versatile weapon for Bixby, he has two interceptions and four pass breakups. Also a vital player on offense and special teams, Gouldsby has 16 carries for 280 yards and three touchdowns, 15 receptions for 235 yards and two scores and three punt return touchdowns.

MJ Graham, Westmoore, senior defensive back: Graham is committed to Houston as a defensive back, but he could make a case for Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year. Graham has 16 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions, including one that sealed an upset of Jenks. As Westmoore’s quarterback, he has completed 129 of 199 pass attempts (64.8%) for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Marcus James, Carl Albert, junior linebacker: He has 64 total tackles (47 solo), including 17 for loss. Also a tight end, James has nine receptions for 172 yards and four touchdowns.

De’Von Jordan, Tulsa Union, senior defensive back: The stats don’t fully reflect Jordan’s impact because teams rarely throw in his direction. An OU commit, Jordan has totaled 25 tackles this season and returned an interception for a dazzling 100-yard touchdown.

Justin Kirk, Bixby, senior defensive end: Kirk is a leader of a dominant Bixby defense that has held five opponents to seven or fewer points this season. He has 34 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries.

Brayden Knox, Putnam City, junior linebacker: Knox has been an all-around force for the Pirates. As the leader of the defense, Knox has 76 tackles, seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. He also has stepped into a new role for Putnam City offensively, rushing 13 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in a win over Putnam City North last week.

Bergin Kysar, Edmond Santa Fe, senior defensive end: Committed to OU as a preferred walk-on, Kysar is a dynamic force on an Edmond Santa Fe team that is 5-2 following a one-win season. Kysar’s stat line features 46½ tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6½ sacks and four pass breakups.

Micho Lavine, Millwood, senior linebacker: The North Texas commit has had a stellar season so far. Spearheading the second-ranked Falcons defense to a 7-1 record, Lavine’s presence has been felt immensely on the defensive line. In last week’s 22-20 win over Oklahoma Christian School, the senior scooped up a fumble for a touchdown which was the eventual game-winning score.

More: Ada at Poteau tops list of Oklahoma high school football games for Week 9

Eli Moroney, Guthrie, senior defensive end: Stout defense is the name of Guthrie’s game. The Bluejays have shut out six opponents this season, and Moroney leads the way with 47 solo stops and 15 sacks. He also has one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles and two blocked punts.

CJ Nickson, Weatherford, junior defensive end: The four-star edge rusher has been crucial for the Eagles through the first nine games. Nickson currently has 42 tackles, four tackles for loss and three pass deflections while also accumulating 22 catches for 426 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Mykel Patterson-McDonald, Westmoore, senior defensive back: The OU commit has 45 tackles (34 solo) and 12 pass breakups as he’s helped Westmoore bounce back from a 3-8 season and become one of the best Class 6A-I teams outside of the Tulsa area.

Hank Puckett, Bixby, senior linebacker: A key leader on Bixby’s defense, Puckett has 73 tackles (40 solo), including nine for loss. He also has four sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Alex Shieldnight, Wagoner, senior defensive end: He’s playing a big role for a Wagoner team that is undefeated and allowing just 9.1 points per game as the defending champion in Class 4A. Shieldnight has 56 tackles, including 21 for loss, and 11 sacks.

Xadavien Sims, Durant, senior defensive lineman: Sims has played a huge role in the Lions return to grace. The Oregon commit’s dominance in the trenches has led Durant to four wins for the first time under coach Todd Vargas. Sims recently appeared on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” after lining up at tight-end and scoring a goal-line touchdown.

Cannon Wood, Piedmont, senior linebacker: He’s a key player for Piedmont on both sides of the football. On defense, he has 78 tackles, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. As a tailback in the Wildcats’ flexbone offense, Wood has 113 carries for 969 yards (8.6 yards per attempt) and 13 touchdowns.

—Hallie Hart, Jordan Davis and Nick Sardis, Staff writers

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school football 2023 All-State Defensive POY watch list