MS Gatorade Football POTY

TJ White was named the 2025 Gatorade Mississippi Football Player of the Year, the first football player in school history to earn the distinction. White was a key defensive leader for a Jackson Academy squad that finished 11-1 and captured the MAIS 4A-DI State Championship, earning a spot in the 2026 U.S. Navy All-American Bowl along the way. White and teammate Dereon Albert also made history as the first Jackson Academy players ever named to the Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen. This is the 11th time a JA athlete has claimed a Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year honor, a testament to the standard of excellence that defines athletics at Jackson Academy. White signed with the University of Tennessee in December, where he will continue his football career at the SEC level.