Get ready, because he’s ready. South Mississippi QB factory hands keys to freshman

Gautier coach Marc High sees a young Trey Irving in him. Ask around and others see some Kelvin Beavers and even a little bit of Kaden Irving.

It’s high praise to earn comparisons to three former All-State Gators quarterbacks, but it underscores the buzz around Gautier’s next-in-line in Keon McNeil, a 6-foot-1 freshman who just turned 14 in the spring.

McNeil won the job to lead a team fresh off its most successful season in the school’s history. He’s filling the shoes left by a Mr. Football winner. And that’s why High feels confident it’s the right moment for McNeil, citing the mental intangibles that come naturally for his quarterback.

“For a young kid, he’s got pretty good leadership,” High said of McNeil following Gautier’s jamboree win over East Central on Friday. “He goes out there and holds people accountable. If you’re playing that position at Gautier that’s what you have to do.”

McNeil has captured the trust of his offense through his headiness, but also through a familiarity that extends beyond an offseason practice schedule. He’s played alongside many members of Gautier’s talented skill group in the past.

That includes playing quarterback for his present day targets on 7-on-7 teams before playing the position for Gautier.

“This group, I grew up with these dudes,” McNeil said. “We got a lot of chemistry and team bonding going on behind the scenes.”

McNeil’s ties to his offense were noticeable in his first unofficial start. He led three scoring drives in the lone half of football the varsity sides played.

The 21-2 win was backed by his eight completed passes in 12 attempts, including a well-placed, high-point touchdown pass to Ashaun Tubbs.

It was marked with flash through a dizzying display of escapability from the pocket, at one point losing the entire Hornets’ pass rush with an effortless pirouette to his left before launching a deep ball caught by Devon Garrett.

That set up the first of sophomore running back Latrell Pogue’s two rushing touchdowns.

“I don’t like Keon, I love Keon,” Pogue said. “He’s a pretty good quarterback for a freshman, so I like what he’s doing.”

But there will be freshman moments. East Central’s only points were a result of an intentional grounding penalty committed by McNeil.

Those are the lumps that High will work with, just as he did when Kaden Irving was a freshman starter throughout a 3-8 season in 2019. That was the last time the Gators had a losing season, and a few years before Irving became one of the state’s all time leading passers.

It isn’t just trust in McNeil that will help drive his growth. It works the other way, too. When asked what his best tools are, he doesn’t point to his pocket mobility or his talented arm.

“My advantages are my receiving corps and my o-line and my running back.” McNeil said. “The whole offense, we just come together.”

Gautier is young around a younger a McNeil. It’s a group that has played a lot of high-stakes football, though.

Kasin Thomas produced over 800 yards of offense last year, while Devon Garrett caught a team-high 58 passes. Pogue turned heads with a freshman campaign in which he bruised his way to a 600-yard, nine touchdown season.

And each weapon is already a familiar presence for McNeil.

“We got that chemistry because we’re always working on the field and outside the field together,” Pogue said. “So we already know what to expect when it’s game time.”

The score of the next game will count when McNeil’s varsity career begins with a trip to Lucedale to face George County.

The Gators boast four consecutive All-State quarterbacks beginning with Dalyn McDonald. But when McNeil looks at the runway ahead, he sees only one goal.

“I just want to take my team back to state.”

Scott Watkins

Sun Herald

Scott is the high school sports and Southern Miss athletics reporter for the Sun Herald.