Meet the 2018 Preseason Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Football Team

With the high school football season set to begin on Aug. 17 across South Mississippi, here’s a look at some of the best players in the state’s southernmost six counties.

A total of 12 of the players already hold Division I scholarship offers prior to the start of the 2018 campaign.

East Central High School, the only Coast team to play for a state title last year, leads the way with four members on the preseason squad.

Jamborees also will take place across the Coast on Aug. 10, allowing fans to have an early look at teams.

Offense

RB — Dennis Andrews, Long Beach — Senior who rushed for 1,691 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago, drawing Division I interest.

QB — Cade Crosby, Long Beach — The junior passed for 2,105 yards and 16 touchdowns, rushed for 529 yards and 13 touchdowns.

OL — Brandon Cunningham, St. Martin — Six-foot-5, 300-pound senior lineman who flipped from Miami to Mississippi State in April.

RB — Cameron Gray, East Central — After missing the first four games of 2017, the senior finished with 41 carries for 794 yards and six touchdowns.

WR — Tyson Holston, Poplarville — Senior wing back. Last year’s stats: Rushed for 853 yards, nine touchdowns; caught 18 passes for 319 yards.

WR — Khalil Levy, Ocean Springs — Senior caught 20 passes for 561 yards and six touchdowns in 2017.

RB — Ham McGee, St. Martin — Senior rushed for 1,368 yards and 13 touchdowns last year; holds Southern Miss offer.

OL — Jay Mickel, Picayune — Six-foot-4, 280-pound junior lineman who should emerge as a top prospect.

TE — Lee Negrotto, St. Stanislaus — Six-foot-3, 210-pound junior could be SSC’s next college prospect at tight end. Last year’s stats: Caught 10 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns; 82 tackles and an interception on defense.

QB — T.Q. Newsome, Gulfport — Six-foot-1, 215-pound senior who is committed to Southern Miss as a running back. Last year’s stats: Rushed for 916 yards and 15 touchdowns; passed for 633 yards and four touchdowns.

OL — Bryce Ramsey, Harrison Central — Six-foot-3, 330-pound senior lineman who committed to Ole Miss in March.

WR — Brooks Rayburn, Hancock — Senior caught 29 passes for 652 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017; holds offers from Kansas, Nicholls State and Tennessee-Martin.

OL — Alex Rimmer, St. Stanislaus — Six-foot-3, 270-pound senior offensive tackle who holds three junior college offers.

OL — Louis Paul Smith, D’Iberville — Six-foot-3, 294-pound senior center who committed to Southern Miss in March.

Defense

LB — Trey Arrington, Stone High — Five-foot-10, 190-pound senior who will mostly play running back this year. Last year’s stats: 108 tackles; 589 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.

DB — Trenton Baldock, East Central — Senior cornerback who had six interceptions and 40 tackles last year.

LB — Ross Barnett, Poplarville — Five-foot-11, 200-pound senior had 189 tackles for the Hornets last season.

DL — Keandre Booker, Moss Point — Six-foot-4, 215-pound senior is committed to Southeast Missouri State. Last year’s stats: 48 tackles. 12 sacks.

DL — Shaheim Carroll, Gautier — Six-foot-2, 210-pound senior defensive end who holds several offers, including Jackson State. Last year’s stats: 56 tackles, three sacks.

DB — Riko Carter, Biloxi — Senior defensive back who had three interceptions and 63 tackles last year.

LB — Derick Hall, Gulfport — Six-foot-4, 220-pound senior holds offers from LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Louisville. Last year’s stats: 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks; eight catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

DL — McKinnley Jackson, George County — Six-foot-2, 308-pound junior defensive tackle who is one of the top defensive line prospects in the nation. Holds offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida State and and almost every other prominent program in the South. Last year’s stats: 81 tackles, 36 tackles for negative yardage.

LB — Terre Johnson, Pass Christian — Six-foot-2, 200-pound senior who had 86 tackles and five sacks last season.

LB — Trenton Ladner, Hancock — Six-foot, 221-pound senior tallied 176 tackles in 2017.

DB — Dylan Lawrence, George County — Six-foot-5, 195-pound cornerback who has drawn interest from Mississippi State, Southern Miss and South Alabama. Last year’s stats: 76 tackles, one interception.

DL — Terrance Spivey, Resurrection — Six-foot, 190-pound senior. Last year’s stats: 99 tackles, 10 sacks; 315 yards rushing, four touchdowns.

LB — Avery White, East Central — Six-foot, 190-pound senior holds a Southern Miss offer. Last year’s stats: 202 tackles, 35 for negative yardage.

Specialists

Kicker/punter — Branson Davis, East Central — Senior who made 10 of 11 field goals in 2017 with a long of 46. He also converted on 66 of 70 extra points.

Athlete — Jaden Walley, D’Iberville — 6-foot, 170-pound junior dual-threat athlete at quarterback who holds a scholarship offer from Alcorn State. Last year’s stats: 327 yards passing with six touchdowns, 308 yards rushing with eight scores.

This story was originally published August 1, 2018 at 3:19 PM.