MHSAA Names 2026 Mr. Football Award Winners

Seven high school players were honored across Mississippi's seven football classifications, with none from Northeast Mississippi.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football

Seven Mississippi high school football players were named 2026 Mr. Football award winners across the state's seven classifications, with none from Northeast Mississippi. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Mississippi High School Activities Association announced its 2026 Mr. Football award recipients for all seven classifications on Tuesday. Northeast Mississippi had no winners this year.

Why it matters

The Mr. Football award recognizes the top high school players in each classification through a statewide panel of coaches and media members. The absence of Northeast Mississippi recipients marks a notable gap for a region that otherwise shares in statewide recognition.

Craft passed for 2,415 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 441 yards and nine touchdowns this season, while Keys rushed for 1,651 yards and 28 touchdowns. Both Craft and Keys are two-time Mr. Football winners, though the stub does not detail the panel's full scoring methodology.

The players

Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA)

The MHSAA is the governing body that oversees interscholastic athletics and activities for public and private high schools across Mississippi.

Chase Craft

Craft is a two-time Mr. Football winner from Heidelberg, recognized for his passing and rushing production this season.

Ty Keys

Keys is a two-time Mr. Football winner from Poplarville, recognized for his rushing production this season.

The details

Jatyius Adams of Lumberton was named 1A Mr. Football, Chase Craft of Heidelberg 2A, Yoshawn Hudson of Winona 3A, Ty Keys of Poplarville 4A, Jaden Allen of Brookhaven 5A, Nash Morgan of Warren Central 6A, and Tyson Robinson of Brandon 7A. Winners are chosen by a statewide panel of coaches and media members.

Tuesday: MHSAA announces 2026 Mr. Football recipients
Nov. 18: Awards luncheon at the MHSAA Conference Center in Clinton
Dec. 3-5: MHSAA football championships at Mississippi State University, where the winners will be honored

Season Trajectory

The seven-classification MHSAA structure means each class produces one top honoree, so a region with no winners reflects individual selection rather than a systemic gap. Repeat honorees such as Craft and Keys extend a pattern of sustained recognition across consecutive seasons.

Fantasy and recruiting observers tracking Craft and Keys can note their two-time honors and season totals as markers of sustained production. Fans of Northeast Mississippi schools will not see a local name on this year's statewide list.

The takeaway

Repeat recognition for players like Craft and Keys signals consistent production across seasons, a useful benchmark when following high school football talent statewide.

What happens next

The award winners will be honored at an awards luncheon on Nov. 18 at the MHSAA Conference Center in Clinton, and again during the MHSAA football championships on Dec. 3-5 at Mississippi State University.