Jaden Allen, Quarterback, Junior, Brookhaven High

One of the fastest players in Southwest Mississippi, Allen clocks a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash for Brookhaven High. That should tell you why he projects as a wide receiver at the next level. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound high school signal caller passed for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air last season while also scoring eight times on the ground for a Brookhaven High squad that made the MHSAA 5A semifinals.

Arrocus “Roc” Baskins Jr., Offensive Lineman, Senior, Parklane Academy

A verbal commit to next play at West Point for the Army Black Knights, it doesn’t take long in conversation with Baskins to see he has what it takes to make it at one of our country’s elite service academies. His strong handshake, direct eye contact, and great grades all pair nicely with his 6-foot-3, 280-pound frame. Baskins and his ability to move other human beings at the line of scrimmage was a big part of the Parklane Pioneers winning a MAIS 5A state title last season, after which he was named MAIS 5A All-State.

Jeremy Bibbs, Defensive End, Senior, Brookhaven High

Still growing and still getting stronger even as his senior season approaches, Bibbs was a breakout star for the Brookhaven High defense after making the switch from wide receiver early in the 2024 season. At 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, he plays defensive end for the Panthers with athleticism and speed that warrants extra blockers from an offense. Bibbs made the MAC 5A All-State team last year by piling up 16 tackles for a loss and he’s being heavily recruited by all of the top two-year programs in the state, as college coaches see him developing into an explosive outside linebacker.

KeMari Brown, Linebacker, Senior, Wesson

Call him the sleeper of this list, as Brown is a player that’s just coming into his own for the Cobras defense. As he continued to grow and fill out, the Wesson coaching staff moved him to outside linebacker ahead of this season, where the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder will be a physical presence at the line of scrimmage in the odd-man front used by the Cobras. Brown will also be a factor for Wesson on offense after catching four touchdowns last season as a junior.

Zarkevion Brown, Tight End, Senior, South Pike

Expect more catches in 2025 for Brown, who hauled in eight passes for 191 yards and one score last season for the Eagles. With an offense that returns plenty of pieces, including quarterback, Brown is a can’t miss target at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds. Plenty of two-year and SWAC programs are keeping an eye on Brown this season after he earned MAC 3A All-State honors last season for a South Pike program that went 9-2 last season.

Davis Carruth, Wide Receiver, Junior, Parklane Academy

With his long strides as a runner and a penchant for finding holes in the defensive coverage, Carruth is an important player for the Parklane Academy offense as the Pioneers shoot for a second straight MAIS state championship. Last year, Carruth put together over 1,200 yards of total offense and scored 12 total touchdowns, which is why the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder is on the recruiting radar of several four-year schools after earning MAIS 4A All-State honors in 2024.

Tre’Kievion Ellis, Linebacker, Senior, Copiah Academy

The first thing you’ll notice about Ellis is how massive his hands are. Those big mitts are attached to a pair of equally impressive arms on the Copiah Academy senior linebacker. Ellis earned MAIS 4A All-State honors last year as a running back, but the college coaches visiting Gallman see him as a defender on the next level. He currently holds offers from Ole Miss, South Alabama, and Arkansas State among others.

Derwin Fields, Defensive End, Junior, Brookhaven High

We won’t list out all of the almost 40 offers that Fields currently holds but take a quick look at some of the top schools vying for the attention of the Brookhaven High junior edge rusher. Texas, Florida, Florida State, Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Southern Cal are all chasing Fields, one of the top junior prospects in the state. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Fields earned MAC 5A All-State honors last year by making 11 sacks as a sophomore.

Dreamus Harron Jr., Defensive Back, Senior, Brookhaven High

It’s not hyperbole to call Harron the most versatile football player in Southwest Mississippi. He can play wideout, he can play quarterback, he can punt, and he’s a key piece of the ball-hawking Brookhaven High defense as a safety. A lifelong standout in baseball, Harron reads and reacts like an outfielder, as he had two interceptions last season and earned MAC 5A All-State honors as a punter. The 6-foot, 170-pound defensive back is getting recruited by a plethora of two-year programs from around the state.

DeAllen Howard, Defensive End, Senior, Franklin County

There is upward momentum in the football program at Franklin County and having players like Allen on the roster is a big part of that optimism. Howard will play tight end on offense and with his 6-foot-4, 265-pound frame, he’s drawing lots of interest from two-year programs from around the state. Howard will pair with fellow senior JaMahl Flowers (6-foot-3, 245-pounds) to give the Bulldogs size on the end of their line.

Jordyn Kees, Running Back, Junior, Loyd Star

The best and easiest way to describe the way Kees runs the ball is one word. Hard. Kees, who has calves like bowling balls, never goes down without a fight. That’s helped him rush for over 2,000 yards as a freshman and sophomore. The Hornets will once again count on him in 2025, as Kees has picked up offers from UT-Martin and UNLV thus far in his recruitment journey. His play last season earned Kees a second straight selection for the MAC 2A All-State team.

