They’re the next big things. Coast’s top 10 underclassmen already making noise
The high school football season is already nearing its midway point.
The Mississippi Coast’s highest classification begins region play this week and everyone else follows next week. That means we’re deep enough into the year to know who teams will be relying on when the schedule matters most.
One of the more notable stories of the year is the emerging crop of young quarterbacks taking over starting jobs. Our list of the most impactful underclassmen so far is heavy with first-year starters with a lot of runway for development.
Also among the group are a pair of running backs who established themselves as freshmen a year ago, two defensive backs who have quietly proven disruptive and a jack-of-all-trades doing just about everything on the field.
Here are the top 10 underclassmen the season has produced so far.
Sophomore QB Chalmers Berglind, Ocean Springs
Berglind was near-flawless in his most recent start against Picayune, completing 10 of 13 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns in what may have been the single best quarterback performance on the Coast this year.
He trails only Pass Christian’s Paris Trivillion among the Coast’s passing leaders. Berglind has been slowly brought along within Jake Bramlett’s offense and couldn’t ask for a better situation with the number of weapons surrounding him.
The last Greyhound quarterback to reach 700 passing yards in the first four games of a season was Bray Hubbard in 2021.
Freshman QB Keon McNeil, Gautier
The lone freshman on this list, McNeil is still raw but there is no denying the tools the 6-foot-1 quarterback possesses. McNeil’s shiftiness in the pocket and strong arm give him plenty of ceiling in a program known for developing stars at the position.
Coach Marc High noted in the preseason that McNeil would have his freshman moments. McNeil has thrown six interceptions in four games, but has also thrown at least one touchdown in every game and had 212 yards and two scoring tosses against an elite D’Iberville defense.
There’s a good development environment around McNeil and it’s in every defense’s interest to keep an eye on him.
Sophomore QB Titus Feaster, Pearl River Central
Feaster spent some time at quarterback last year, but he’s added a brand new element to the Blue Devils’ offense as a full-time starter this season.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore set the school’s single game passing yards record with 413 in a week three decimation of East Central. He tossed five touchdown passes in the win. That game was sandwiched by his two 100-yard rushing performances.
Feaster has been responsible for 12 touchdowns in four games and is the central driver in PRC’s offensive resurgence.
Sophomore QB Seth Crockett, St. Martin
Crockett moved over from running back to take the snaps this year and it’s only made him more dangerous as a runner.
Poplarville’s Ty Keys is the only player on the Coast with more touchdowns than Crockett, who has found the end zone 11 times in four games while leading the Yellow Jackets to their first 4-0 start since 2019.
Crockett has also completed 49 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. St. Martin’s offense has improved from 226.6 yards per game in 2024 to 363.
Sophomore QB Maddox Dunn, East Central
The job of the quarterback is a little bit different at East Central than it is in most places. And Dunn is performing that job at a high level.
He’s needed just 78 carries to pick up the third-most rushing yards by any Coast player, with 678. Dunn has surpassed 100 rushing yards in all four games and is coming off his best outing yet.
He picked up 216 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns in leading the Hornets to their first win of the year against Forrest Co. AHS. Dunn, who plays baseball in the spring, also threw his first career touchdown pass in the game.
Sophomore RB Latrell Pogue, Gautier
The prime time to buy stock in Pogue was a year ago, when he turned 90 runs into 604 yards and nine touchdowns.
Now all he’s doing is averaging 12.3 yards a carry through four games. His most recent outburst saw him chew up 143 yards on just six runs and scored a very efficient four times against Moss Point.
Pogue will likely cross 1,000 career rushing yards when the Gators visit Greene County Friday.
Sophomore RB Ayden Green, Stone
Green joined Pogue as two of the leading freshman rushers in the state when he picked up 650 yards in 2024. He’s building on that in year two with 137 yards gained per game.
He’s also had to fill in at quarterback where he’s extended his versatility, completing 12 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Green opened the season with a 273-yard, three touchdown outburst in a 31-13 win over Hancock.
Slotting in behind center has dropped his numbers a bit, but don’t expect the dip to last very long.
Class of 2028 ATH Coleton Hopgood, Hancock
You’ll have a tough time finding someone as broadly utilized as Hopgood. The Hawks have gotten production out of him just about everywhere.
Hopgood has 50 rushing yards with one score. He’s caught six passes for 49 yards and he’s completed an 18-yard pass (making him a perfect 3-for-3 for his career).
On defense, he’s made 23 stops with five tackles for loss and one pass deflection. And for good measure this all comes after putting together a .367 on base percentage in 15 varsity games during the spring.
Sophomore DB Brandon Laneaux, Pass Christian
The Pirates’ offense gets plenty of attention, but they’ve got a rising star budding in the defensive backfield. Laneaux has upped his production thus far, improving from 4.2 tackles per game to 5.3.
He scored his first career touchdown in week two when he returned an interception 24 yards for six against Purvis. Laneaux alos has four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
He’s been a playmaker on special teams, as well, having blocked a kick against Presbyterian Christian.
Sophomore DB Jaxon Dubose, Moss Point
The Tigers can find a bright spot in their 1-3 start in a rising talent on defense. Dubose has been productive out of the safety position for first-year defensive minded head coach Derrick Jenkins.
Dubose has 31 tackles in four games, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. He’s also already logged his second career forced fumble.
His best game came against a talented Gautier offense where he made both of his sacks and forced the fumble. Not to be outdone by Hopgood, Dubose turned in a .378 on base percentage in his 14 varsity baseball games.
