Noble’s Lingle leads group with potential

NOBLE — Hayden Lingle has never been more driven.

“I want to be even better than I was last year and excel,” Lingle said Tuesday afternoon inside the Noble High School football offices.

For Lingle, last year was a learning experience as he helped guide the Bears to the Class 5A state semifinals in what is historically the school’s best season.

He entered the year as a nervous junior who wondered whether he truly belonged on the field. By the end of the year, he belonged after throwing for 2,036 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Entering his senior year, Lingle is catching some attention for the impressive numbers he put up. But Noble and Lingle are both expecting bigger and better things in what could be a breakout season.

“He went to the semifinals in 5A and he can look at the mirror and say, ‘I did that,’” Noble coach Greg George said.

Lingle grew up dreaming of being the star quarterback, but not for the fame. He wanted to be the leader.

He’s focused on that the past eight months. In the spring, he and senior Isaiah Willhoite organized earlymorning 7-on-7 workouts.

In the summer, they got even more teammates involved on their own.

Years ago in Noble, this would have been a tough accomplishment.

But times have changed, and Lingle is doing his best to continue the upward trend.

“People didn’t think we were going to do much last year,” Lingle said. “We exceeded expectations. This year, people are going to expect more from us. I think we’re going to excel higher than that.”

Lingle isn’t the only breakout candidate in the Oklahoma City area. Here is a look at three other players:

Lorenzo Jones IV, Mount St. Mary

First-year Mount St. Mary coach Willis Alexander repeated the phrase over and over.

“He’s got length,” Alexander said.

Alexander was referring to 6-foot-5 defensive end Lorenzo Jones IV, a raw talent with size and speed he’s mostly used on a basketball court. Jones joined the football team last year for the first time. He showed promise and even Arkansas-Pine Bluff offered a scholarship. Now, Alexander

is working to get more out of his talented senior.

“Last year, he was just playing,” Alexander said. “That’s my biggest focus is trying to get him to understand how to play the position and be a good football player, not just a good athlete.”

Kolton Hunt, El Reno

El Reno coach Chuck Atchison didn’t feature 6-4, 230-pound tight end Kolton Hunt much at all last season. But that was due to his age. Atchison wanted the freshman to adjust to

varsity football first. Now adjusted, Hunt is in line for a big year.

“I think he could be special,” Atchison said. “He’s going to get featured a whole lot more. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t catch 80 or 90 balls out of the slot position.”

Hunt will pair with fellow 6-4 receiver Dyson Plumley in key passing situations, too. Hunt, also a baseball player, is already drawing some recruiting interest.

“A lot of the recruiters are looking for tight ends and they’re hard to find,” Atchison said. “I think he’s got a chance to be pretty special.”

Jerome Brown, Midwest City

Midwest City quarterback Preston Colbert has been nervous about who he is going to throw the ball to this season after his own breakout season. But comfort is quickly forming with Jerome Brown, a basketball player who is quickly turning heads for the Bombers at receiver.

Even Midwest City coach Darrell Hall has been impressed early with Brown’s speed and hands.