Sheldon Isaac, Wide Receiver, Junior, McComb High

Electric. That’s just about the best way to describe what it’s like when Isaac has the ball in his hands for the McComb High Tigers. The younger brother of MHS alum and current Mississippi State wideout Sanfrisco Magee, Isaac made a name for himself last season as a sophomore by catching 16 touchdown passes along with scoring five more times via rushes and returns to earn MAC 4A All-State honors. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Isaac currently holds offers from Tennessee, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Tulane among others.

Micah Nickerson, Defensive End, Senior, South Pike

A Mississippi State commit that stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 215-pounds with arms that seem to go on forever, Nickerson is a guy that immediately catches your eye while scanning a South Pike roster that’s filled with size and strength. Nickerson picked MSU over offers from Virginia, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Missouri, Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette, Florida Atlantic, and others. An edge rusher who’ll play outside linebacker in college, Nickerson was an MAC 3A All-State selection last year as a junior.

Delwin “Dejay” Perkins Jr., Defensive Back, Junior, McComb High

On a team full of burners, Perkins is among the speediest Tigers on the roster of McComb High. The nephew of MHS head coach Alden Foster, Perkins was an MAC 4A All-State selection last season on the football field after making six interceptions for MHS. On the track, he ran an 11.70 in the 100-meter dash and the 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior currently holds offers from Louisiana-Monroe, Florida A&M, Grambling State, Alcorn State, UT-Martin, and others.

Broderick “Bam” Peters Jr., Tight End, Senior, McComb High

A Southern Miss commit, Peters is looking to make a big impact for McComb High after transferring in from Hammond High (La.). It only takes a quick look at the 6-foo-4, 235-pound Peters to see why schools such as South Florida, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Troy and other have offered the big tight end. Peters caught 23 passes last season at his old school and his physicality on the end of the line will be a major factor for a MHS offensive line that is rebuilding.

Jayden Poole, Running Back, Junior, Bogue Chitto

A running back who makes sharp cuts with the ball in his hands, Poole is the motor that’ll drive the MHSAA 1A Bogue Chitto Bobcats. Last season the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Poole rushed for 973 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. He scored 12 times on the ground and four times through the air while earning Region 7-2A Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a return man.

Amare Porter, Defensive Tackle, Senior, Lawrence County

There will be plenty of nights where Porter rarely comes off the field for the Lawrence County Cougars. At 6-foot-5, 320-pounds, the Cougars need the big man out there to block and then be unlockable. Porter’s size is what’s drawing college recruiters to Monticello to get a look at the massive tackle.

Caiden Quarles, Running Back, Senior, Brookhaven High

A north-south runner with the ball in his hands, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Quarles is a rugged back that picks up plenty of yards after contact for the Brookhaven High Panthers. Last season Quarles picked up 1,281 yard rushing while scoring 16 touchdowns for a BHS team that reached the final four of the MHSAA 5A bracket. Quarles is currently hearing from Arkansas State, Southern Miss, Alcorn State, and most of the community college programs in the state.

Eddie Ratliff Jr., Defensive Back, Senior, Brookhaven High

Watch him play just for a little while, and you can clearly see that Ratliff has the heart of a warrior in his role as a defensive back for Brookhaven High. Last season the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Ratliff battled through injuries to earn MAC 5A All-State honors after picking off five passes for the Panthers. Ratliff, the nephew of BHS defensive coordinator Corey McLaurin, is being recruited by a long list of SWAC and community college programs.

Damarion Smith, Wide Receiver, Junior, Wesson

A physical route runner with speed to burn, Smith is a guy that the Wesson Cobras scheme to get the ball in his hands in space. In 2024, he caught 27 passes for 515 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging just under 20 yards per catch. The younger brother of former Wesson standout Antrelle Sims, Smith was also named Region 7-3A Special Teams MVP after returning one punt and two kickoffs for a score. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Smith also picked off three passes as a defensive back last year.

Douglas Wansley Jr., Running Back, Sophomore, South Pike

You’d be hard pressed to find a better freshman running back in the Magnolia State last year than young Wansley. All the speedy 5-foot-8, 150-pound scatback did was average over 9.7 yards per carry while scoring 14 touchdowns and rushing for 1,508 yards on a 9-2 South Pike team. Fans in Magnolia can’t wat to see what DWJR will do for an encore in 2025.

Durrell Washington Jr., Linebacker, Senior, Brookhaven High

If the talented Brookhaven High defense had a heartbeat, it would be Washington, a senior linebacker who plays the game with an instinctive feel. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Washington is hearing from the best two-year programs in the state in his recruitment. Washington earned MAC 5A All-State honors last season by making a team high 113 tackles along with four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two recovered fumbles.