The high school football season is here. Here are the MS Coast’s top breakout candidates

High school football season is officially underway on the Mississippi Coast.

The region is once again rich with talent and the first week of games will put the athletes on display for the first time in 2024.

Among those athletes are several poised for big seasons. We highlight the biggest breakout candidates in South Mississippi here.

The full list of the Coast’s top players is on our All-Preseason team at SunHerald.com where you can find more content to prepare you for the season ahead:

• George County’s newest tradition
• Region 4-7A district preview
• Region 4-6A district preview
• New coaches and the jobs in front of them
• Toughest non-district schedules

ATH Sharroid Whitehead, Ocean Springs

Whitehead was unable to showcase his athleticism last season due to an injury but the standout junior is primed to finally show the Coast and the rest of the state why he’s become a highly sought after prospect by college coaches.

He’s got offers from the likes of Tennessee, Florida State, Penn State and others. His speed and versatility will make him a nightmare for defensive coordinators to game plan against. The Greyhounds expect to use him at wide receiver, corner, in the back field and occasionally at quarterback. The presence of weapons Will Smith and Bryhsen Smith will give Whitehead even more space to utilize his ball skills.

DB Kohl Bradley, George County

The Rebels didn’t get a full season out of Bradley in 2024, but his impressive camps and obvious athletic ability has made the South Alabama commit a popular prospect.

Bradley has impressive play recognition and the explosive break on the football to compliment that. He’s a downhill safety that aggressively hunts gaps in the line of scrimmage for opportunities to punish ball carriers. His own experiences as a receiver make him especially dangerous as a lurking robber in the middle of the field, as well.

ATH Monclair Brave, St. Martin

There are shoes to fill at St. Martin and coach Ty Smith believes he’s got just the athlete to take Noreel White’s place. Brave is a shifty senior who will be taking on an extra role this season.

Along with being the Yellow Jackets’ primary receiver, Brave will also line up in the secondary where he’ll utilize his quickness and skill set to beef up an experienced defensive unit. As a receiver, Brave has excellent awareness as a route runner and is elusive after the catch. St. Martin will feed him the ball early and often as the Jackets’ top playmaker.

EDGE Brayden Jackson, Gautier

Jackson was an All-State player at offensive tackle last season, but is shifting to the other side of the line of scrimmage full time this season. Coach Marc High likes the depth he has on his O-line and wants to take full advantage of Jackson’s athleticism by lining him up on the edge of his defensive line.

Jackson has impressive size at 6-foot-2, 240 lbs. and the senior has the added benefit of knowing exactly how a tackle will attempt to prevent him from entering the backfield. Jackson holds the school powerlifting record with a 555 lb. squat, giving him an explosive launching point from which to attack.

DE Nick Strickland, Harrison Central

The Red Rebel front seven figures to be a stout one and the emergence of Strickland is a big reason why. Strickland led all Coast freshman with seven sacks a year ago.

Strickland combines advanced twitch for his size with a powerful lower body. He can both beat tackles off the edge and bull rush his way into the pocket. With the experience Harrison Central has at linebacker, opposing coaches will have their hands full with their blocking schemes on Red Rebel week.

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