Robert Wilson spent 23 years at The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Each day Information as a sportswriter with greater than half of these years overlaying highschool sports activities, largely within the Metro Jackson space. He helped select the Dandy Dozen in varied sports activities for greater than a decade. Wilson rebirthed an analogous group final 12 months with Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard ­Metro Jackson Elite Eleven Preseason Soccer Group primarily based on our All-Metro group alternatives from final season.  That is the second annual group. Wilson chosen the very best gamers from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties from their performances final season. The gamers under are in alphabetical order. 

Nate Blount, Brandon, Junior, Operating Again

The 5-foot-9, 230-pound Blount – a member of the primary group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Group final season – gained 1,442 yards on 246 carries, a 5.9-yard common, and scored 17 TDs regardless of lacking the final three video games with a collarbone harm. He helped Brandon to an 11-3 file and the MHSAA Class 6A state runner-up end. Blount was one among three sophomores on the primary group of the Metro Jackson Group. He’s one among two juniors on the Preseason Elite 11 Group.

Brandon opens the season Aug. 26 towards Oxford at dwelling.

“Nate is among the most gifted backs within the state,” Brandon coach Sam Williams stated. “He was our Area (Class 6A, Area 3) Participant of the 12 months as a sophomore. Nate is the ‘thunder’ of our backfield. He has nice imaginative and prescient, power and burst for a 230-pound again.”

DeCoreyea Buchanan, Brandon, Senior, Tight Finish

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Buchanan – a member of the second group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Group final season – caught 10 passes for 105 yards and helped Brandon to a 11-3 file and the MHSAA Class 6A state runner-up end. One of the versatile gamers in Mississippi, Buchanan performed tight finish, H-back, lengthy snapper and all of the particular groups for the Bulldogs.

Brandon opens the season Aug. 26 towards Oxford at dwelling.

“Coreyea is the glue of our offense,” Brandon coach Sam Williams stated. “He strains up in every single place and all the time appears to execute at a excessive stage.”

Jakobe Calvin, Clinton, Senior, Operating Again

The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Calvin – a member of the second group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season – gained 902 yards on 172 carries and scored 15 TDs for the 6-5 Arrows. He additionally caught six passes for 152 yards and one TD.

Clinton opens the season Aug. 25 towards Ocean Springs at dwelling.

“Jakobe began at a real freshman his first sport and had three TDs and ended up getting damage the subsequent week in observe,” Clinton coach Judd Boswell stated. “He fought the harm bug for 2 years. Jakobe is a grinder within the weight room. He had an awesome junior 12 months, and we’re searching for massive issues this 12 months.”

Montrayvious Carter, Canton, Senior, Defensive Lineman

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Carter was on the second group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season. He was additionally on the Mississippi Affiliation of Coaches second-team All-MHSAA Class 5A group final season. Carter had 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks as a junior.

Canton opens the season Aug. 26 towards Class 2A and Madison County rival Velma Jackson at dwelling.

“Montrayvious is among the youngsters who simply has the intuition,” Canton coach Calvin Bolton stated. “He has fast arms, velocity, and quickness. Montrayvious can transfer for a defensive deal with. That’s what makes him particular. His largest enchancment is within the weight room. Montrayvious has dedicated himself to be a greater ball participant and it’s going to indicate this season.”

Tommy Kelly Jr., Provine, Senior, Linebacker

The 6-foot, 225-pound Kelly – a member of the primary group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season – had a team-high 134 tackles in 9 video games, a mean of just about 15 tackles per sport, with 14 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 1 interception for the 4-6 Rams. His 14.9 deal with common was the second highest in Mississippi final season, based on MaxPreps.

His father, Tommy Kelly Sr., performed defensive deal with at Provine, Hinds Group Faculty, MSU and 11 seasons within the NFL earlier than retiring in 2015. Kelly is now defensive coordinator and defensive position coach at Provine.

Provine opens the season Aug. 26 towards Gautier at North Jackson Area.

“Tommy is an effective scholar athlete who will get the job executed on the off the sector,” Provine coach Tim Wilson stated. “Tommy performs a number of positions for us: inside linebacker, quarterback, tight finish and even punter. His finest and most pure place is inside linebacker. He’s a frontrunner of the protection. Tommy may be very robust and aggressive. He’s additionally sensible and instinctive at linebacker. I’m very happy with the participant he has turn out to be together with being an awesome younger man.”

Luke Rogers, Brandon, Senior, Offensive Lineman

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Rogers, a primary group member on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season, began at left deal with for the previous two seasons, however shall be beginning at middle this season. He has verbally dedicated to Southern Miss. Rogers is the rated No. 33 participant in Mississippi and No. 123 inside offensive lineman within the nation within the Class of 2023 by 247 Sports activities.

Rogers is the brother of Brandon Excessive alumnus and Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers and son of Brandon offensive coordinator Wyatt Rogers.

Brandon opens the season Aug. 26 towards Oxford at dwelling.

“Luke is the brains of our offense,” Brandon coach Sam Williams stated. “He does a implausible job of creating the right calls, getting us in the appropriate spot, and ending defenders together with his energy.”

