No. 30: Rylan McQuarters
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings list for the 2018 class. The series begins Wednesday at No. 30 with Tulsa Washington’s Rylan McQuarters, and will continue on Thursday with No. 29 on the list.
TULSA — When Brad Calip showed up at Tulsa Washington last year to take over as the Hornets’ football coach, his first impression of Rylan McQuarters was one of surprise.
“I couldn’t believe he was only 5-9,” Calip said. “He plays like he’s 6-2.”
McQuarters broke in as a standout cornerback and big-play threat as a kick returner early in his Hornet career. Last season, he showed that he has star potential at running back, too.
“Most schools are just recruiting me as an athlete,” said McQuarters, who has scholarship offers from North Texas and Utah State, along with interest from a variety of other programs.
He comes in at No. 30 on the latest edition of
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2018 class.
At 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, McQuarters’ biggest asset at the next level is his versatility — a quality that runs in the family.
His father, R.W. McQuarters, was the same type of player in high school at Tulsa Washington — where his No. 17 jersey is retired — then in college at Oklahoma State, playing receiver, defensive back and kick returner before settling in at cornerback for an 11-year NFL career.
Rylan is a shade smaller than his father, who played at 5-10 and 195 pounds in the NFL.
But for the colleges not afraid to take a chance on someone of his size, the rewards could be plentiful.
“He’s very gifted,” Calip said. “He has the vision, the cutting ability. He’s got some great DNA and he’s fun to watch.
“He won’t talk very much. He’s a humble kid. I’m glad he’s on my side.”
Adding another level to his versatility, McQuarters can catch passes out of the backfield or line up at receiver, making him a matchup nightmare for defenses.
As for the next level, it’s too early to say what McQuarters might be.
“Some colleges like him at running back, some like him at DB, and I think some just want him as a pure athlete, because he can do all of those things,” Calip said. “They just want him, and they’ll figure out where they’re gonna play him at.”
As for this season, McQuarters just wants to be on the field, wherever it is.
“Whatever helps the team win,” he said, “that’s what I’m gonna do.”