By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Several former standout prep football players in the “Southern Six” recently announced their next destinations as they continue their careers on the next level.
Former Class 5A “Mr Football” Picayune Maroon Tide standout tailback Dante Dowdell has left the University of Oregon after just one season and has transferred to Nebraska. Dowdell joins the Cornhuskers after The 6-foot-2, 215 pounder appeared in six games for the Ducks in his only season in Eugue. He rushed for 90 yards off 17 carries and a touchdown. His best game came against Portland State early in the season, where he finished with 55 yards and a touchdown off eight carries.
Dowdell was a four-star recruit out of Picayune after leading the Maroon Tide to back-to-back Class 5A state championships in his junior and senior seasons under head coach Cody Stogner.
He ran for over 5,3000 yards and 65 touchdowns during his prep career.
Dowdell had many options to choose from once he entered the transfer portal, including coming back home to Mississippi State as well as Ohio State among others. However, after taking a visit to Starkville, he went to Lincoln and decided that was now home.
“I want to help restore the roar of this stadium.” Dowdell stated on social media after making his decision.

Also, former Moss Point product Larry Simmons is coming back closer to home after spending two seasons at Ole Miss. Simmons announced recently that he is headed to Hattiesburg to join the University of Southern Mississippi.
“Next chapter let’s get to it!!” Simmons said on social media when committing to the Golden Eagles.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Simmons picked Ole Miss over Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Memphis, Utah, Tennessee, Oregon and others after his senior season at Moss Point.

He was selected to the Class 4A All-State Team his senior season and totaled 2,688 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns over his high school career and he added 703 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Simmons’ former quarterback at MPHS announced this week that he was headed for Mississippi Valley State after spending time at both Hinds Community College and Norfolk State over the past year or so.
In addition, Ocean Springs stalwart defensive lineman Talan Carter, recently committed to Jacksonville State.
“I would like to thank everyone that has helped me through my recruitment process. I’m Home” he said on social media after picking the Gamecocks and head coach Rich Rodriguez over Arkansas State and Liberty among others.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Carter was a mainstay along the defensive front for the Greyhounds over the past several seasons earning Class 7A First Team All-State honors his senior season and also being selected for the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic.