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.

Next up is a highly recruited running back in the Class 4A ranks:

(3) Ty Keys

Poplarville | 6-2, 200 | Running Back | Junior

If he never played another game during his final two years of eligibility, Keys has already cemented his legacy in Hornet history after limited time in just his freshman and sophomore seasons.

After missing almost all of the regular season after a pre-season injury last year, Keys had 565 rushing yards on 101 carries with seven touchdowns in just five games as he helped guide Poplarville to its first-ever state football championship.

Keys was named the Most Valuable Player of the game when Poplarville captured a thrilling 29-28 win over perennial state power Louisville in the Class 4A state title tilt at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

In the historic victory, Keys finished with 130 yards rushing on 23 carries and a touchdown. He also converted a two-point conversion and had a kickoff return for a touchdown and was named the “Most Valuable Player” in the game.

He was also a big factor in Poplarville’s 24-21 victory over Forest in the Class 4A South State finals, rushing 25 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oregon and Penn State have already offered Keys, along with quite a few others and that list is growing by the day.

He was also a key factor on the PHS baseball team last season displaying his outstanding speed by stealing 33 bases.

Keys burst upon the prep football scene in South Mississippi with a sensational freshman season in 2023, when he rushed for 1,222 yards on 148 carries with 24 touchdowns.

(2) Nolan Wilson

Picayune | 6-4, 240 | Defensive line|Senior

Wilson is a four-star and the No. 3 recruit in Mississippi and No. 6 overall defensive lineman. As a junior, he had 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, with six sacks and seven forced fumbles.

He committed to Alabama recently, choosing the Crimson Tide over Miami, Ole Miss, Florida and Auburn. He also had offers from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Auburn among many others.

(1) 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 He holds offers from Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Miami, among others.