​As the 2026 Mississippi high school football season is at its midway mark and playoffs are approaching, the Clarion Ledger is highlighting some of the state’s top performers on defense.Fans may vote for their choice of top MHSAA and MAIS player in the poll BELOW one time per hour per device. The poll closes at noon on Saturday.The list is based on the Clarion Ledger’s midseason watch file, and stats reflect the week of Sept. 24.Players are listed in alphabetical orderVote Mississippi’s top defensive high school football player for 2026 MHSAA, MAIS midseasonDevontray Brewer, Tupelo: Brewer has a team-high 31 tackles and four for loss.Gercai Carson, Lanier: The junior has had six tackles for loss, two sacks and 20 total tackles.Chris Caston, Forest Hill: Caston has produced 51 tackles with 38 solo and three tackles for loss.Ayden Coleman, Louisville: The Mississippi State commit has recorded 30 tackles and three for loss.Wallyss Curry, Vicksburg: Curry has recorded 73 tackles with nine tackles for loss.Kavion Davis, Newton: Davis has six sacks with 37 tackles and six for loss.Stream Mississippi HS football games live on NFHS Network Derwin Fields, Brookhaven: The Texas commit has recorded nine tackles for loss, three sacks and 17 tackles.Kolby George, Terry: George has a team-high five interceptions and 175 receiving yards.Tripp Harris, Enterprise-Lincoln: Harris has produced 56 tackles with eight for loss.Jaiden Hubert, Germantown: Hubert has tallied 26 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss.Kadence Kyles, Yazoo County: Kyles has five interceptions with five pass breakups and 14 tackles.Reid Miller, Jackson Academy: Miller has a team-high 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and 45 tackles.Madaylan McKenzie, Heidelberg: McKenzie has had 16 tackles with eight for loss and five sacks.Stanley Peters Jr., Seminary: The Arkansas commit has three pass breakups with 10 tackles.Jay’Kwan Pittman, Eupora: Pittman has four interceptions with six pass breakups and 14 tackles.Jameson Phillips, Sacred Heart: Phillips leads the Sacred Heart with 40 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.Ben’Jarvius Shumaker, Choctaw County: The Ole Miss commit has had 26 tackles with nine tackles for loss.Mason Seals, Greenville-St. Joseph Catholic: Seals has had 69 tackles with five tackles for loss.Hampton Smith, Brookhaven: Smith has produced 34 tackles and five tackles for loss.Brandon Sumrall, Perry Central: Sumrall has averaged 14.5 tackles per game with 58 tackles in total.Gaines Reeves, Jackson Prep: Reeves has 39 tackles with nine tackles for loss and five sacks.Deven Robertson, Oak Grove: The Oklahoma commit has had 13 tackles with a tackle for loss.Eli Rodgers, Mooreville: Rodgers has a team-high 64 tackles with nine tackles for loss and two sacks.Brennan Templeton, Starkville Academy: Templeton has produced 53 tackles with 11 for loss and a sack.Brayden Tullos, Puckett: Tullos has 12 tackles for loss with four sacks and 38 total tackles.Mitchell Turner, Louisvill