OU signee Andy Bass named 2023-24 Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year

The 2023–24 Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year is Andy Bass of Heritage Hall High School, the company announced on Wednesday. Bass is the second player from Heritage Hall to be selected as the Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year.

The honors for OU’s in-state recruits are starting to mount.

The 2023–24 Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year is Andy Bass of Heritage Hall High School, the company announced on Wednesday. Bass is the second player from Heritage Hall to be selected as the Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year.

This year, the three-star had one of the best seasons in the state. An injury kept Bass out of the final game midway through the season, just as he was about to lead Heritage Hall to back-to-back state titles and an unblemished record.

This past season, the 6-foot, 205-pound senior quarterback led the Chargers (14-1) to the Class 3A state championship game after throwing for 3,144 yards and 34 touchdowns. Bass averaged 13.1 yards per attempt, completed 66.3 percent of his throws, and only threw three interceptions. In addition, he ran for 1,480 yards at a yard and a half, scoring 31 touchdowns. He helped guide Heritage Hall to the state championship in 2022 and broke the record in the 100-meter dash (10.5 seconds) at the 2023 outdoor track state championships, ranking as the state’s No. 11 recruit according to 247Sports.

Bass is recognized as Oklahoma’s greatest high school football player by receiving the award, which honors the best high school athletes in the country for their achievements in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. Gatorade Player of the Year winners highlight the power of sport for everyone from CEOs and coaches to elite athletes. They do this by highlighting an all-star alumni group that includes Peyton Manning (1993–94, Isidore Newman School, La.), Jackson Arnold (2022–23, John H. Guyer High School, Texas), and Emmitt Smith (1986–87, Escambia High School, Fla.).

As a member of the executive board of Cleats 4 Kids and of Pivot, a company that offers youth services programs, Bass has volunteered locally. In addition to coaching a neighborhood flag football team and volunteering for the YWCA, he is a member of the mathematics honor society Mu Alpha Theta.

Bass has kept up a 3.9 GPA in the educational setting. He has made a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Oklahoma this autumn as a preferred walk-on.

Bass is one of the state’s former award winners, along with Gatorade Oklahoma Football Players of the Year Emmanuel Crawford (2022–23, Grove High School), Brennan Presley (2019–20, Bixby High School), Kendal Daniels (2020–21, Beggs High School), and Braylin Presley (2021–22, Bixby High School).

This summer, Bass’ recruiting got up as his incredible speed and physique wowed coaches. Despite having played quarterback in high school, he will suit up for the collegiate team as a running back and slot receiver. Given that his NIL transactions will cover his college expenses, his walk-on deal is a little different. In any case, when he recovers, the Sooners will have a fantastic athlete on their hands.