UNION REDHAWKS
Coach: ANTONIO GRAHAM
5-7
Tulsa Union enters the 2026 season looking to turn offseason progress into on-field results under third-year head coach Antonio Graham. He says, “We had a great offseason, and spring ball went well,” and notes that the team “has made significant progress, but we still have a lot of areas where we can improve.” Graham believes “having a strong summer will be critical to our development and success,” and the focus has been on sharpening fundamentals, building chemistry and getting a relatively experienced group ready to finish games better than a year ago.
Offensively, the Redhawks will again line up in a spread scheme, with Graham describing it as a “Spread Offensive” built to be a “Balance offense to keep the defense honest.” Senior quarterback Dylan Taylor (6-0, 175) returns after throwing for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns, giving Union a veteran leader who understands the system and can distribute the ball efficiently. He’ll work behind a big, experienced offensive line led by seniors E’Marion Edison (6-3, 280), Jordan Johnson (6-3, 285) and center Bricen Duff (6-1, 275), the team’s Character Counts honoree and a two-year starter who “never complains, just works every day” and has grown into a vocal leader this offseason. On the perimeter, senior receiver Brighton Dewberry (6-0, 180) returns after catching 350 yards worth of passes and three touchdowns and comes off a track season where he set a new Oklahoma state record in the 200 meters at 20.73, while fellow senior Patrick Thompson (6-0, 175) adds another reliable target after posting 275 receiving yards. With six offensive starters back, Union plans to use that balance and speed to stress defenses horizontally and vertically.
Defensively, Union will line up in a 4-2-5 front, with Graham summing up the philosophy as, “Make them snap the ball again. We must be great tacklers.” Up front, junior defensive end Rocky Bright Jr. (6-2, 210) anchors the pass rush after producing seven sacks and 50 tackles, while junior defensive tackle Terrance Evans (6-3, 350) controls the interior with 35 tackles and a sack, giving the Redhawks size and power inside. Bright is certainly someone who will play at the next level and is receiving offers from various schools. In the secondary, junior defensive back Dallas Maxey (5-9, 170) returns after recording 35 tackles and three interceptions, providing stability and playmaking on the back end. With three defensive starters returning and a scheme that emphasizes tackling and forcing offenses to earn every yard, Union wants to be a unit that limits big plays, creates negative downs and gives its balanced offense more opportunities to win field position. Look for a few fresh faces to make an impact for the Redhawks defense this season.
8-28 – at Bentonville
9-4 – vs. Broken Arrow
9-11 – vs. Choctaw
9-25 – vs. Jenks
10-2 – at Tulsa Washington
10-9 – vs. Yukon
10-15 – at Moore
10-23 – vs. Deer Creek
10-30 – at Edmond Santa Fe
11-6 – at Owasso
