HATTIESBURG – Some of the best players Mississippi high school football teams have to offer will be on display Saturday afternoon when the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game returns to the Southern Miss campus.
The 37th edition of the event kicks off at noon Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the USM campus, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast will be well represented.
“I’m blessed by God for giving me this talent to be able to come out here and do this,” said Gulfport defensive end Kai McClendon. “I’m going for the ‘Sip, trying to put it on for the ‘Sip, Mississippi and Gulfport.”
The rosters for the respective teams were selected in October, in Mississippi’s case through the auspices of the Mississippi Association of Coaches. Players from all seven classes in the Mississippi High School Activities Association are represented on the Magnolia State’s team.
The game is open to seniors who compete on MHSAA teams whose coaches are in good standing with the MAC.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to be around these players we have taken here,” said Mississippi head coach Judd Boswell of Clinton. “Not only athletically, but these are high-character kids. We couldn’t ask for a better group to be around. I’m excited to be here.”
Mississippi is hoping to snap a three-game losing streak to the Alabama team, which leads the overall series 25-11. Mississippi’s last win was a 19-7 triumph at Roberts Stadium in 2019.
“Well, number one, you want the kids to perform and do what they’re good at doing in their trade,” said Boswell. “Alabama’s going to have all the great players as well, the five-stars and all.
“It’s going to come down to who doesn’t turn the football over, who takes advantage of the big breaks. We just want them to go out and put on a god show for everybody.”
The Gulf Coast will have seven players on the Mississippi roster, led by Picayune tailback Chris Davis, who ran for 2,975 yards in his three-year career with the Maroon Tide, including two seasons as the second back behind Dante Dowdell, now at the University of Oregon.
“It’s most definitely an honor to be able to represent my state,” said Davis. “There’s 40 people out here out of the whole state. So it’s truly a blessing to be here. You can’t beat it.”
Davis battled injuries this past season, appearing in just seven games for Picayune, but he still ran for 944 yards, an average of 134.5 yards per game., and scored 11 touchdowns. He totaled 43 rushing touchdowns for his career.
Besides Davis, the Mississippi backfield will include Nate Blount of Brandon and West Point’s Kahnen Daniels.
Boswell and his staff have picked when appears to be a talented roster that includes MAC Class 7A Mr. Football Trey Petty of Starkville and A.J. Maddux, who led Oak Grove to the 7A state title on December 2.
“It’s a lot of responsibility,” said Boswell. “That’s the thing; you want to have high-character kids who will represent the state in a positive manner, and I think we’ve done that. We’ve got a good group of kids and a good group of athletes. I think they’re ready to go.
“You’ve got kids from the north all the way to the Coast, and everything in between. And we’re trying to get all those guys touches. It’ll be predicated on what Alabama lines up against them. But I think we’ve got a good scheme.”
Boswell’s staff includes Moss Point head coach John Feaster as defensive line coach and Pass Christian’s Jeff Stockstill as offensive line coach.
“It feels good, knowing you can compete with the best players in the country,” said St. Martin’s Norvell White. “A lot of these players are among the top-ranked players in the nation, and it feels good to come out and compete with my guys.”
White was an all-around leader for the Yellowjackets, catching 32 passes for 610 yards and six touchdowns, rushing 68 times for 491 yards and five scores, was 15 of 36 passing for 151 yards and a TD pass.
“I feel like people underrate (Mississippi players) a lot,” said White. “I feel like we’re a lot better than what people think. People just don’t see it; we don’t get as much exposure as some of the bigger states.
“But we’ve got a lot of powerhouse players on this team that need their name on the map. It’s good to play with these guys.”
Players arrived in Hattiesburg on Tuesday and conducted their first practice under the lights at Oak Grove High School Tuesday night. The team worked out twice on Wednesday and will practice twice on Thursday, with a final run-through on Friday
“I feel like this offense is very explosive,” said Davis. “We’ve got the big up-front guys, a good group in the backfield and the quarterbacks are great. We just prepare each day trying to get together with each other.”
Although the game is an exhibition, practices have been spirited, with players going all-out, because recruiters from the next level, either college or junior college, will be out in force this week.
“We’ll be in a 5-2 (on defense),” said McClendon. “That’s everybody head-up with the offense, with the one-on-ones and our outside guys rushing. It’s just instinct. That’s who I am. I can’t take any plays off, even in practice. I’ve got to go full-speed whenever I’m out there.”
White has committed to Ole Miss, while Davis is headed for Stanford, but for some players who haven’t decided yet, the all-star game affords them an opportunity to showcase their talents for college scouts from all over the country.
“Not yet,” said McClendon about his college choice. “I’m looking at Georgia Tech, Arizona, South Alabama, Mississippi State, schools like that. I’m definitely looking at showing what I’ve got. I came here to work.”
McClendon finished the 2023 season with 63 tackles, including 49 solos, eight sacks and three sacks.
Davis will be joined on the Mississippi team by two Maroon Tide teammates, linebackers Jamonta Waller and Amarion Tyson. Other Gulf Coast players on the team are Bay High offensive lineman Ziron Brown and Ocean Springs defensive lineman Talan Carter.
With early signing day just a week away on December 20, this will be the last hurrah as high schoolers for the 40 players on the Mississippi squad.
“It’s feels kind of funny to be out here for the last time,” said Davis. “But it’s a good feeling knowing we’re making these different connections and building relationships with these guys that will last a lifetime.”
