Rising Stars on the Special Teams Circuit
The Clarion Ledger’s annual survey of Mississippi high school football special teams identifies the players who will be among the most watched as the 2026 season approaches.
Among the standouts is Grayson Alexander of New Albany, who finished the previous year a perfect 38‑for‑38 on extra points and added 12 field goals with a long of 45 yards.
Trace Allen Mize from the same school contributed 40 extra points and three field goals, including 24 touchbacks on kickoffs, underscoring his reliability.
Ross Beavers of Madison Central was 8‑for‑12 on field goals and 33‑for‑34 on extra points, with a 40‑yard long and 21 touchbacks, while Ashby Brown of Tupelo Christian Prep logged 41 extra points, 58 kickoffs for 2,241 yards and five touchbacks.
Brooks Campbell at Northwest Rankin converted 29‑of‑30 extra points and nine field goals, the latter stretching to 41 yards.
Griffin Carmichiel from Corinth was 52‑for‑55 on extra points and 7‑of‑12 on field goals, his longest a 45‑yard effort, and he also punted 20 times inside the 20‑yard line.
Myles Carter of Parklane Academy went 50‑for‑54 on extra points and 2‑of‑3 on field goals, with 12 touchbacks on kickoffs.
Layton Fryfogle of George County contributed 13 touchbacks on kickoffs and was 5‑of‑7 on field goals.
Gunnar Gillentine, a five‑star punter from Petal, helped the program to an 8‑5 record last season, while Ben Goodwin of Presbyterian Christian earned a MAC All‑State Second Team nod after making more than 10 field goals.
Jahir Ibrahim of Callaway also made the MAC All‑State Second Team, and Isaac Iles from Brookhaven recorded 60 extra points and nine made field goals, a key factor in Brookhaven’s MHSAA 5A championship.
James Carson Key of South Jones added six made field goals and 26 extra points, including six touchbacks on kickoffs.
Jaydee Lane at Simpson County Academy, a Florida commit and the nation’s No. 2 long snapper, brings elite special‑teams talent to the field.
Nate Muzzi from Germantown logged 60 extra points and six field goals with a 41‑yard long and 12 touchbacks.
Parker Platt of Gulfport not only posted 58 extra points and nine field goals but also delivered the game‑winning extra point to secure the MHSAA 7A title.
Parker Pounders from Booneville was 5‑of‑7 on field goals and 25‑of‑31 on extra points, with a 40‑yard long and 17 touchbacks.
Braden Ray of Kosciusko converted 54 extra points and two field goals, while Rett Robinson of Jackson Academy made four field goals and 43 extra points in nine games.
Sterlin Smith of Lafayette hit four field goals, including a 42‑yard effort, and was 35‑of‑36 on extra points.
Miles Sprague from Pascagoula attempted 42 kickoffs for 1,145 yards, recorded 43 extra points and three made field goals.
Michael Thompson of Oxford boasted five made field goals with a 48‑yard long, 42 extra points, 4,255 kickoff yards and 51 touchbacks.
Carter Vineyard from Pontotoc helped his team to a 7‑5 record, rounding out a deep pool of talent heading into the next season.