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.

Next up on the list is a defensive lineman that now has a state championship ring in the Class 7A ranks:

Lawrence Robertson

Gulfport | 6-0, 275 | Senior

The Admirals made history last season, closing the year out with 10 straight wins and capturing the Class 7A state championship with a solid 12-2 overall record.

And Robertson was a big part of that success thanks to his disruptive play up front in the trenches.

Robertson had a highly productive campaign from the interior, racking up 91 tackles and 23 tackles for loss with seven sacks, 14 pass hurries and a forced fumble.

Not only did Gulfport win its first Class 7A state title, but it was also the first state football championship for the Admirals in the 45-year classification era in the state.

Robertson was a driving force on one of the top defensive lines in the state that en route to that elusive state crown recorded three straight wins in the Class 7A South State playoffs in which the Admirals allowed just 24 points total in those three games combined, before GHS beat defending state champion Tupelo 21-20 in the state title tilt.

During that stretch, he registered seven tackles, including six tackles for loss, three sacks, and forced a fumble in the Admirals 40-7 win over Brandon in the Class 7A South State championship game..

He also enters his senior season as arguably one of the top defensive lineman in the state.

The win by GHS marked the first state title for the “Southern Six” in the largest classification in 25 years, since Moss Point did it in 2000.

Robertson and Gulfport kick off the quest to defend the Class 7A state title on the road on Friday, Aug. 28th, against perennial state power Picayune in Lee-Triplett Stadium.

SouthMiss6 Sports Sweet 16 in the Southern 6″ 2026 list:

1. Ty Keys/Running Back/ Poplarville | 6-1, 190 | Senior
2. Same LeJeune/Lineman/Poplarville/6-3, 280/Senior
3. Jordan Walley/Quarterback,Cornerback/D’Iberville/5-9, 160/Senior
4. Xavier Dennis/Running Back/Picayune/5-9, 155/Senior
5. Paris Trivillion/Quarterback/Pass Christian/6-1, 180/Senior
6. Titus Feaster/Quarterback/Pearl River Central/6-2, 195/Junior
7. Malik Ward/Defensive End/Gutier/6-5, 225/Senior
8. Chalmers Berglind/Quarterback/Ocean Springs/6-1, 175/Junior
9. Lawrence Robertson/Defensive lineman/Gulfport/6-0, 275/Senior