They’re next: Meet 5 Coast players ready to break out when 2025 season kicks off
The approaching high school football season is set to serve as the stage for breakout campaigns from a number of South Mississippi athletes in position to force themselves into a seat at the table of household names on the Coast.
The Preseason All-South Mississippi football team is a showcase of the deep pool the region has to offer in the way of established stars. But they aren’t the only ones who will shine in the coming months.
Bigger roles are coming for a number of players who have shown glimpses of dominance. Much of the season’s story will be influenced by athletes taking the next step forward.
These five players are among the highest potential breakout stars of the upcoming season.
QB Jason Glaude, Pascagoula
The record-breaking career of Silas Corder is in Pascagoula’s rearview mirror, but that won’t necessarily mean a rebuild is coming for the Panther offense.
Glaude dazzled in his lone start as a freshman last year, throwing for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns in his first varsity start against Hancock. The offense now belongs entirely to Glaude and he’s got a bevy of weapons surrounding him with Amarie Jackson at running back, Darius Carter and DJ Nunnery at wide receiver and four starters back on the offensive line.
RB Ayden Green, Stone
Green so impressed the hosts of Stone’s spring game at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg that he immediately picked up his first D-I offer from Southern Miss after the game.
He ran for 150 yards on just 10 carries that day in what was his final game as a ninth grader. He tallied 650 rushing yards as a freshman in 2024 as the Tomcats’ No. 2 back. Green steps into the lead back role this season and has an experienced starting quarterback in Zander Howard handing him the ball and an offensive line that boasts three seniors to run behind.
QB Parker Nettles, Gulfport
Blake Pennock believes he’s got his man at quarterback. Nettles transferred in from Louisiana and is already committed to East Mississippi Community College.
The rising senior impressed during the Admirals’ spring game against Daphne before he spent the summer working with Mississippi quarterback whisperer Wyatt Davis. Nettles is a mobile operator with a knack for improv that fits the sideline-to-sideline offense Gulfport will feature this year.
RB Latrell Pogue, Gautier
Replacing Mr. 5A Trey Irving won’t be easy, but the Gators still have weapons at skill positions. Poised to surge with a bigger role is sophomore back Latrell Pogue. He didn’t look like a typical freshman in 2024 when he rushed for 604 yards and nine touchdowns.
With a new quarterback to break in and a backfield his to own, Pogue is in line to see an increase in workload. He’s tacked on 10 more pounds to complement his quick downfield burst and will likely once again be a frequent visitor at the second level of opposing defenses.
ATH Kevin Marshall, St. Martin
Marshall’s sophomore season was spent at quarterback where he threw for over 750 yards and rushed for over 500. New head coach and promoted defensive coordinator Woody Cagnolatti has different plans for the rising junior he describes as an “elite player.”
His new role will be reminiscent of former star Noreel White’s: everywhere. Marshall will be featured in the slot, at running back and often at defensive back. Offensive coordinator Tim Lala — the architect of St. Stanislaus’ prolific 2023 offense — has designed the scheme with the purpose of putting the ball in Marshall’s hands.
Seth Crockett will slide over from running back to man the quarterback position while the highly touted “future of the program” Dawson Sullivan takes a development year as a freshman after leading the varsity offense throughout the spring.