Isaiah Spencer, Madison Central, Senior, Huge Receiver

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Spencer – a member of the second group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season – caught 47 passes for 1,018 yards, a mean of 21.7 yards per catch, and 12 TDs as a junior and helped Madison Central to a 13-1 file and the MHSAA Class 6A state championship. He additionally returned 10 kickoffs for 187 yards and punted 3 times for a 34.3-yard common. Spencer is a Southern Miss commit. He’s rated the No. 12 general participant and No. 2 broad receiver in Mississippi and No. 127 broad receiver within the nation within the Class of 2023 by 247 Sports activities.

Madison Central opens the season Aug. 26 at Class 5A West Jones.

“Isaiah is an amazing expertise with nice velocity and wins a variety of 50/50 balls,” Madison Central coach Toby Collums stated. “Extra importantly, he is a good teammate. It will be enjoyable watching Isaiah this season.”

Vic Sutton, Madison Central, Senior, Quarterback

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Sutton – a member the second group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season – accomplished 59.5 % of his passes for 1,653 yards and 17 TDs with solely three interceptions and ran for 334 yards and scored 5 TDs and helped Madison Central to a 13-1 file and the MHSAA Class 6A state championship. He suffered a knee harm and missed the final two playoff video games however is absolutely recovered and prepared for this season. Sutton, a Louisiana Tech commit, is rated the No. 22 general participant and No. 2 quarterback in Mississippi and No. 64 quarterback within the nation within the Class of 2023 by 247 Sports activities.

Madison Central opens the season Aug. 26 at Class 5A West Jones.

“Vic is a frontrunner on and off the sector,” Madison Central coach Toby Collums stated. “He could make each throw and has good velocity. Vic has labored onerous to bounce again from ACL surgical procedure. It’s going to be enjoyable watching him this season.”

Tanner Welch, Northwest Rankin, Senior, Offensive Lineman

The 6-foot-8, 325-pound Welch – a member of the primary group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson group final season – performed at Hartfield Academy for the previous two seasons earlier than transferring to Northwest Rankin this spring. He’s a Southern Miss commit. Welch helped Hartfield to a 9-3 file and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up end final season. He’s rated the No. 14 general participant and No. 2 offensive deal with in Mississippi and No. 81 offensive deal with within the nation within the Class of 2023 by 247 Sports activities.

Northwest Rankin opens the season Aug. 26 at Class 5A Ridgeland.

“Tank (Welch’s nickname) is a hard-working younger man,” Northwest Rankin coach Devin Cooper stated. “He’s very coachable and has actually gained power and added to his talent set since he has returned. Tank’s massive body provides him a bonus. He shall be an awesome addition to our offensive line. We’re able to see Tank, and the remainder of our offensive lineman go into battle collectively. His dimension and size make him powerful for any defender to work round or by means of. If he will get that massive body crashing down on a defender, it’s powerful to flee. Tank does a superb job of bending and shifting to be a giant younger man. He’ll proceed to get higher as his power builds.”

John White, MRA, Junior, Quarterback

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound White – a member of the primary group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Group final season – accomplished 67.9 % of his passes for 3,935 yards for 39 touchdowns and solely 14 interceptions and led MRA to a 11-3 file and the MAIS Class 6A state championship. White, a Southern Miss commit, was one among three sophomores on the Metro Jackson first group final 12 months and one among two juniors on this 12 months’s Preseason Elite 11 group. White transferred from Winona Christian Faculty after his freshman 12 months.

MRA opens the season Aug. 11 towards two-time defending MAIS Class 3A state champion Greenville Christian at dwelling.

“John is one among our hardest working guys we now have on the group,” MRA coach Herbert Davis stated. “He’s by no means glad and needs to get higher. John is a good chief on and off the sector. He has nice accuracy and great information of the sport. John makes nice choices on the place we wish to go together with the ball. We’re wanting ahead to him main us once more this season.”

Ayden Williams, Ridgeland, Senior, Huge Receiver

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Williams – chosen to the Underneath Armour All-American Recreation and a member of the primary group on the Precedence One Financial institution/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Group – caught 73 passes for 1,169 yards and 18 TDs and helped Ridgeland to a 6-5 file. He additionally had 11 carries for 81 yards and a couple of TDs and 6 kickoffs for 100 yards. Williams is rated the No. 2 general participant and No. 1 broad receiver in Mississippi and No. 24 broad receiver and No. 228 general participant within the nation within the Class of 2023 by 247 Sports activities. He’s rated the No. 154 general participant and No. 23 broad receiver within the nation on the 2023 ESPN Prime 300.

Williams has gives from 16 Division I groups, together with eight within the SEC. Ole Miss, MSU, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida State, Colorado, Oregon, Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech and Central Florida have supplied Williams.

Williams was the one junior on final 12 months’s Preseason Elite 11 group. He caught 58 passes for 765 yards and 6 TDs on offense and had 20 tackles and one interception on protection and helped the Titans to a 10-3 file, the Class 5A semifinals and their finest season since 2010 as a sophomore.

Ridgeland opens the season Aug. 26 towards Class 6A Northwest Rankin at dwelling.

“Ayden has had an awesome seven to eight months, and actually modified his physique,” Ridgeland coach Teddy Dyess stated. “He’s additionally stepped it up into extra of a management position. For my part, Ayden is the No. 1 participant within the state.”