2023 Best Football Players In The State of Mississippi

The Mississippi's Who's Who High School Football Awards Show, the last high school football event of the 2023 football season, was held Saturday, December 23, 2023, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi at the Mint Julep, next to the campus of University of Southern Mississippi.

The premier award show was hosted by legendary sportscaster Russ Robinson. The Hattiesburg Management Group firm oversaw the management of project. The show was powered by The Hattiesburg News. The Mint Julep served as the venue sponsor.

Tens of thousands of fans, recruiters, and players tuned-in to watch the exclusive pay-per-view event to see who would be named the best player in Mississippi as well as the best marching band, cheerleaders, student section, and football team.

The most sought after award in sports is the prestigious "Athlete of the Year" Award. It's the highest award an athlete can receive. Along with being named the #1 athlete comes a year of bragging rights, a historical milestone, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to add to your resume that will follow you for the rest of your life.

This year's recipient of Mississippi's Athlete of the Year Award is no doubt the biggest name in high school sports as both his father and grandfather not only made it to the National Football League, but both were good NFL players, which obviously seems to flow in their bloodline.

There are several ESPN top country-wide & state-wide athletes that have been voted for top awards this season, as the very best players in the entire state and the very best players in their district. To make either list is extremely hard and very competitive.

99.7% of athletes in Mississippi aren't voted to be among the few that are considered to the very best in the state. As thousands of votes have been counted, the results are in. Here are the 2023 Best Football Athletes in Mississippi:

State-Wide Awards

Mississippi's Athlete of the Year

Anthony 'AJ' Maddox

ESPN #9 Top Quarterback in the Country

Mississippi's Offensive Player of the Year

Daniel 'Danny' Hill

ESPN #8 Top Athlete in the Country

Mississippi's Defensive Player of the Year

Devin Tribble

Heidelberg High School

Mississippi's Breakout Player of the Year

Noreel 'NW' White

ESPN #28 Top Athlete in the Country

Mississippi's Comeback Player of the Year

Darrin McGilberry

South Jones High School

Mississippi's Quarterback of the Year

Anthony 'AJ' Maddox

ESPN #9 Top Quarterback in the Country

Mississippi's Receiver of the Year

Braylon 'Stonka' Burnside ESPN #10 Top Athlete in the Country

Mississippi's Runningback of the Year

Daniel Hill

ESPN #8 Top Athlete in the Country

Mississippi's Offensive Lineman of the Year

Isaiah Autry

ESPN #64 Top Offensive Tackle in the Country

Mississippi's Safety of the Year

JaThan Hatch ESPN #60 Top Safety in the Country

Mississippi's Cornerback of the Year

Amarion Fortenberry

Columbia High School

Mississippi's Defensive Lineman of the Year

Kamron "BK" Beavers ESPN #12 Top Defensive Tackle in the Country

Mississippi's Defensive Back of the Year

Damion Miller

Port Gibson High School

Mississippi's Football Team of the Year

Laurel High School

Mississippi's Marching Band of the Year

Heidelberg High School

Mississippi's Cheerleaders of the Year

Hattiesburg High School

Mississippi's Student Section of the Year

Ocean Springs High School

District Awards

The Class of 2024 is the most talented class of football athletes in recent history as there has never been so many top ranked ESPN athletes in almost every ESPN category all from Mississippi. The same is true with the district awards as every category has at least one top ranked ESPN athlete in it.

Two Most Valuable Player awards were presented on behalf of Cricket Wireless for stellar performance at the all-star games. These special awards are presented by broadcaster Russ Robinson who calls the all-star games.

Braylon 'Stonka' Burnside was selected as the Cricket Wireless MVP of the Mississippi vs Alabama Allstar Game that was held December 16, 2023 in Hattiesburg, MS at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Damyrion 'Dee' Darby was selected as the Cricket Wireless MVP of the North vs South Allstar Game that was held December 9, 2023 in Gulfport, MS at Milner Stadium.

Less than 1% of athletes in Mississippi are voted as the very best in their district. As thousands of votes have been counted, the results are in. Here are the 2023 Best Football Athletes in Mississippi in every district:

Athlete of the Year

7A- Braylon 'Stonka' Burnside

ESPN #10 Top Athlete in the Country

6A- JaMonta Waller

ESPN #4 Top Defensive End in the Country

5A- Kobe Pierce (Laurel High School)

4A- Amarion Fortenberry (Columbia High School)

3A- JJ Harrell

ESPN #24 Top Athlete in the Country

2A- Kamron 'BK' Beavers

ESPN #12 Top Defensive Tackle in the Country

1A- JaThan Hatch

ESPN #24 Top Recruit in Mississippi

Offensive Player of the Year

7A- Trey Petty

ESPN #24 Top Recruit in Mississippi

6A- Deuce Vance (Hattiesburg High School)

5A- Kobe Pierce (Laurel High School)

4A- Jeremiah Foxworth (Columbia High School)

3A- JJ Harrell

ESPN #24 Top Athlete in the Country

2A- Keon Hutchinson (Union High School)

1A- JaThan Hatch

ESPN #21 Top Recruit in Mississippi

Defensive Player of the Year

7A- PJ Woodland

ESPN #23 Top Recruit in Mississippi

6A- Rase Jones (West Jones High School)

5A- Deontrius Hye (Gautier High School)

