State's top high school football player transferring to Douglass

But Ward, the No. 1 recruit in the state, is heading to the Oklahoma City area.

Ward will play this season at Douglass, he said Wednesday.

“It's tough,” Ward said. “I want to finish up with my guys at Lawton. But it's just something I have to do.”

Ward's father, Demetrius Ward Sr., said he recently took a job as a Junior ROTC instructor at Douglass. The position is hired by the Army, although Demetrius Ward will be an employee of the school.

“There's still some paperwork to get finished up but it's happening,” Demetrius Ward said. “He's moving on. We're moving to the city, and D.J. is moving with his parents.”

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Ward had 75 tackles and 11 sacks last season.

He said he told Lawton coaches of the possibility of a move a week ago but things weren't finalized until Wednesday.

“It hasn't hit me yet,” Ward said. “Things are just now starting to come into place.”

At Douglass, Ward figures to be part of yet another dominant defensive end tandem after teaming up with fellow All-State defensive end Patrick Diaz with the Wolverines last year.