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.
Fourth on the list is one of the most productive backs in the Class 6A ranks:
Xavier Dennis
Picayune | 5-9, 155 | Senior
No other county in the United States may possess as much star power in a one-two punch coming out of the offensive backfield in prep football this year as Pearl River County can boast of. And Dennis is a big part of that equation.
The latest in a long line of successful and productive Maroon Tide tailbacks, Dennis produced 275 carries for 2,840 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 218 rushing yards per game, last season as a junior.
The versatile and speedy 5-foot-9, 155-pound stalwart was a major reason why Picayune went 10-3 and fell in the Class 6A South State championship game to Hattiesburg for the second straight season.
He was named First Team Class 6A All-State for his work last season.
Dennis also had an almost inexplicable performance against Hancock, as he ran for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns, all in the first half alone, including scoring scampers of 80, 97 and 76 yards in a 52-20 thumping of the Hawks in the Class 6A South State semifinals.
He also a 94-yard touchdown that was called back due to penalty.
“Once I see all that green grass, I am just thinking, ‘I can not get hawked, I can not let anyone catch me, ‘ said Dennis. “‘That is just embarrassing if I let that happen.”
Dennis is getting overtures from quite a few junior college programs across the state.
Now, he looks to pace Picayune to its sixth straight South State championship contest.
The Maroon Tide opens the season on Fri., Aug. 28th, at home against defending Class 7A state champion Gulfport.
Dennis makes it two top running backs in the state to top our “Sweet 16” list, along with Poplarville’s Ty keys, who was selected number one.
Keys and Dennis will face off with one another this season on Fri., Sept 25th, in Picayune at Lee-Triplett Stadium.
SouthMiss6 Sports Sweet 16 in the Southern 6″ 2026 list:
- Ty Keys/Running Back/ Poplarville | 6-1, 190 | Senior
- Same LeJeune/Lineman/Poplarville/6-3, 280/Senior
- Jordan Walley/Quarterback,Cornerback/D’Iberville/5-9, 160/Senior
- Xavier Dennis/Running Back/Picayune/5-9, 155/Senior
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