More than a dozen Coast athletes sign to play Division I football. Here’s the list
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coast class sends more than a dozen athletes to Division I programs in 2025.
- Pascagoula leads with four senior D-I signees; multiple JUCO players also join list.
- List tracks state and service-school commitments and will be updated as signatures arrive.
The class that could make every argument for being among the deepest in Mississippi Coast history is putting pen to paper this week.
More than a dozen athletes have signed this week to play Division I football at the next level. This includes high school seniors, but also junior college products. And there are many more who are taking the JUCO route who will likely find themselves on this list in no time.
Pascagoula had the busiest week with four seniors signing D-I scholarships, along with Darius Carter, DJ Nunnery and Kaiden Street heading to junior college.
Ocean Springs had three seniors sign and one former Greyhound making the jump from junior college. A fourth senior was to sign, as well, but Sharroid “Chop” Whitehead has postponed his decision. Whitehead was initially expected to sign with Wyoming, but the removal of offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and the opening of “new opportunities” prompted the decision.
Among the athletes to lock in their next steps are Picayune’s Nolan Wilson, Vancleave’s Dalton Toothman and Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby.
Here’s the list. It will be updated as more signatures arrive.
Division I football signees
OL Hayden Ainsworth, Biloxi - Nebraska
RB Cooper Crosby, Gulfport - Mississippi State
DB Prince Cottonham, Gulfport/East Central C.C. - Liberty
OL Jayden Ross, Ocean Springs - Mississippi State
RB Solomon Baggett, Ocean Springs - Arkansas State
OL Raymond Johnson, Ocean Springs - Nicholls
DL BJ Ausmer, Ocean Springs/Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. - Middle Tennessee
OL Thomas Ashe, Pascagoula - Nicholls
DB Tomareo Johnson, Pascagoula - South Alabama
RB Amarie Jackson, Pascagoula - Prairie View A&M
LB Jarrad Loper, Pascagoula - Prairie View A&M
DB Tylan Wilson, Pascagoula - Texas A&M
DL Nolan Wilson, Picayune - Alabama
OL Mitchell Smith, Picayune - Vanderbilt
DB Daniel Pickens, Resurrection/Pearl River C.C. - Old Dominion
OL Dalton Toothman, Vancleave - Mississippi State
DL Jazear Carter, West Harrison - Navy
