As the MHSAA football season enters its first official week of games, we’ll take a look at the top three returning players for each Jackson Public School team.
JPS has six schools competing during the 2024 season after Wingfield shut down this spring.
Players were submitted by their respective coaches.
Callaway
Despite the graduation of star receiver Jeremy Scott, coach Dameon Brown says Callaway has strong players on offense, such as tackle-breaking running back Duran McClendon and athletic wide receiver Tyler Smith.
Brown also highlighted outside linebacker Deon Taylor, who recorded 27 tackles last season and will have an expanded role in 2024.
Forest Hill
Forest Hill coach Tony Fell emphasized that the offense will be a key for the Tigers. Three-year starter Derome Cavitt is a dynamic running back and slot receiver. Last year, he made the all-state team as a return specialist.
On the offensive line to support Cavitt are Jasean Miller and Micah Well. Miller has played on the defensive line for two seasons and is moving to offensive guard. Well is in his second season as a starter at guard.
Jim HIll
Trevon Alexander has been with the football program for three seasons but took over at quarterback only this summer. Coach Jermaine Bryant said he has shown he can lead the Tigers’ offense.
Bryant also has athletic receiver Kentell McElroy, who has strong hands, and lineman Jakobi Ratliff, who is versatile and has a high enough motor to play both ways on the line.
Lanier
In former NFL player Tommy Kelly’s first season at Lanier, he will look to flip its 3-9 record in 2023. He’ll rely on running back Jeremiah Wilson, athlete Jamison Kelly and linebacker Langston Clark. Tommy Kelly wants to help bring his football experience to a team that is hungry to learn it.
Wilson rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and teams with Jamsion Kelly to be Lanier’s biggest threats. Clark will lead the defensive with after making more than 100 tackles in 2023.
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Murrah
After finishing 2023 with a 7-4 record — the best among JPS programs — coach Marcus Gibson is aiming for another big season. Gibson will be looking at Braishun Forbes, Peyton Johnson and James Davis to lead the Mustangs in 2024.
Forbes is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, and had 55 receptions for 894 yards with 10 touchdowns last season. Johnson had 10 receiving touchdowns and more than 1,100 total yards . Davis had 45 tackles, including eight sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2023.
Provine
Rams coach Timothy Wilson is turning to younger players with athlete Brayden Jones, defensive lineman Bryson Clincy and quarterback Jayden Thurman, who are all juniors.
Wilson said Jones is the team’s vocal leader and a solid player on both sides of the ball along with Clancy, one of the toughest players on the team. Thurman, a dual-threat quarterback who is the Rams’ offensive leader, is entering his second year as a starter.
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.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MHSAA football: Each Jackson Public Schools team’s top three players
