Four takeaways from Deuce Knight, Akylin Dear, Mississippi talent in action

MISSISSIPPI — — High school football season in the Southeast is underway.

Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman was on the sidelines for several marquee games featuring several of Missisippi’s top recruits in the 2025 and 2026 classes. Included in that group are several blue-chippers, including players committed to Alabama and Notre Dame.

Here are four takeaways from the live in-person evaluations:

Four-star Quitman (Miss.) High running back Akylin Dear passes the eye test at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. Dear fills out his frame well and truly differentiates himself with his combination of burst and speed out of the backfield. Dear didn’t have many break-away runs in his senior season debut, but impressed with his physical running style and ability to create yardage on his own.

Dear invites contact and is a devastating cutter in space and in short areas. The Alabama-bound running back is tough enough to absorb hits as well as dish them out and showed off his prowess running through contact. As a receiver out of the backfield and as a kickoff returner, Dear was twitchy moving with the ball in his hands, shrugging off would-be tacklers, and is a massive weapon assisting in pass protection as well

Four-star QB Deuce Knight was extremely efficient and had himself a strong opener throwing and running the football in his senior season debut for Lucedale (Miss.) George County High. Knight, the No. 31 overall player in the Rivals250, finished right where he left off following a strong off-season throwing the football at different levels of the field. Knight is a smart decision-maker able to keep his eyes downfield, effectively evade pressure and slide within the pocket, as well as extend plays. Knight is able to maintain accuracy and touch on throws when throwing on the move. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder leaned on his legs to convert a few timely third downs and is a devastating runner in the open field. Knight’s mobility is an absolute game-changer.

Four-star defensive tackle Kevin Oatis was a menace working off the edge for Hattiesburg (Miss.) High. The newly-minted Arkansas verbal commit from Mississippi plays with a high motor for a projected interior DL, which should translate well when he shifts as a 3-, 4- or 5-technique in Fayetteville. Oatis wins with immense power and noticeable straight-line burst off the line. Not only did he consistently apply pressure, Oatis was tenacious closing in off the edge to stop outside runs. Otis made his presence felt in the backfield throughout the contest and also came away a few stops lining up inside, too.

2026 four-star wide receiver Tristen Keys is a stock-up player after another live evaluation. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Keys is long, wiry and someone we’re projecting as someone who could play north of 200 pounds at the next level. Keys has unreal athletic traits, including a daunting vertical jump as well as the ability to play head and shoulders above opposing corners. He is a crafty route-runner, and the threat of him winning downfield allows Keys to easily matriculate underneath and also outside the numbers. As a long-strider, Keys is superb after the catch. He’s able to attack all areas of the field with a plus catch radius and very reliable hands.

Keys enjoyed a terrific off-season on the 7-on-7 circuit and was a notable top performer on several instances this spring and again this summer. He possesses all of the traits to be a dynamic X-receiver and undoubtedly one of the best at his position in next year’s class.