Five MAIS WR’s to Watch in the 2022 Season
With three of the top five wide receivers in the MAIS being seniors in 2021, there will be a new group of receivers to watch this upcoming year. With overwhelming talent from top to bottom, this 2022 group has the…
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Continue ReadingWith three of the top five wide receivers in the MAIS being seniors in 2021, there will be a new group of receivers to watch this upcoming year. With overwhelming talent from top to bottom, this 2022 group has the opportunity to be even stronger than the 2021 group. With Stank King and WIll Upton returning for their senior seasons, both are prone to have an impactful year for their respective schools.
Stank King | 5’10” WR | St. Joseph Catholic School
King is 5’10” tall and 170 lbs; King had a standout year in 2021. He led the Irish in receiving with 52 receptions for 1,237 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. The Riverfield Academy game was by far Stank’s best game in 2021. He finished the night with 301 receiving yards and caught a remarkable four touchdown passes against the Raiders. Look for King to light up more defenses in 2022 and have a great senior year.
Will Upton | 5’8″ WR | Jackson Prep
Upton is 5’8″ tall and 150 lbs; in 2021, Upton was as solid as it gets as he proved to be Paxton Thompson’s most sought-after pass catcher in 2021. He led the Patriots in both receiving yards in targets in the 2021 campaign with 61 receptions for 1,1018 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. One of Upton’s better games in 2021 came against Copiah Academy, where he had six receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns. In 2022 the Patriots will be under a new offensive system but look for Upton to continue to help lead the Patriots to another great year.
William Laird | 6’2″ WR | Jackson Prep
Laird is 6’2″ tall and 185 lbs; in 2021, Laird was the Patriots’ long ball receiver. He can run clean, precise routes that allow him to get open downfield and showcase his strong yet soft hands. Laird’s 2021 campaign was excellent, finishing the year with 27 receptions for 558 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He showcased his talents the best in the Patriot’s win over Parklane this past season with four receptions for 107 yards and one receiving touchdown. Laird is sure to wreak havoc on defenses as a deep ball threat in 2022.
Merrit Nations | 5’9″ WR | Jackson Academy
Nations is 5’9″ tall and 155 lbs: Nations will be entering his senior season as the top returning receiver for the Raiders in 2022; in 2021, he was the Raider’s second-leading receiver. He finished the 2021 season with 32 receptions for 629 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Nations’s glue-like hands gave the defenses he faced a new challenge every week in 2021. His breakout game in 2021 came against Pillow Academy, where he scored two touchdowns on three receptions. The Mustangs had no answer for him. Look for Nations to continue to use his Wes Welker-type skills to continue to pad his stats in 2022.
Rivers Godwin | 6’2″ WR | MRA
Godwin is 6’2″ tall and 173 lbs; Godwin will be the top leading receiver returning in 2022 for the Patriots. In 2021 he had 30 receptions for 476 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Godwin played a vital role in the Patriot’s offensive game plan in 2021, whether blocking on the outside or catching the occasional screen. Godwin had his best all-around game in 2021 against Pulaski, where he had seven receptions for 120 yards and two receiving touchdowns. It was a night the Patriots didn’t come out on top but was a learning experience that helped propel them to ten straight wins and a third State Championship in a row. Godwin’s speed and shiftiness in the open field are going to give him the opportunity to have a great 2022 campaign.