By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

SouthMiss6 Sports is rolling out its annual roster of the top returning 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 young gun-slinger, signal-caller in the Class 6A ranks:

Keon McNeil

Gautier | 6-0, 155 | Sophomore

McNeil burst upon the scene as a freshman last season and seized control of a Gators offensive attack that has proved to be one of the most potent in South Mississippi over the past five years or so.

In his first action on the varsity level, he produced the most passing yards in the state as a ninth grader with 2,267 and added 19 touchdowns on 174 completions while completing just over 56% of his passes.

The Gators lost three straight games by a combined total of eight points down the stretch in Region 4-6A play that ended a four straight years run in the state playoffs.

In that stretch, during a 35-31 loss at home to perennial state power Picayune, McNeil went 24-of-34 passing for 248 yards and three touchdowns and he added one rushing score.

The span also included a 17-14 loss on the road to Pearl River Central in the waning seconds as well as a 28-27 loss to Hancock. In that loss to the Hawks, he finished the night with a career-high 477 yards passing and four scores.

Gautier started league play with a 28-6 win over Long Beach as McNeil went 18-of-35 passing for 235 yards with four touchdowns.

Gautier finished the season 3-7 overall.

McNeil opens his sophomore campaign along with his Gators at home in “The Swamp” at Vaughan-Wallace Stadium hosting George County.

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

1. Ty Keys/Running Back/ Poplarville | 6-1, 190 | Senior
2. Sam 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
10. Ayden Green/ Running Back/Stone/5-8, 155/Junior
11. Keon MccNeil/Quarterback/Gautier/6-0, 155/Sophomore