Who is greatest Mississippi high school football legend of all time? Vote now!

Who is the all-time greatest Mississippi high school football player?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, that's a question USA TODAY Sports is looking to answer in celebration of the greatest American sports figures of all time, including the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

When looking at Mississippi, while other areas have produced more NFL Hall of Famers, the state can claim two of the greatest players ever to play football.

With that in mind, here are our selections for the football players who defined Mississippi. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all high school standouts before playing at the next level.

Did we miss someone? There's a spot for our readers to write in a candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15.

Cam Akers, Quarterback, Clinton

While he ended up as a running back in college and the NFL, Akers' career as a dual-threat quarterback is simply unmatched in state history. For his career, he accounted for 13,243 total yards and 149 total touchdowns. As a senior, he led Clinton to its first state title, passing for 3,128 yards and 31 touchdowns while also rushing for 2,105 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Myles Brennan, Quarterback, Saint Stanislaus College

No quarterback in state history had as prolific a career through the air as Brennan. The 2016 Class 4A Mr. Football winner, he threw for 15,138 yards and 165 touchdowns during his career. Arguably, the most impressive feat in Brennan's career is that, despite playing in an air-raid offense, he did not throw an interception until the postseason of his senior year.

DeAndre Brown, Wide Receiver, Ocean Springs

Given his size and talent, many compared Brown to Randy Moss when he was in high school. A consensus five-star talent, he proved to be a matchup nightmare his senior season, catching 36 passes for 730 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging over 20 yards per catch.

DJ Clayton, Wide Receiver, Kemper County

Clayton may not have been the biggest player on the field, but that never stopped him from establishing himself as one of the state's top offensive weapons. In 2016, he was a key member of a state championship-winning team and finished his career with a state record 4,458 yards.

Tony Conner, Athlete, South Panola

Offensive, defense, special teams, it didn't matter for Conner, who was electric no matter which side of the ball he played on. He played a pivotal role in three state championship runs, starring as a running back during his sophomore and junior seasons before shifting to defense as a senior. As a senior, he totaled 74 tackles, 19 passes defended, and three interceptions.

Marcus Dupree, Running Back, Philadelphia

Dupree had a high school career that seems like something that could only happen in a movie. He ended his high school career rushing for 7,355 yards and 87 touchdowns. His final touchdown was a 59-yard run on a fake punt that broke Herschel Walker's then-national record.

Chris Jones, Defensive Lineman, Houston

Now one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, Jones has had a long and storied football career dating back to a dominant high school career. After a fairly quiet first few years at Houston, Jones developed into a five-star talent entering his senior season. That year, he totaled 160 tackles, 14 sacks, 10 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and a 74-yard pick-six.

Archie Manning, Quarterback, Drew

Arch Manning was a dominant three-sport star back in the late 1960's. While he was more than good enough to make a career in baseball, Manning stuck with football, earning All-Conference honors in high school and revolutionizing the game as one of the early dual-threat quarterbacks.

D.K. Metcalf, Wide Receiver, Oxford

Metcalf's been a freak athlete for years now, who first gained national notoriety during his final two seasons at Oxford. He was at his best as a senior, catching 93 passes for 1,455 yards and 22 touchdowns. For his career, Metcalf caught 224 passes for 3,302 yards and 49 touchdowns.

Jerious Norwood, Athlete, Brandon

A Mr. Football winner, Gatorade Player of the Year, and High School All-American, Norwood is easily one of the greatest running backs to come out of Mississippi. From 1999 to 2001, he developed into a highly recruited prospect, scoring 92 touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for 2,878 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Walter Payton, Running Back, Columbia

Payton is regarded by most as one of the top five running backs of all time. In high school, he was considered by many a complete player who could do everything on the field, including kicking the ball when needed. He joined the football team at Columbia as a junior after initially holding out, but finished his career scoring in every game during the two seasons he played.

Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver, B.L. Moor

Playing at such a small school, Rice's high school career tends to get overlooked, considering just how legendary his NFL career was. While stats are hard to come by, some reports have credited him with 30 to 35 touchdowns during a standout senior season.

Jeffery Simmons, Defensive Lineman, Noxubee County

Now one of the best linemen in the NFL, Simmons was a dominant five-star prospect in high school who put up video-game-like numbers. Leading Noxubee County to back-to-back state titles, his final two seasons saw him compile 212 tackles and 34 sacks, including 105 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, and five blocked kicks/punts as a senior. His career stats include 376 total tackles, 42.5 sacks and 27 passes broken up.

John White, Quarterback, Madison-Ridgeland Academy

Dominant is the best way to describe White's high school career. The state's career passing leader in yards (15,259) and touchdowns (177), he led Madison-Ridgeland to three straight state championships. As a senior, he completed 69% of his passes for 3,557 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Isaiah Woullard, Running Back, Presbyterian Christian School

No running back in Mississippi state history put up better numbers than Woullard. Never missing a game or practice, he carried the ball 1,191 yards in his high school career, rushing for a state record 8,294 yards and 93 touchdowns. As a senior, he ran for 2,761 yards and 36 touchdowns, including 9 games of 200 or more yards.