By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

SouthMiss6 Sports is rolling out its annual roster of the top standout returning 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 stalwart defender that already has a state championship ring in the Class 7A ranks:

Deandre Williams

Gulfport | 5-10, 190 | 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 Williams was a big part of that success thanks to his disruptive play patrolling the outside perimeter at linebacker.

Williams had a highly productive campaign from just behind the interior line, racking up 111 total tackles including 19 tackles for loss with seven sacks, 15 pass hurries, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Williams led all outside linebackers in the “Southern Six” in the tackles for loss department as a junior. And, of his impressive total tackle number of 111, which was second most for the Admirals last season, 63 were solo stops, which also ranked second for the GHS defense last season.

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.

Williams was a driving force on one of the top defensive units 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 totaled 11 tackles in the Admirals thrilling win over the Blue Wave in the state title tilt.

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.

Williams 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. 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 McNeil/Quarterback/Gautier/6-0, 155/Sophomore
12. Deandre Williams/Linebacker/Gulfport/5-10, 190/Senior