Week 1 of the 2024 MHSAA high school football season is approaching, and MAIS is entering its second week of games. In anticipation of this year, fans have voted on their best returning high school player at each position in Mississippi this season. 

This week, you can choose your top offensive player in the state.

Vote for your choice of Mississippi’s top offensive player among 20 players. Vote now before the poll closes at 10 a.m. on Monday. Fans may vote in the poll below one time per hour per device. You can do the same for the top defensive player poll here.

Here are the 20 players in consideration:

Kendetryon Backstrom, Kemper County: Backstrom threw for 2,071 passing yards with 15 touchdowns on 11 completions. He also had 1,248 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns.

Jermarj Bell, Northside: The Central Arkansas commit had 1,775 all-purpose yards with 981 receiving yards on 56 receptions, 14 total touchdowns and two punt returns for scores.

Jeremiah Cole, Magee: Cole had 46 receptions with 1,012 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season, including 210 kick return yards.

Moses Cummings, Purvis: Cummings had 1,755 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns on 244 carries last season. He produced 100 yards or more rushing yards in none out 10 games played.

Caleb Cunningham, Choctaw County: The Alabama commit is the No. 1 prospect in Mississippi and the No. 2 wide receiver in the country. Last season, he set Choctaw’s season records for receptions with 48 and yards receiving with 1,138 and scored 14 touchdowns.

Akylin Dear, Quitman: Dear, the Alabama commit is the No. 3 prospect in the state and the No. 2 running back in the country. 

Micah Jones, Madison Central: Jones, a Florida commit, is the No. 15 prospect in Mississippi and the No. 28 tight end nationally for the Class of 2025. Last season, Jones recorded 168 receiving yards with a touchdown and helped Madison Central go 8-5.

Tray Kinkle, Holly Springs: Kinkle, a three-star recruit, had 1,247 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns and 26 receptions for 452 yards with four touchdowns. Kinkle holds offers from Ole Miss, Florida State, Auburn and Florida.

TOP RETURNERS BY POSITION: QBs | RBs | WRs | OLs | ATH | DBs | LBs | DLs | K/P

Deuce Knight, George County: Knight, a Notre Dame commit, is the highest-rated quarterback in Mississippi’s 2025 class and No. 6 overall in the country. He passed for 1,420 yards with 15 touchdowns in seven games last season.

Anson Lewis, Oak Grove: Lewis is a four-star wideout and his offers include Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri. Lewis has transferred to Oak Grove after spending the past two seasons at Columbia.

Xavier McDonald, Morton: McDonald, a four-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect in the state, had 56 receptions for 1,166 yards with 16 touchdowns. McDonald has offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida State, Auburn and UCF.

Quincy Phillips Jr., Brandon: Phillips had 87 receptions for 1,027 yards with six touchdowns in 2023. His receptions broke the school’s season record held by NFL player Jonathan Mingo.

Royale Shelvy, Jefferson County: In 2023, Shelvy produced 1,098 receiving yards with 66 completions, 404 rushing yards with 47 carries, 17 total tackles, one interception and 20 total touchdowns.

Darrell Smith, Picayune: Smith had 1,087 rushing yards with 124 carries and 15 touchdowns, 194 receiving yards with three touchdowns and 14 tackles last season.

KaMario Taylor, Noxubee County: Taylor, a Mississippi State commit and the No. 11 recruit in the state, helped lead Noxubee County to the MHSAA 3A state title game. He threw for 3,282 yards with 45 touchdowns and rushed for 789 yards with 15 touchdowns.

Macaleb Taylor, Grenada: Taylor produced 1,825 rushing yards with 326 carries and 21 touchdowns while also having 204 receiving yards for five for five touchdowns.

Kenzy West, Hartfield Academy: West, a three-star recruit, helped lead Hartfield to a MAIS Class 6A state championship while recording 915 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns and 1,368 return yards. West also had 22 tackles with four interceptions.

George Wilcox, Leake Academy: The sophomore was second in MAIS in passing yards with 3,098 on 199 completions with 29 touchdowns, averaging 281 passing yards per game.

Gavin Wooley, Falkner: Wooley threw for 2,350 yards with 28 touchdowns on 131 completions. He also rushed for 457 yards with five touchdowns.

Case Thomas, Madison-Ridgeland Academy: Last season, Thomas produced 59 catches for 1,296 yards, which led MAIS, and recorded 17 touchdowns.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.