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Meet the 2023 Clarion Ledger Football Dandy Dozen

Langston Newsome, Mississippi Clarion-Ledger
·4 min read

The Clarion Ledger has released its annual Dandy Dozen, a collection of Mississippi's top college football prospects for the Class of 2024.

The Dandy Dozen is the newspaper's recruiting list. It is decided by conversations with national college football recruiting reporters, recruiting rankings, observations on the field, and individual success. The final list was determined by discussions among the sports staff.

The Clarion Ledger's top 12 high school prospects for the Class of 2024 will be listed in alphabetical order. We will rank them from No. 12 to No. 1. The countdown begins Monday, with No. 12 on our list.

Kamron Beavers

Defensive Lineman, Bay Springs

The Ole Miss commitment and four-star recruit helped lead Bay Springs (14-1) to consecutive MHSAA Class 1A championships. Beavers had 52 tackles, 13.5 for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in 14 games. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder is the No. 3 recruit in the state and No. 19 defensive lineman nationally.

Bay Springs defensive lineman Kamron Beavers, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a 2023 Dandy Dozen pick. Beavers has committed to Ole Miss.
Bay Springs defensive lineman Kamron Beavers, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a 2023 Dandy Dozen pick. Beavers has committed to Ole Miss.

Braylon Burnside

Wide Receiver, Starkville

The Mississippi State commitment and four-star recruit helped lead Starkville (12-3) to the MHSAA Class 6A championship. Burnside had a team-high 75 catches with 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 6-0, 185-pound Burnside is the No. 7 recruit in the state and No. 15 athlete in the Class of 2024.

Starkville wide receiver Braylon Burnside is seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023. The 2023 Dandy Dozen pick has committed to Mississippi State.
Starkville wide receiver Braylon Burnside is seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023. The 2023 Dandy Dozen pick has committed to Mississippi State.

Kahnen Daniels

Running Back, West Point

The Florida commitment and four-star recruit led Green Wave with 203 carries for 2,027 yards and 24 TDs in 14 games. Daniels helped the Green Wave (11-3) advance to the MHSAA Class 5A title game. The 5-11, 190-pound Daniels is the No. 10 recruit in the state and the No. 28 running back nationally.

West Point running back Kahnen Daniels, seen in West Point, Miss., July 17, 2023, is a 2023 Dandy Dozen pick. Daniels has committed to Florida.
West Point running back Kahnen Daniels, seen in West Point, Miss., July 17, 2023, is a 2023 Dandy Dozen pick. Daniels has committed to Florida.

Chris Davis Jr.

Running Back, Picayune

The Stanford commitment and three-star recruit helped lead Picayune (15-0) to its second consecutive MHSAA Class 5A title. Davis finished with 122 carries, 1,078 yards and 15 TDs in 15 games. The 5-9, 175-pound Davis is the No. 15 recruit in the state and the No. 40 running back nationally.

Picayune running back Chris Davis Jr., seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Davis has committed to Stanford.
Picayune running back Chris Davis Jr., seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Davis has committed to Stanford.

Kamarion Franklin

Defensive Lineman, Lake Cormorant

The four-star recruit is the No. 1 recruit in the state and No. 45-ranked recruit nationally. Franklin broke Lake Cormorant's single-season sacks record with 19 last season. He also had 93 tackles, with nine for loss, 27 quarterback hits and 48 quarterback pressures in 11 games. The 6-5, 265-pound Franklin included Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee, Miami and Florida State in his top five schools in June.

Lake Cormorant’s Kamarion Franklin poses for a portrait at Collierville High School in Collierville, Tenn., on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Lake Cormorant’s Kamarion Franklin poses for a portrait at Collierville High School in Collierville, Tenn., on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

J.J. Harrell

Wide Receiver, North Panola

The Mississippi State commitment and four-star recruit finished with 41 catches for 987 yards for 18 TDs and returned two punts for touchdowns in 12 games. The 6-0, 187-pound Harrell is the No. 4 recruit in the state and the No. 168 recruit nationally.

North Panola wide receiver J.J. Harrell, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Harrell has committed to Mississippi State.
North Panola wide receiver J.J. Harrell, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Harrell has committed to Mississippi State.

Terrance Hibbler

Defensive Lineman, Holmes County Central

The Mississippi State commitment and four-star recruit finished with 59 tackles, 15 for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in nine games. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Hibbler is the No. 8 recruit in the state and No. 35 defensive lineman nationally.

Holmes County Central defensive lineman Terrance Hibbler, seen in Lexington, Miss., July 18, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Hibbler has committed to Mississippi State.
Holmes County Central defensive lineman Terrance Hibbler, seen in Lexington, Miss., July 18, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Hibbler has committed to Mississippi State.

Daniel Hill

Running Back, Meridian

The four-star recruit is the No. 6 recruit in the state and the No. 14 athlete nationally. Hill had 1,013 rushing yards, 393 receiving yards, and 19 total touchdowns in nine games last season for the Wildcats. The 6-1, 220-pound Hill included Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina, Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee in his top eight schools in June.

Meridian running back Daniel Hill, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday July 21, 2023, is the 2023 Dandy Dozen No. 5 player. Hill remains uncommitted.
Meridian running back Daniel Hill, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday July 21, 2023, is the 2023 Dandy Dozen No. 5 player. Hill remains uncommitted.

Tristan Jernigan

Linebacker, Tupelo

The Texas A&M commitment and three-star recruit led the Golden Wave defense with 96 tackles, eight for loss, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Jernigan was an anchor for a Tupelo defense that held opponents to 6.8 points per game. The 6-2, 220-pound Jernigan is the No. 16 recruit in the state and No. 48 linebacker nationally.

Tupelo linebacker Tristan Jernigan, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is the 2023 Dandy Dozen No. 9 player. Jernigan has committed to Texan A&M.
Tupelo linebacker Tristan Jernigan, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is the 2023 Dandy Dozen No. 9 player. Jernigan has committed to Texan A&M.

Trey Petty

Quarterback, Starkville

The Illinois commitment and three-star recruit was a catalyst in Starkville's eight-game winning streak to end the season. Petty completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,737 yards, 168 carries for 766 and 47 total TDs. The 6-1, 187-pound Petty is the No. 24 recruit in the state and No. 50 quarterback nationally.

Starkville quarterback Trey Petty, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Petty has committed to Illinois.
Starkville quarterback Trey Petty, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Petty has committed to Illinois.

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Jeffery Rush

Defensive Lineman, Pascagoula

The Ole Miss commitment and four-star recruit finished with 20 tackles, 11 for loss and eight sacks in eight games. The 6-3, 250-pound Rush is the No. 5 recruit in the state and No. 173 overall recruit nationally.

Pascagoula defensive lineman Jeffery Rush, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Rush has committed to Ole Miss.
Pascagoula defensive lineman Jeffery Rush, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Rush has committed to Ole Miss.

Jamonta Waller

Edge Rusher, Picayune

The Florida commitment and four-star recruit is the No. 2 recruit in the state. Waller finished with 106 tackles, 24 for loss, 11.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in 15 games. The 6-2, 225-pound Waller is the No. 7 edge rusher and the No. 69 recruit nationally.

Picayune edge rusher Jamonta Waller, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Waller has committed to Florida.
Picayune edge rusher Jamonta Waller, seen in Ridgeland, Miss., July 21, 2023, is a member of the 2023 Dandy Dozen. Waller has committed to Florida.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi high school football top college recruits 2024 class