Offense
Quarterback
John White, Fr., 6-1, 175, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Despite graduating several key offensive players, Winona Christian still had a big-play offense with White at the helm. White had another solid season as he was 118-of-212 passing for 1,938 yards with 21 touchdowns, earning him all-district honors. As an eighth grader, White passed for 2,400 yards and 28 TDs, giving him more than 4,300 yards in two years.
Running back
Blake Cooper, Sr., 5-11, 190,Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Cooper rushed for 1,616 yards on 156 carries with 19 touchdowns. He also had 21 catches for 236 yards and recorded 52 tackles on defense. He also played in the MAIS Class 1A-2A-3A all-star football game and was named the Offensive MVP for his team. Cooper was also named to the Class 3A All-MAIS team.
Running back
Deriaun Townsend, Jr., 5-10, 190, Winona
Why he’s here: Townsend had a monster year for the Tigers where he led Class 3A in rushing yards, carries and touchdowns with 1,593 yards on 212 carries with 23 touchdowns. He also had 13 catches for 159 yards. He was a Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 3A All-state First-team selection.
Running back
Hunter Brackin, Sr, 5-6, 145, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Despite being small in size, Brackin was a fierce runner for the Rebels, leading the team in rushing with 903 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brackin was also a standout on defense, recording more than 60 tackles from his outside linebacker position. Brackin was an all-district selection, was named to the MAIS All-star game and was named to the Class 3A All-MAIS team.
Wide Receiver
Dalton Wiggins, Sr, 5-11, 175, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Wiggins capped off an outstanding career at Winona Christian where he accounted for more than 3,000 yards in his career. This past year, Wiggins had more than 1,400 yards of total offense. Wiggins finished with 56 catches for 1,025 yards and 11 TDs while rushing for 378 yards on 32 carries. He also had 40 tackles on defense. Wiggins was an all-district selection, played in the MAIS All-star game and was named to the Class 3A All-MAIS team.
Wide Receiver
Robert McMath, Sr., 5-10, 165, Winona
Why he’s here: Despite playing with a pair of inexperienced quarterbacks, McMath had 642 yards on 41 catches and six TDs, earning him second-team Class 3A all-state honors. As a junior, McMath had 63 catches for 973 yards and 14 TDs and was a Class 3A first-team all-state selection. McMatch was also selected to play in the Bernard Blackwell North-South All-star football game.
Wide Receiver
Scott Walters, Sr., 6-0, 165, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Walters came on at the end of the season for the Stars where he had 16 catches for 372 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he had 15 tackles and one interception.
Offense Line
Cohlton Triplett, Sr., 6-2, 225, Winona
Why he’s here: Triplett was an all-division center last year for the Tigers and a two-year starter for center for the Tigers. Triplett was named a second-team Class 3A all-state selection for the Tigers this season. Triplett has been offered by Holmes Community College.
Offensive Line
Devontae Bays, Sr, 6-3, 255, Winona
Why he’s here: Bays started at right tackle for the Tigers this season and was named a second-team Class 3A All-state selection. Bays has been offered by Northeast Mississippi Community College and has plenty of junior college interest.
Offensive Line
Cooper Beck, Sr, 6-4, 290, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Beck blossomed for the Rebels this season and was named the Greenwood Commonwealth Player of the Year. Beck was dominant on the offensive side of the ball at strong tackle and was named to the Class 1A-2A-3A All-Star football game. On defense, Beck had 82 tackles, four sacks and one fumble return for a touchdown.
Offensive line
Hunter Brower, Sr., 6-2, 225, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Brower was the enforcer for the Rebels and rarely came off the field for the Class AAA runners-up. Brower started at guard for the Rebels and was selected to the MAIS Class 1A-2A-3A All-Star game. Brower also recorded 75 tackles and five sacks for a stingy Rebel defense.
Offensive line
Josh Newman, Sr, 5-11, 206, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: Newman was an All-Division 2-2A selection for the Jaguars this season. Newman started on both sides of the ball at right guard and also at defensive tackle and defensive end.
Offensive line
Reese Oliver, Sr, 5-11, 255, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Oliver was a three-year starter for the Stars and was named to the MAIS Class 1A-2A-3A All-star football game. On the year, Oliver graded out at 79 percent and had 60 tackles on the defensive side of the football.
Kicker
Hunter Grantham, Sr., 6-0, 205, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Grantham got plenty of work in the kicking game this season for the Rebels. Grantham was 33-of-38 on PATs and had six touchbacks on kickoffs. Grantham also started on both sides of the ball for the Rebels at tight end on offense and on the defensive line.
Athlete
Brennan Blaylock, Jr., 6-0, 200, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Blaylock had perhaps the biggest shoes in the MAIS to fill and responded in fine fashion, leading Carroll to the Class AAA title game. Blaylock had 451 yards rushing on nine TDs and also threw for 818 yards and 10 TDS for the Rebels. He was also an all-district selection for the Rebels and was named to the Class 3A All-MAIS team as a punter.
