Dandy Dozen. Over the past quarter century, the words have become synonymous with the best high school football talent Mississippi has to offer.
This year’s selection process culminated Wednesday as the 12 best converged on Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium from across the state for the annual gauntlet of barbecue, speeches, photo shoots and interviews. Who is the the best player they’ve faced? What’s their favorite movie? Where will they play at the next level? All these questions and more are answered below:
D.K. BUFORD
Lafayette,
RB/WR, 5-11, 195
Why he’s Dandy: One of state’s fastest players, Buford had 830 rushing yards, 398 receiving yards and 220 yards on kickoff and punt returns. He was second on the team in touchdowns with 16.
What’s next: Committed to Ole Miss
Dream date: Meagan Good
Best player I ever faced: Xavier Pegues (Oxford)
Favorite NFL Player: Adrian Peterson
Song that gets me pumped up before a game: 4th and Inches
Team I am looking forward to playing: Oxford
Favorite toy as a kid: Football and baseball
Favorite movie: Man of Steel
Best rapper: Lil’ Wayne
JAMORAL GRAHAM
Newton County,
ATH, 5-11, 175
Why he’s Dandy: Versatile Graham accounted for 1,430 all-purpose yards and caught 24 passes for 464 yards, averaging 19.3 yards per catch. He scored a team-best 12 touchdowns.
What’s next: Committed to Mississippi State
Dream date: Meagan Good
Best player I ever faced: LaDarius Clark (Southeast Lauderdale)
Favorite NFL Player: Percy Harvin
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: We Ready
Team I am looking forward to playing: Forrest AHS
Favorite toy as a kid: A football
Favorite movie: Never Back Down
Best rapper: 2 Chainz
GERRI GREEN
Greenville,
LB, 6-4, 220
Why he’s Dandy: Green recorded a team-high 89 tackles, including 7½ tackles for loss as a junior. He also had four pass deflections and caused two fumbles. At tight end, he caught 10 passes for 172 yards and two TDs.
What’s next: Lists Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn and Vanderbilt as his top four.
Dream date: Lauren London
Best player I ever faced: Ramone Nash (Northwest Rankin)
Favorite NFL Player: K.J. Wright
Song that gets me pumped up before a game: Work by ASAP Ferg
Team I am looking forward to playing: Madison Central
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Good Burger
Best rapper: Lil’ Wayne
C.J. HAMPTON
Meridian, S,
6-2, 200
Why he’s Dandy: Physical defender recorded 48 tackles, three interceptions, six pass deflections and caused two fumbles last season for the Wildcats.
What’s next: Committed to Ole Miss
Dream date: Zendaya
Best player I ever faced: Anthony Alford (Petal)
Favorite NFL Player: Cortland Finnegan
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Chief Keef
Team I am looking forward to playing: South Panola
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Miracle
Best rapper: Jay-Z
GRANT HARRIS
Clinton, DL,
6-5, 270
Why he’s Dandy: Harris was almost impossible to block last season, especially toward latter part of season. Recorded 71 tackles and had six sacks last season for the Arrows.
What’s next: Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Miami are recruiting him the heaviest, but will decide at end of season
Dream date: Lauren London
Best player I ever faced: Rod Taylor (Callaway)
Favorite NFL Player: Von Miller
Song that gets me pumped up before a game: Throw It Up
Team I am looking forward to playing: Pearl
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Jack Reacher
Best rapper: Webbie
JESSE JACKSON
Petal, WR,
6-2, 205
Why he’s Dandy: Big playmaker caught 39 passes for 842 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior for the Panthers, averaging 21.6 yards per catch. He also averaged 25.1 yards per kickoff return.
What’s next: Most interest from Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn, but likely down to in-state battle
Dream date: Jennifer Lawrence
Best player I ever faced: C.J. Hampton (Meridian)
Favorite NFL Player: Todd Pinkston
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Blood on the Leaves
Team I am looking forward to playing: Oak Grove
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Fast and Furious 6
Best rapper: Wiz Khalifa
ALVIN MOORE
Bassfield, LB,
6-1, 195
Why he’s Dandy: Speedster was a beast for the defending 2A state champs, recording 103 tackles, including six tackles for loss, and four sacks. He also caused two fumbles, recovered one and blocked a punt.
What’s next: Committed to Ole Miss
Dream date: Meagan Good
Best player I ever faced: Dontavian Lee (Forrest AHS)
Favorite NFL Player: Patrick Willis
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Lil’ Boosie
Team I am looking forward to playing: Forrest AHS
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Toy Story
Best rapper: Drake
MARKELL PACK
Purvis, WR,
6-3, 185
Why he’s Dandy: Great hands and elusiveness, Pack caught 44 passes for 777 yards and seven touchdowns as junior. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch and also rushed for 444 yards and five touchdowns.
What’s next: Committed to Florida State
Dream date: None
Best player I ever faced: Tyre’oune Holmes (Tylertown)
Favorite NFL Player: Reggie Wayne
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Wiz Khalifa
Team I am looking forward to playing: Forrest AHS
Favorite toy as a kid: Big Wheel
Favorite movie: Friday Night Lights
Best rapper: Kid Cudi
BREELAND SPEAKS
Callaway, DL,
6-4, 285
Why he’s Dandy: Starred at linebacker last season, but expected to play on the defensive line in college. Recorded a team-high 136 tackles as a junior for the Chargers.
What’s next: Has narrowed list to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida State and Arkansas
Dream date: Jennifer Hudson
Best player I ever faced: Daronte Bouldin (Canton)
Favorite NFL Player: Ndamukong Suh
Song that gets me pumped up before a game: Chief Keef
Team I am looking forward to playing: Ridgeland
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Full Metal Jacket
Best rapper: Gucci Mane
ROD TAYLOR
Callaway, OL,
6-4, 315
Why he’s Dandy: Size and agility makes Taylor consensus choice as the state’s top recruit in the Class of 2014. Helped the Chargers rush for 1,516 yards last season.
What’s next: Committed to Ole Miss
Dream date: Beyonce
Best player I ever faced: Keontre Anderson (Canton)
Favorite NFL Player: Chance Warmack
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Joker
Team I am looking forward to playing: Ridgeland
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: Friday
Best rapper: Joker
DEVIN VOORHIES
Wilkinson County,
ATH, 6-1, 195
Why he’s Dandy: The versatile Voorhies lines up all over the field (QB, WR, TE, LB, DB) for the Wildcats. Rushed for 700 yards and threw for 1,530 yards as junior.
What’s next: Committed to LSU
Dream date: Kelly Rowland
Best player I ever faced: Demetrius Cain (Hazlehurst)
Favorite NFL Player: DeSean Jackson
Song/artist that gets me pumped up before a game: Lil’ Boosie
Team I am looking forward to playing: Hazlehurst
Favorite toy as a kid: Toy 4-wheeler
Favorite movie: Django Unchained
Best rapper: Lil’ Wayne
AERIS WILLIAMS
West Point, RB,
6-2, 210
Why he’s Dandy: Bruising runner was a second-team All-State selection last season after rushing for 1,519 yards and leading the Green Wave to the Class 5A semifinals.
What’s next: Plans to commit on Wednesday, deciding between Mississippi State, Florida State and Wisconsin.
Dream date: Meagan Good
Best player I ever faced: Antonio Conner (South Panola)
Favorite NFL Player: Marshawn Lynch
Song that gets me pumped up before a game: Any rap
Team I am looking forward to playing: Starkville
Favorite toy as a kid: Football
Favorite movie: The Blind Side
Best rapper: Chief Keef
