By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A pair of prep football “Southern Six” senior standouts will be a part of a prestigious all-star contest on Wednesday.
The 2024 Under Armour All-American Football Game takes place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., and both Picayune’s Jamonta Waller and Bay High’s Ziron “Dank” Brown will be a part of the “Fire” team as it faces off with the “Ice” team at 3 p.m., CST. The game will be broadcast by ESPN.
“Year after year the UA Next All-America Week serves to further inspire and develop top high school talent just as they are about to embark on the next stage of the game” is how the game organizers describe the 16th annual affair that started in 2008.
The annual showcase game features many of the top players in the incoming recruiting class, including Brown who signed with Stanford and Waller who signed with Auburn.
Brown, a 4-star, 6-4, 295-pound offensive tackle, ranked No. 23 nationally at his position. Not only is he the first Under Armour All-American from Hancock County, he is the first Tiger ever selected to play in this game, just as he was the first-ever Bay High product ever picked to play in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic.
“I chose Stanford because there’s only a certain amount of people that get the opportunity to go to Stanford University,” Brown said of his college decision. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go there. I’m going to be set up after football. You’re going to play Power-5 football, you’re gonna have that network after you graduate. It’s just a lot. That’s what did it for me. Being able to get that education, and be able to play football, and have the opportunity to go somewhere. That’s what did it for me.”

Brown was recently named first-team Class 4A All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches. During his senior season, Brown graded out at 96% and tallied 37 pancake blocks.
“To be named an All-American is a tremendous honor,” Brown added. “Since I started playing, the opportunity to earn that designation has been in the back of my mind. Now, to finally be called that is a little overwhelming. I am looking forward to reporting for practice and suiting up with the best players in the nation so that I can show that I belong.”
Brown is not the first Tiger to head to Stanford, as Tank Williams played for Stanford from 1998-2001.

Waller was the top recruit in the state of Mississippi during his senior year for head coach Cody Stogner’s Maroon Tide.
He was named Class 6A “Mr. Football” by The Mississippi High School Activities Association, as well as the Most Valuable Defensive Player in Class 6A in the state on the MAC All-State team.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Waller recorded 69 total tackles from his defensive end spot his senior season, including 22 tackles for loss as well as nine sacks, 21 quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles.
“In all aspects of my life, I know Auburn is the right fit for me.” Waller said, after de-committing from Florida and joining the Tigers. “Florida is a great school, but Auburn never stopped recruiting me.
Waller posted 106 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a junior, in leading Picayune to its second consecutive Class 5A state championship.
Waller is the number three prospect in the Auburn class, one which ranks inside the top 20 nationwide.
“Auburn is the best fit for me all around, I love everything about Auburn,” Waller said. “Being a smaller city, it has that hometown vibe. I’m ready to get there in January, learn from the staff and compete. I feel like I will have a great opportunity for early playing time.”
One recruiting service has Waller as not only the top prospect in Mississippi but the fifth-best edge rusher in the country and number 48 prospect overall. He is the first Picayune player to sign with Auburn since Drew Cole in 2008,
“Waller is everything everyone thinks he is as a player,” Stogner said. “He’s one of the best competitors and leaders I have coached. I’m really going to miss him but I know he’s gonna be successful at the next level.”
Players reported to Orlando on December 29 in preparation for Wednesday’s game. Over 80 former players featured in this game have gone on to play i the National Football League.