Defense
Defensive line
Nathan Carpenter, 5-11, 252, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: The senior defensive lineman was a stopper for the Jaguars up front and a three-year latte win. Carpenter recorded 27 tackles on the season and had four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Defensive line
Collin Mullin, Sr., 6-0, 210, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Mullin completed a solid senior year for the Star where he graded out at 83 on the offensive line and had 57 tackles from his defensive end spot. Mullin was also a late addition to the Class 1A-2A-3A all-star football game.
Defensive line
Jacob Johnson, Sr., 6-1, 212, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: Johnson was a two-way starter for the Jaguars at defensive end and fullback. On defense, Johnson had 60 tackles with 46 solo tackles. He also had seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. On offense, Johnson rushed for 495 yards and 10 touchdowns
Defensive line
Jeremy Saffold, Jr., 5-8, 180, Winona
Why he’s here: Despite his size, Saffold was a terror for the Tigers on the defensive front, where he had 47 tackles. He also had eight tackles for loss and four loss.
Linebacker
Hayden Self, Sr., 6-2, 220, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Self completed an outstanding career with the Stars. As a junior, Self had 119 tackle and was named to the Class 3A All-MAIS team. Self topped that this season with 125 tackles and was named to the Class 1A-2A-3A MAIS All-star football game. Self also rushed for 268 yards on 44 carries with four TDs and had six catches for 63 yards.
Linebacker
Mathis Beck, Soph., 5-10, 185, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: One of the Beck twins, Mathis was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Rebels. On defense, Beck had 75 tackles and one interception return for a TD. On offense, Beck had 714 yards rushing and nine TDs from his fullback position.
Linebacker
Wiltavious Williams, Sr., 5-11, 219, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: The senior linebacker had 102 tackles to lead the Jaguars on defense with 82 solo tackles. Williams had 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Linebacker
Marlonzo Small, Jr., 5-10, 200, Winona
Why he’s here: Small led the Tigers in tackles this season from his outside linebacker spot with 76 tackles. He had three tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Linebacker
Maddox Carpenter, Soph, 5-11, 175, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: Another standout sophomore for the Rebels, Carpenter had 64 tackles and one interception for the Rebels. Carpenter also had 414 yards on 40 carries on offense for the Rebels.
Defensive back
Dadarian Small, Sr., 5-9, 160, Winona
Why he’s here: Small was one of the few two-way players for the Tigers, starting on both sides of the ball. On defense, Small had 30 touchdowns with two interceptions. He also had one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown. On offense, Small had 22 catches for 285 yards and three TDs.
Defensive back
Noah Beck, Soph., 5-10, 170, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: One of the Beck twins, Noah was a playmaker on both sides of the football for the Rebels. Beck led the team with 11 interceptions, one of the top interception totals in the state this season. On offense, he was the top target for the Rebels with 26 catches for 508 yards and eight TDs.
Defensive back
Jordon Normal, Jr., 5-11, 171, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: The junior had a solid year for the Jaguars as a two-way starter. On defense, Normal had 48 tackles with 39 assists and four interceptions. On offense, Normal started at quarterback where he threw for 1,093 yards and 13 TDs while rushing for 373 yards and four TDs.
Defensive back
D’Anthony McGlothan, Jr., 6-1, 186, J.Z. George
Why he’s here: McGlothan rarely left the field for the Jaguars. On defense, McGlothan had 86 tackles with 65 solo tackles and five interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns. On offense, McGlothan had a solid year with 515 yards receiving and five TDs and rushed for 592 yards on five TDs. McGlothan was named the Division 2-2A Defensive Player of the year.
All-Purpose
Braxton York, Sr., 5-9, 160, Carroll Academy
Why he’s here: York was a true all-purpose player for the Rebels. On offense, York had 16 catches for 214 yards and 315 yards rushing and averaged 25 yards a kickoff return and 36 yards a punt return. On defense, York was a ball hawk with 10 interceptions.
Punter
Bradley Pinkard, Sr, 5-10, 160, Winona Christian
Why he’s here: Pinkard had a solid season for the Stars. As a punter, Pinkard averaged 38.7 yards a punt on 28 kicks and didn’t have a single punt returned all year. On defense, Pinkard was solid as well, recording 100 tackles for the Stars.
Honorable mention
Tyler Abel, Soph., 6-3, 320, DL, Winona
Lane Beckwith, Jr., 6-1, 175, Winona Christian
Jacob Brannon, Sr., 6-3, 275, OL, Winona
Fred Clark, Fr., 6-1, 205, LB, Winona
Robert Cross, Sr, 6-3, 170, WR, Winona
Noah Durham, Soph., 5-8, 140, K, Winona
Drew Haddon, Jr., 6-1, 255, OL, Carroll Academy
Kendarius Head, Jr., 5-10, 184, J.Z. George
Lofton Holly, Soph., 5-10, 175, DB, Carroll Academy
Christian McCluskey, Sr., 6-0, 200, OL/DL, Carroll Academy
William Panni, Jr., 5-11, 180, LB, Carroll Academy
Chase Richardson, Fr., 5-9, 155, QB/Athlete, Winona
Ty Skelton, Jr., 5-10, OL, Carroll Academy
Jake Ware, Soph., 6-0, 165, Winona Christian
Kristian Williams, Jr., 5-9, 170, LB, Winona
