SBLive's Mississippi (MHSAA) All-State Football teams & awards for 2022 season

JACKSON — Now that the MHSAA has crowned the six state champions of the 2022 football season, it's time to recognize some individuals for an outstanding year on the football field.

Here's a look at the SBLive Mississippi Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and All-State Football teams.

Congratulations to all our honorees!

MHSAA Player of the Year

Bray Hubbard, QB/DB, Ocean Springs

For the second year in a row, Hubbard led Ocean Springs to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the MHSAA 6A South State Championship.

As a senior, he rushed for 1,760 yards and passed for 2,197 yards with 41 total touchdowns and intercepted three passes on defense.

“There are a lot of great high school quarterbacks,” Ocean Springs coach Blake Pennock said. “The difference with Bray is that he’s an incredible competitor. The stuff that drives him — he has the size and the speed — but his internal motivation is what separates him from the field. People don’t see it on Fridays, but it’s his preparation that lead to a lot of his playmaking.”

MHSAA Coach of the Year

Todd McDaniel, Vicksburg

Starkville’s Chris Jones or Picayune’s Cody Stogner would have been great choices for this award, but nobody did more to lift their program to new heights in 2022 than McDaniel, who led the Gators to their first district title in 36 years.

Vicksburg won 10 games in a row from Sept. 9 to Nov. 18 before losing to West Point in the 5A North Championship.

McDaniel was also selected by his peers to coach in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.

1st Team All-State

Offense

QB - Kaden Irving, Gautier

The Ole Miss baseball commit put up incredible numbers, averaging better than 350 total yards over nine games with 55 total touchdowns.

RB - Nate Blount, Brandon

Blount was instrumental for the 6A South Champion Bulldogs, rushing for 1,985 yards and 24 touchdowns in 14 games.

RB - Dante Dowdell, Picayune

The Oregon commit followed up his impressive junior season by rushing for more than 2,000 yards with 33 touchdowns as a senior, helping Picayune to the MHSAA 5A Championship.

WR - Ayden Williams, Ridgeland

The top-rated wide receiver prospect in the state was phenomenal when he was healthy, hauling in 68 receptions for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games.

WR - Lester Miller, Brandon

Few receivers were as productive as the Bulldogs’ top target, who racked up 1,484 yards on 65 receptions with 14 touchdowns and helped Brandon to the 6A South title.