4A- Elijah Spratt (Amory High School)

3A- Damyrion 'Dee' Darby (Jefferson Davis County High School)

2A- Kamron Beavers

ESPN #12 Top Defensive Tackle in the Country

1A- JaThan Hatch ESPN #60 Top Safety in the Country

Breakout Player of the Year

7A- Demari Burton (Tupelo High School)

6A- Julius Pope

ESPN #42 Top Athlete in the Country

5A-Kahnen Daniels

ESPN #9 Top Recruit in Mississippi

4A- Anson Lewis Jr (Columbia High School)

3A- Alex Foster ESPN #31 Top Recruit in Mississippi

2A- Devin Tribble (Heidelberg High School)

1A- Byron Williamson (Velma Jackson High School)

Quarterback of the Year

7A- Trey Petty

ESPN #24 Top Recruit in Mississippi

6A- Tootie Lindsey (West Jones High School)

5A- Kobe Pierce (Laurel High School)

4A- Jamarcus Pittman (McComb High School)

3A- Chase Richardson (Winona High School)

2A- Devon Olive (Charleston High School)

1A- Drew Rowsey (Biggersville High School)

Receiver of the Year

7A- Braylon 'Stonka' Burnside ESPN #10 Top Athlete in the Country

6A- Tristen Keys (Hattiesburg High School)

5A- Walker Moore (West Point High School)

4A- Sanfrisco Magee (McComb High School)

ESPN #25 Top Recruit in Mississippi

3A- JJ Harrell (North Panola High School)

ESPN #24 Top Athlete in the Country

2A- Donte Booth (Collins High School)

1A-  Galvin Griffin (Velma Jackson High School)

Runningback of the Year

7A- Daniel Hill

ESPN #8 Top Athlete in the Country

6A- Chris Davis Jr.

ESPN #23 Top Athlete in the Country

5A- Solomon Bagget - (Gautier High School)

4A- Jalen Washington - (Houston High School)

3A- Ledareoun Mosley- (Noxubee County High School)

2A- Jordyn Kees- (Loyd Star High School)

1A- Jathan Hatch ESPN #21 Top Recruit in Mississippi

Offensive Lineman of the Year

7A- Isaiah Autry

ESPN #64 Top Offensive Tackle in the Country

6A- Elijah Baker

ESPN #14 Top Offensive Center in the Country

5A- Jeremiah Keyhea (Laurel High School)

4A- William Echoles (Houston High School)

3A- T.J. Lockhart

ESPN #64 Top Offensive Tackle in the Country

2A- Preston Wood (Mize High School)

1A- Eljavion Brown (Taylorsville High School)

Safety of the Year

7A- Noreel White

ESPN #28 Top Athlete in the Country

6A- Tylan Wilson (Pascagoula High School)

5A- Anthony Rogers (Laurel High School)

4A- Jorian Satcher (Quitman High School)

3A- Damascus Stevenson (Noxubee High School)

2A- Trey Myers (Mize High School)

1A- JaThan Hatch ESPN #60 Top Safety in the Country

Cornerback of the Year

7A- PJ Woodland

ESPN #68 Top Cornerback in the Country

6A- Niquis Ratcliff (Picayune Memorial)

5A- Rayshad McGruder (Laurel High School)

4A- Jerimiah Tatum (Columbia High School)

3A- Mahd Jones (East Webster High School)

2A- Brandon Henderson (Charleston High School)

1A- Tre Gunn (Biggersville High School)

Defensive Lineman of the Year

7A- Caleb Moore (Oak Grove High School)

ESPN #37 Top Defensive Tackle in the Country

6A- Kamarion Franklin (Lake Cormorant)

ESPN #2 Top Recruit in Mississippi

5A- Angel Mcgee (Gautier High School)

4A- Aden Dedeaux (Poplarville High School)

3A- Jay Cole (Kemper County High School)

2A- Montra Sanford (Charleston High School)

1A- Robert Branson (Velma Jackson High School)

Mississippi's Defensive Back of the Year

7A- Damon Felder II (Gulfport High School)

6A- Jamonta Waller

ESPN #1 Top Recruit in Mississippi

5A- Dequane Fox (Brookhaven High School)

4A- Amarion Fortenberry (Columbia High School)

3A- Damion Miller (Port Gibson High School)

2A- Dalyn Pierce (Bay Springs High School)

1A- Jathan Hatch

ESPN #60 Top Safety in the Country

Football Team of the Year

7A- Oak Grove High School

6A- Picayune High School

5A- West Point High School

4A- Louisville High School

3A- Winona High School

2A- Bay Springs High School

1A- Biggersville High School

Student Section of the Year

7A- Oak Grove High School

6A- Picayune High School

5A- Gautier High School

4A- McComb High School

3A- Jefferson Davis County High School

2A- Charleston High School

1A- Velma Jackson High School

Marching Band of the Year

7A- Gulfport High School

6A- Hattiesburg High School

5A- Laurel High School

4A- Quitman High School

3A- Magee High School

2A- Heidelberg High School

1A- East Marion High School

Cheerleaders of the Year

7A- Oak Grove High School

6A- Pascagoula High School

5A- Brookhaven High School

4A-Columbia High School

3A- Noxubee County High School

2A- Raleigh High School

1A- Taylorsville High School