Kahnen Daniels of West Point High School has been named Gatorade Mississippi Football Player of the Year.
Daniels, a running back for the Green Wave, is the first West Point player to win the award after a stellar senior campaign that ended with a 5A state championship. Across 14 games, Daniels rushed for 2,730 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry.
Off the field, Daniels excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.26 GPA on the way to graduating early last month. He has also volunteered locally with the Beta Club and through multiple community service events as part of West Point’s National Honor Society.
“Kahnen is a wonderful football player,” outgoing West Point head coach Chris Chambless said. “He’s a great kid and great leader. You couldn’t ask for more.”
This is the latest honor for the future Florida Gator as Daniels was recently named Mr. Football for Mississippi’s 5A classification. After inking his national letter of intent during the most recent signing period, Daniels will begin attending classes in Gainesville on Jan. 8.
As part of the Gatorade Mississippi Football Player of the Year award, Daniels will receive a grant that he can donate to a social impact partner of his choice. He joins recent Magnolia State standouts in winning the award, including Isaac Smith (Itawamba Agricultural High School, 2022), D.J. Smith, Jr. (Greenville Christian School, 2021), and Ty Keyes (Taylorsville High School, 2020 and 2019).
