Vote for the Mississippi top defensive football player entering the 2024 MHSAA, MAIS season

Week 1 of the 2024 MHSAA high school football season is approaching, and MAIS is entering its second week of games. In anticipation of this year, fans have voted on their best returning high school player at each position in Mississippi this season.

This week, you can choose your top defensive player in the state.

Vote for your choice of Mississippi's top defensive player among 20 players. Vote now before the poll closes at 10 a.m. on Monday. Fans may vote in the poll below one time per hour per device. You can do the same for the top offensive player poll here .

Here are the 20 players in consideration:

Kaleb Arterberry, Pearl: Arterberry, a Louisiana Tech commit, is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports Composite and had 108 tackles with 23 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.

Demarcus Baker, Hattiesburg: Baker a Southern Miss commit, is the No. 30 overall recruit in the Class of 2025 and chose the Golden Eagles over offers from Western Kentucky, Arkansas State and Southern.

Ronnie Blossom, Warren Central: Blossom had 88 tackles with 59 solos, 23 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two sacks last season.

Jaekwon Collins, Jefferson County: Collins had 98 total tackles with six tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions last season.

Maison Dunn, Tupelo: Dunn, an Ole Miss commit, had 21 total tackles, including 15 solo tackles. He also had two interceptions last season.

Jarcoby Hopson Jr., Lake Cormorant: Hopson is an Ole Miss commit and is the No. 8 recruit in the state who rotates between linebacker and strong safety. Hopson had 71 tackles last season with seven tackles for loss.

TOP RETURNERS BY POSITION: QBs | RBs | WRs | OLs | ATH | DBs | LBs | DLs | K/P

Jakel Irving, Natchez: Irving, a three-star recruit, has offers from Memphis, Marshall, Southern Miss, Troy and Jackson State. Last season he had 83 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Tyler Lockhart, Winona : Lockhart announced his decommitment from Auburn and is a four-star recruit and the No. 4 recruit in the state. Lockhart helped Winona to its first MHSAA 3A state title and produced 100 tackles with 11 sacks. He holds offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia.

Andrew Maddox, Oak Grove: Maddox , an Ole Miss commit and the state's No. 7 recruit, helped lead Oak Grove to the MHSAA 7A state title last season with 99 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Kevin Oatis, Hattiesburg: Oats, a four-star recruit and No. 10 prospect in the state, has drawn interest from many Power Four programs, including Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Jaylon Parnell, Pascagoula: A three-star recruit, Parnell had 99 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions for 130 return yards last season. Parnell has offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Missouri.

Matthew Perkins, Madison-Ridgeland Academy: The Army commit had 40 total tackles last season, with three tackles for loss, a sack and three quarterback hurries.

Jarques Perry, Grenada: Perry recorded 15 sacks with 20 tackles for loss, 81 total tackles and six forced fumbles, helping Grenada to the MHSAA 6A state final last season.

London Simmons, Hartfield Academy: The Alabama commit is the No. 16 recruit in Mississippi and helped Hartfield Academy to the MAIS Class 6A state championship a year ago.

Xavier Stowers, Morton: Last season, Stowers had 143 total tackles with 93 solo, 13 tackles for loss and three interceptions.

Aidan Taylor, Hancock: Taylor tallied 35 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season for Hancock.

Cortez Thomas, Holmes County Central: Thomas is an Ole Miss commit and helped Holmes County Central to a 12-1 record by producing 45 tackles and two interceptions.

Devin Tribble, Heidelberg: Tribble had 140 tackles last season, including 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception, helping Heidelberg to the MHSAA Class 2A title game.

Tyshun Willis, Velma Jackson: Willis , a Mississippi State commit, helped to lead Velma Jackson to the MHSAA Class 1A state final game. In 2023, had 15 quarterback hurries and 20.5 sacks, which was third in MHSAA.

Boone Wilson, Harrison Central: Wilson recorded 117 tackles with 96 solo, three sacks, two force fumbles and an interception.

Bralan Womack, Hartfield Academy: Womack, a five-star recruit and the No. 1 recruit in the state in the Class of 2026, had 26 total tackles with seven interceptions in 2023. He also had 562 receiving yards.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez .

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Vote for the Mississippi top defensive football player entering the 2024 MHSAA, MAIS season