By CURTIS ROCKWELL

The first-ever Class 7A All-State Football Team was recently announced by The Mississippi Association of Coaches, and a trio of standouts from the “Southern Six” were honored with First Team status.

Ocean Springs defensive lineman Talan Carter and his Greyound teammate from across the line of scrimmage Zaylin Dedeaux were selected First Team, while Gulfport’s Kai McClendon joined Carter on the First Team Defense.

A trio of Ocean Springs players earned Secon Team All-State honors, as linebackers Eric Moore and Trace Carter along with wide out Bryshen Smith were all picked.

Here is the 2023 Class 7A Mississippi High School Football Coaches’ All-State Teams for all classes. These all-state teams are voted on by coaches around the state who are members of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

MHSAA CLASS 7A

Coach of the Year: Drew Causey, Oak Grove.

Offensive Player of the Year: Trey Petty, QB, Sr., Starkville.

Defensive Player of the Year: P.J. Woodland, DB, Sr., Oak Grove.

First Team Offense

A.J. Maddox, QB, Sr., Oak Grove

Nate Blount, RB, Sr., Brandon

Jay Stevenson, RB, Sr., Starkville

Braylon Burnside, WR, Sr., Starkville

Quincy Phillips, WR, Jr., Brandon

Damari Jefferson, WR, Sr., Oak Grove

Micah Jones, TE, Jr., Madison Central

Caden Hodges, OL, Sr., Tupelo

Elton Thomas, OL, Sr., Starkville

Zaylin Dedeaux, OL, Jr., Ocean Springs

Wade Estess, OL, Sr., Germantown

Cade Shivers, OL, Sr., Brandon

Daniel Hill, ATH. Sr., Meridian

William Wilkinson, PK, Sr., Oxford

Second Team Offense

Landon Varnes, QB, Sr., Brandon

Kylin Champagne, RB, Jr., Oak Grove

J.J. Hill, RB, So., Tupelo

Bryhsen Smith, WR, Jr., Ocean Springs

Jay McQueen, WR, Jr., Brandon

Kingi McNair, WR, Sr., Pearl

Jack Harper, TE, Sr., Oxford

Braylon McKinion, OL, Sr., Northwest Rankin

John Griffin, OL, Sr., Madison Central

Josh Myers, OL, Sr., Oak Grove

Hayden Seal, OL, Sr., Madison Central

Aydan Newell, OL, So., Brandon

Tajii Burkett, ATH, Sr., Oak Grove

Luke Stewart, PK, Sr., Oak Grove

First Team Defense

Kai McClendon, DL, Sr., Gulfport

Talan Carter, DL, Sr., Ocean Springs

Caleb Moore, DL, Sr., Oak Grove

Jaeden Calendar, DL, Sr., Brandon

Taurean Davis, LB, Sr., DeSoto Central

Chris Thomas, LB, Sr., DeSoto Central

Rickey Banks, LB, Sr., Madison Central

Ryan McCall, LB, Sr., Madison Central

Jonathan Crain, DB, Sr., Brandon

Denym Mitchell, DB, Sr., Madison Central

Damari Burton, DB, Sr., Tupelo

Brandon Brooks, DB, Sr., Horn Lake

Hayden Wolfe, P, Sr., Clinton

Joey Colella, LS, Jr., Northwest Rankin

Second Team Defense

Andrew Maddox, DL, Jr., Oak Grove

Natori Brown, DL, Sr., Southaven

Cam Hewitt, DL, Jr., Pearl

Javontay Hunt, DL, Sr., Tupelo

Malachi Henderson, LB, Jr., Oak Grove

Trace Carter, LB, Sr., Ocean Springs

Eric Moore, LB, Sr., Ocean Springs

Tristan Jernigan, LB, Sr., Tupelo

Veshawn Malone, DB, Sr., Clinton

Chase Pinkston, DB, Sr., Oak Grove

Octavius Hunt, DB, Sr., Northwest Rankin

Elliot Helps, DB, Sr., Lewisburg

Jack Richardson, P, Jr., Madison Central