Meet the Preseason All-South Mississippi High School Football Team for 2023
The 2023 high school football season has arrived in South Mississippi.
The Mississippi Coast saw an exodus of top talent via graduation and transfer over the offseason, including the losses of Dante Dowdell, Bray Hubbard, Kaden Irving and Deuce Knight.
In their place is a spotlight ready to shine on the next crop of stars around the Coast.
Get to know who will dominate the Friday night stage this fall here:
Fan choice offensive player of the year
Will Smith, Ocean Springs
Smith was an explosive weapon out of the Greyhound backfield a year ago before an injury cut the rest of his sophomore season short.
The junior ran for 609 yards on 9.7 yards per carry last year and is poised for a breakout year under first-year head coach Jake Bramlett.
Fan choice defensive player of the year
Angel McGee, Gautier
McGee returns as one of the most disruptive and productive interior defensive linemen in the state. A powerlifting champion, McGee leverages his powerful build well and used it to record 134 tackles and six sacks in 2022.
2022 Preseason All-South Mississippi High School Football Team
QB Connor Tice, Stone senior: Tice is the Coast’s leading returning passer. The senior threw for 2,049 yards and 26 touchdowns in ‘22.
QB Noreel White, St. Martin senior: The multi-talented four star athlete is set to man the quarterback position full time for the Yellow Jackets. White picked up 1,063 all-purpose yards last season.
QB Trey Irving, Gautier junior: Irving is taking over for his cousin as Gautier’s quarterback and will be leading the Gator’s air raid attack with an impressive arm and complimentary athleticism.
RB Will Smith, Ocean Springs junior: Smith hopes to build on his cut-short, eight-touchdown season in ‘22.
RB Chris Davis, Picayune senior: The Stanford commit will be the featured back for one of the state’s top teams after rushing for 1,078 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.
RB Zach Gullung, Hancock senior: Gullung is the Coast’s leading returning rusher after picking up 1,456 yards and 13 touchdowns a season ago.
WR Kelvin Beavers, Gautier: With the departures of AJ Phillips and Dillon Alfred, Beavers will be the top receiver in Gautier’s pass-first attack.
WR Cam Joseph, Gulfport senior: Joseph caught 35 passes for 678 yards and seven scores last year.
WR Terry Patton, Pass Christian senior: The athletic senior is poised for a breakout season after hauling in 32 catches for 494 yards last year. Patton also has 408 rushing yards to his name.
OL Ziron Brown, Bay High senior: Brown is a 295-pound tackle who is committed to Stanford.
OL Tristen Fortenberry, Pascagoula senior: Fortenberry is a 285-pound tackle with a host of division I offers, including from Tulane, Memphis and Louisiana.
OL Donell Lewis, Picayune senior: The 315-pound tackle is an experienced and key figure of Picayune’s rush attack.
OL Gabe Miller, East Central senior: The 305-pound senior is a key cog in East Central’s ground game and is holding an offer from Pearl River Community College.
OL Deshawn Feazell, Moss Point junior: The 6-foot-2, 345-pound guard is one of the Coast’s top rising talents along the line.
Iron Man Jacob Bradford, St. Stanislaus senior: The two-way iron man Stanford commit recorded 30 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks last season while also starring along the offensive line.
DL Jeffery Rush, Pascagoula senior: Rush is a four star Ole Miss commit who missed a chunk of last season due to injury, but returns as one of the top defensive lineman in the state.
DL Angel McGee, Gautier senior: McGee was an All-State select last season.
DL Talan Carter, Ocean Springs senior: Carter had 44 tackles and 15 tackles for loss last season and is drawing offers heading into his senior year.
EDGE Jamonta Waller, Picayune senior: Waller is the top class of ‘24 prospect in the state and a top-30 ranked player nationally at his edge rush position.
LB Jeffrey Hopgood, Hancock senior: Hopgood is fresh off a 133-tackle season in which the senior recorded 10 tackles for loss.
LB Gavin Allen, St. Martin senior: Allen had his first 100-tackle season a year ago and enters ‘23 as one of the Coast’s top linebackers.
LB Trace Carter, Ocean Springs senior: Carter made 25 tackles for loss last season, running his career total up to 45 heading into his final year.
LB Amarion Tyson, Picayune senior: One of the Coast’s top tackling machines, Tyson racked up 164 tackles last season.
DB Prince Cottonham, Gulfport senior: Cottonham led the Coast with eight interceptions a year ago with 49 tackles and 12 pass deflections.
DB Micah McKay, Pass Christian senior: McKay had 80 tackles and four interceptions as a junior last season.
DB Kevon Ford, Moss Point junior: Ford emerged as a sophomore last season with five interceptions and three more pass deflections as a corner.
DB Kohl Bradley, George County junior: Bradley is one of the top defensive prospects in the state in the class of ‘25 and is back after a sophomore season that saw him pick up 68 tackles and five pass deflections.
ATH Daniel Pickens, Resurrection Catholic senior: Pickens is a do-it-all star for the Eagles who picked up 1,490 all-purpose yards, 44 tackles and two interceptions in ‘22.
K Evan Noel, St. Stanislaus junior: Noel is the top-ranked kicker in his class and holds offers from Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Honorable mention
QB Zach Marlin, Biloxi; QB Ladd Scriber, Pass Christian; QB Dylan Moran, Hancock; RB Jacquez Alexander-Dedeaux, Pass Christian; RB Gavin Brown, Gulfport; RB Taboris Charles, Moss Point; RB Jamir Haskin, Biloxi; RB Kevin Rogers, D’Iberville; RB Darrell Smith, Picayune; WR Kainen Rush, Gautier; WR BJ Barnes, Pascagoula; WR Tyree Barnett, Harrison Central; WR Marlin Odom, George County; TE Evan Magee, Poplarville; OL Zaylin Dedeaux, Ocean Springs; OL Haylon Ladner, Gulfport; OL Mitchell Smith, Picayune; DL Aden Dedeaux, Poplarville; LB Xzayvier Hye, Gautier; LB Eric Moore, Ocean Springs; LB Jaylon Parnell, Pascagoula; DB Niquis Ratcliff, Picayune; DB Willie Breland, Stone; ATH Brenn Moody, George County
