Area football players receive postseason honors

High school football all-state teams were announced earlier this week, with a long list of area players being selected for postseason honors.

In the MHSAA, starting with 7A, both Madison Central and Germantown saw players selected. For Madison Central, senior tight end and Florida signee Micah Jones, senior offensive lineman and Memphis signee Josiah Clemmons, and senior running back Glen Singleton were all first team offense selections, while senior defensive end Myles Miller, senior linebacker Avery Jackson, and senior defensive back and Arkansas State signee Marquise Williams were selected to the first team defense. Senior punter and Southern Miss signee Jack Richardson was also selected as a first team specialist. 

Germantown saw junior Keyshaun Coleman selected as the first team kick returner, while senior offensive lineman Ryan White and junior running back Lawson Branson were picked for the second team offense. 

In 6A, Ridgeland had five players tabbed with all-state honors. Senior fullback Cornelius Caraway and junior offensive lineman Mitavius McCane were picked for the first team offense, while senior wide receiver Jaylen Johnson and junior athlete DK Wallace were selected for the second team offense. Senior linebacker Nigel Lockett was named to the second team defense as well.

Canton had three players tabbed for the 5A all-state team, as junior wide receiver Jayden Cration was named to the first team offense, senior quarterback Eric Gilkey was named to the second team offense, and senior defensive lineman Tyricco Henderson was picked for the second team defense. 

Velma Jackson rounds out the MHSAA area selections with three players being selected to the 1A all-state team. Senior defensive lineman and Mississippi State signee Tyshun Willis and senior defensive back Trevion Blackmon were tabbed for the first team defense, while senior offensive lineman Eric Brown was picked for the second team offense. 

As for the MAIS, area teams MRA, Jackson Prep, and Jackson Academy saw a multitude of selections to the MAIS 6A all-state team.

For Jackson Prep, senior quarterback and Mississippi State signee Parker Puckett was named the overall player of the year and senior Tre Byrant was named the defensive player of the year. Senior wide receiver Gardner Young, senior offensive lineman and Duke signee Cole Allen, senior offensive lineman Thomas Coco, senior offensive lineman and Baylor signee Matthew Parker, senior all-purpose athlete and Air Force signee Major Quin, junior kicker Eli Adams, senior linebacker Will McMaster, senior linebacker Turner Reeves, and senior defensive back Russell Robbins were all tabbed for the MAIS 6A all-state team. 

MRA had eight player picked for the MAIS 6A all-state team, including junior quarterback Samuel Stockett, junior wide receiver Case Thomas, junior wide receiver Will Bizot, sophomore offensive lineman Caleb Unger, junior defensive lineman Cade Gentry, senior linebacker Jackson Toler, senior defensive back and Arkansas State signee DJ Watkins, and senior defensive back and Army signee Matthew Perkins. 

Jackson Academy saw four players selected, as senior running back Omarean Ellis, sophomore offensive lineman Caden Moss, junior defensive lineman Dereon Albert, and junior defensive lineman TJ White were tabbed for all-state honors. 

Following their second straight state title and an undefeated season, Tri-County Academy had no shortage of postseason honors in 4A. Head Coach Phillip Wasson was named the MAIS 4A coach of the year and senior quarterback Bryce Warriner was named the overall player of the year. As for the all-state team, junior running back Hayden Hunt, senior offensive lineman Cooper Green, junior offensive lineman Brian Bergeron, junior defensive lineman Bryce Brooks, sophomore defensive lineman Crews Albritton, senior linebacker Walker Hilderbrand, senior linebacker Rhett Gray, and senior defensive back Brayden Walsh were all selected. 

In MAIS 3A, Canton Academy had six players tabbed for the all-state team, including junior wide receiver JD Kelly, senior offensive lineman Zach Smith, senior defensive lineman Landon Hillhouse, senior defensive lineman Cruz Johnson, senior linebacker William Pace, and senior punter Sawyer Bates.