Oaken Williams put together an outstanding sophomore season, establishing himself as one of the top young defensive backs in Class 5A.
The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Hutchinson safety earned AVCTL First Team All-League honors and Sports in Kansas All-State honorable mention after recording 98 tackles, two tackles for loss and five pass breakups.
His impressive performance also landed him on the Sports in Kansas Top 100 Non-Senior list, signaling that he is one of the state’s rising stars entering the 2026 season.
Williams was a key contributor for a Hutchinson squad that finished 7-3 and reached the second round of the playoffs. The Salthawks will be guided in 2026 by first-year head coach Luke Berblinger.
Despite being one of the younger players on the field, he consistently made plays in the secondary while showing a physical style of play that belied his size.
Looking ahead to the new season, Williams is eager to get back on the field with his teammates.
“There’s nothing like the energy of a new season,“ he said. “I’m excited to go out and play with my brothers again.”
