Mississippi has long been a hotbed for football talent, producing elite athletes who shine on the biggest stage. From Friday night lights on small-town fields to the bright lights of the NFL, the Magnolia State continues to make its mark on professional football.
Today, we’re spotlighting current NFL players who played their high school football in Mississippi—a celebration of the local programs, coaches, and communities that helped shape their journey. Whether they hail from powerhouse programs or underdog schools, these players represent the grit, toughness, and pride of Mississippi football. These are players currently on NFL 52 man rosters as of Week 1 this past Sunday (Sept 7)
Tomorrow, we’ll follow up with a list of players who played their college ball in Mississippi and are currently making an impact in the league, giving you a full picture of the state’s influence on the NFL in 2025. The number next to the name is the number of Pro Bowls each player played in
Arizona Cardinals
RB Trey Benson                  Greenville (St. Joseph’s Catholic)                 Florida State (2024 Round 3) ARZ
LB J.J. Russell                      Grenada (Grenada HS)                                    Memphis (2022 Undrafted)
Atlanta Falcons
WR Chris Blair                    Louisville (Louisville HS)                                 Alcorn State (2020 Undrafted)CB Natrone Brooks           Starkville (Starkville HS)                                  Southern Miss (2023 Undrafted)
WR KhaDarel Hodge (1x) Mendenhall (Mendenhall HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Prairie View A&M (2018 Undrafted)
Baltimore Ravens
S J.T. Gray (1x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Clarksdale (Clarksdale HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mississippi State (2018 Undrafted
Carolina Panthers
G Damien Lewis                Canton (Canton HS)                                         LSU (2020 Round 3) SEA
Cincinnati Bengals
DT McKinnley Jackson      Lucedale (George County HS)                       Texas A&M (2024 Round 3) CIN
Dallas Cowboys
WR Jonathan Mingo          Brandon (Brandon HS)                                     Ole Miss (2023 Round 2) CAR
Green Bay Packers
WR Malik Heath                 Jackson (Callaway HS)                                    Ole Miss (2023 Undrafted)
C Elgton Jenkins (2x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Clarksdale (Clarksdale HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mississippi State (2019 Round 2) GB
Indianapolis Colts
CB Charvarius Ward (1x) McComb (McComb HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Middle Tennessee State (2018 Undrafted)
Jacksonville Jaguars
P Logan Cooke (1x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Columbia (Columbia Academy)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mississippi State (2018 Round 7) JAX
Kansas City Chiefs
WR Jason Brownlee          West Point (West Point HS)                            Southern Miss (2023 Undrafted)
DT Chris Jones (6x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Houston (Houston HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mississippi State (2016 Round 2) KC
QB Gardner Minshew (1x) Brandon (Brandon HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Washington State (2019 Round 6) JAX
Los Angeles Rams
CB Emmanuel Forbes      Grenada (Grenada HS)                                    Mississippi State (2023 Round 1) WSH
Miami Dolphins
DT Benito Jones                 Waynesboro (Wayne County HS)                  Ole Miss (2020 Undrafted)
LB Willie Gay                      Starkville (Starkville HS)                                  Mississippi State (2020 Round 2) KC
Minnesota Vikings
WR Tim Jones                     Biloxi (Biloxi HS)                                                 Southern Miss (2021 Undrafted)
New England Patriots
C Ben Brown                       Vicksburg (St. Aloysius HS)                            Ole Miss (2022 Undrafted)
LB Darius Harris                Horn Lake (Horn Lake HS)                              Middle Tennessee State (2019 Undrafted)
New Orleans Saints
LB Demario Davis (2x)Â Â Â Â Â Brandon (Brandon HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arkansas State (2012 Round 3) NYJ
New York Giants
LB Swayze Bozeman         Flora (Tri-County Academy)                           Southern Miss (2024 Undrafted)
New York Jets
WR Brandon Smith            Lake Cormorant (Lake Cormorant HS)        Iowa (2021 Undrafted)
Philadelphia Eagles
WR A.J. Brown (3x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Starkville (Starkville HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ole Miss (2019 Round 2) TEN
LB Nakobe Dean               Horn Lake (Horn Lake HS)                              Georgia (2022 Round 3) PHI DT Byron Young                  Soso (West Jones HS)                                      Alabama (2023 Round 3) LV
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Brandin Echols            Southaven (Southaven HS)                            Kentucky (2021 Round 6) NYJ RB Kenneth Gainwell        Yazoo City (Yazoo County HS)                       Memphis (2021 Round 5) PHI
WR D.K. Metcalf (2x)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oxford (Oxford HS)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ole Miss (2019 Round 2) SEA
San Francisco 49’ers
CB Darrell Luter                 Hattiesburg (Oak Grove HS)                           South Alabama (2023 Round 5) SF
Seattle Seahawks
OT Charles Cross              Laurel (Laurel HS)                                             Mississippi State (2022 Round 1) SEA LB Derick Hall                     Gulfport (Gulfport HS)                                     Auburn (2023 Round 2) SEA
S Jerick Reed                      Olive Branch (Olive Branch HS)                     New Mexico (2023 Round 6) SEA
LB Jamie Sheriff                 Terry (Terry HS)                                                   South Alabama (2024 Undrafted)
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