Four players from the Greenwood area have been selected to the 2022 Mississippi High School Football Coaches’ all-state teams.
These all-state teams are voted on by coaches around the state who are members of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.
Representing Greenwood High School is senior defensive lineman Alex Larry, who was chosen to the Class 4A first-team defense. Larry, a 6-foot senior, led the Bulldogs with 70 tackles, three quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles.
Leflore County placed one player — senior Dante Kelly — on the Class 2A first team as a linebacker. Kelly had 105 total tackles, four interceptions and scored eight touchdowns from both sides of the ball. Kelly de-committed from Mississippi State and has since made a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt.
Joining Kelly on the 2A team are a pair of Jaguars in Jeremy Rias and Keiyhaun Wilks. Rias played on the offensive line and linebacker for the Jags this past season, while Wilks lined up at defensive end and receiver. Rias made the squad as a first-team offensive lineman, and Wilks is on the second-team defense.
-Region 3-4A all-district: Two players from Greenwood High’s football team have been chosen as co-players of the year in Region 3-4A.
Larry has been honored as co-defensive Player of the Year in the district. He shares the award with Cameron Mackey of Clarksdale and the Senatobia duo of Jaylen Blakely and Chavarius Garrett.
Ramone Tate is a co-special teams Player of the Year with Eric Kirkland of Gentry and Ben Thompson of Senatobia.
Greenwood’s Jawuan Gideon has been named Freshman of the Year.
Greenwood had four players chosen to the first-team offense and four selected to the first-team defense. On offense, those honored are guard/tackle Tennill Cannon, running back/receiver Xavier Hoover, center Jorden Gatewood and guard Demetrius Robinson. On defense, the selections are outside linebacker Marquii Washington, defensive back Amir Williams, linebacker RodDarren Cotton and defensive end Fredric Ford.
Eight players also made the second-team offense and defense. On offense, the four chosen are running backs Bradley O’Bryant and Dequavion Gillespie, quarterback Javeon Smith and offensive lineman Joseph Warren.
The four players chosen to the second-team defense are linebacker Jakavian Butler, defensive end Antonio Williams, defensive back Landon Williams and safety Pernell Stevenson.
Receiving honorable mention status are Curtis House, Jeremy Ferguson, Triston Beckworth, Cameron Bedell and Trenton Smith.
The Coach of the Year is Clarksdale’s John Maddox. The Player of the Year is Kelley Jones of Clarksdale, and Offensive Player of the Year is Broderick Brown of Gentry.
-Contact Calvin Stevens at 662-581-7234 or cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
