By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

SouthMiss6 Sports is rolling out its annual roster of the top standout prep football players in our coverage area. The “Sweet 16 in the Southern Six” list was compiled by coaches and sports writers who have been following the action on the gridiron in South Mississippi for the past three decades.

Several factors are considered in selecting he prestigious list, but just a small part of that is the number of “stars” a player carries with his name. This list is compiled of what we feel are the TOP returning players in the “Southern Six” from last season.

One player will be revealed and added to the list each day beginning today and over the next 16 days.

First up is a highly-recruited defensive back in the Class 6A ranks:

Tylan Wilson

Pascagoula | 6-2, 185 | Defensive back| Senior

The four-star is rated as the No. 11 recruit in Mississippi and No. 21 overall safety. Wilson produced 73 tackles with two for loss had six interceptions and six pass deflections last season.

He has narrowed his next destination down to Arkansas, Texas A&M and Clemson, and will make a decision next week. He also had offers from from Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Miami, among others.

After that Wilson is expected to be a key factor on both sides of the ball for veteran PHS head coach Lewis Sims this season, as the Panthers look to return to the Class 6A South State playoffs and seek their first outright region title since 2013.

Wilson helped lead PHS to a 9-3 record as a junior year, and to the second round of the state playoffs for the second straight season before falling to eventual Class 6A South State champ Hattiesburg on the road.

One recruiting site describes him like this “Wilson plays bigger than what his measurables say. His tape shows that he is unafraid to step up in the box and provide support in the run game. When he comes down in run support, he flies in hard. A two-way player that also reps at receiver on offense, the Magnolia State native utilizes his length and ball tracking ability exceptionally well as a defender, consistently putting himself in the arena to make a play on the ball in the air. Wilson projects as a potential multi-year above average starter at the next level that will more than likely trend closer to the line of scrimmage positionally as he continues to fill out his frame.”

Wilson burst onto the scene as a sophomore recording 69 total tackles, 34 solo, and five interceptions.

Wilson was also a key contributor for the Panther basketball program last year, and helped guide PHS to the overall Class 6A Final Four Round at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.