2026 HS/JC Football Recruiting

[Goldendawg]

Different opinions on the importance of HS recruiting vs. going portal heavy but our HS commitments at this time for the 2026 class is very troubling as per national ranking and the offer list of the players. Our average ranking of players is a bit over .87 with our last three recent commits causing the class to drop from about 37 to 53 (24/7). Only 4 star, a DL from New Albany has also decommited. Long way until December, but color me concerned.

[BigDawg81]

Trash

[BravesDoggy]

Lebbro's crootin will be fine

[Political Hack]

High school recruiting doesn't really matter anymore imo. Even if we sign a 4-5 star kid out of high school, we can sign a college upperclassman that's got a 3-4 year head start developing their body and experience playing at a higher level. 95% of high school kids wont see the field as freshmen at a P4 anymore. This has absolutely killed the 25, 26, and 27 high school classes.

[StarkVegasSteve]

High school recruiting doesn't really matter anymore imo. Even if we sign a 4-5 star kid out of high school, we can sign a college upperclassman that's got a 3-4 year head start developing their body and experience playing at a higher level. 95% of high school kids wont see the field as freshmen at a P4 anymore. This has absolutely killed the 25, 26, and 27 high school classes.

This is why we need to ID 10-12 HS kids and go all out to sign them. 6-8 of them need to be able to contribute as Freshman and the other 4-6 need to be development guys, probably from MS, that you know will stay in the program(I.E. Kelley Jones). The rest we need to portal. We can't waste 10-12 spots every year on kids that aren't going to contribute.

[Pancho]

Who all is on campus visiting this weekend?

[coachnorm]

Who all is on campus visiting this weekend?

Maybe check out Mississippi State Football X/Twitter page if it is featured there? Targeted prospects can be included on their high school football X/Twitter account which will state where the prospect is visiting. Some prospect have their personal X/Twitter account so maybe just check out the prospects you think have a relationship with Mississippi State Football?

[PGHBulldogBG]

As I?ve said before I am not completely ready to give up on football, but we have once again made another bad hire. Our only chance in football is to identify a coach at a smaller school that is winning with a talent deficit compared to the talent level in their conference who has proven they can do it for awhile. If we had just done this when leach died we could?ve got Jamey Chadwell most likely, but because we fussed around with Arnett we lost that opportunity. That is the only way we have a chance now to have a successful program. We did this with basketball with Jans and it?s working pretty well. I will never understand why we never do this with our football coaches outside of Leach and it was working had he not passed

[Todd4State]

As I?ve said before I am not completely ready to give up on football, but we have once again made another bad hire. Our only chance in football is to identify a coach at a smaller school that is winning with a talent deficit compared to the talent level in their conference who has proven they can do it for awhile. If we had just done this when leach died we could?ve got Jamey Chadwell most likely, but because we fussed around with Arnett we lost that opportunity. That is the only way we have a chance now to have a successful program. We did this with basketball with Jans and it?s working pretty well. I will never understand why we never do this with our football coaches outside of Leach and it was working had he not passed

If what I heard about Chadwell and a MSU booster who was willing to grossly overpay Chadwell to come here and he still wouldn't do it is true- then he isn't and wasn't an option.

[Todd4State]

And as far as high school recruiting goes, I say let them get their Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee jerseys and when they're ready to actually play I'll gladly take them back in about 2-3 years.

[Todd4State]

This is why we need to ID 10-12 HS kids and go all out to sign them. 6-8 of them need to be able to contribute as Freshman and the other 4-6 need to be development guys, probably from MS, that you know will stay in the program(I.E. Kelley Jones). The rest we need to portal. We can't waste 10-12 spots every year on kids that aren't going to contribute.

I completely agree with this.

[Todd4State]

And Lebby will be fine if he can win some games this year. Doesn't have to go 8-4 or even 6-6. Just needs to show some promise.

[DownwardDawg]

And as far as high school recruiting goes, I say let them get their Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee jerseys and when they're ready to actually play I'll gladly take them back in about 2-3 years.

I agree 100%.

[PGHBulldogBG]

If what I heard about Chadwell and a MSU booster who was willing to grossly overpay Chadwell to come here and he still wouldn't do it is true- then he isn't and wasn't an option.

Yea it is very possibly Chadwell would not have come, but if he was still at Coastal Carolina and not in his first year at Liberty then he would have been an easier pull. Chadwell was more of an example of the type of coach we need to go after though and not these unproven OC's/coordinators. At the same time, we can't go after any random mid major coach that is winning because he has a talent advantage. It has to be a coach like Chadwell who was picked near the bottom and then brought a team up with lower rated players and did it consistently over a couple years.

[Cooterpoot]

Two things:
1. Nobody wanted this job and we had to overpay and make promises to get Lebby
2. MSU isn't willing to go all in to pay for a football coach, we've proven it over and over. If we would pay Mullen $7M almost 10 years ago, we should be able to pay that to get a proven guy now, but we won't. Leach is almost the only sitting HC we've hired in my lifetime. That's on Mississippi State University!

[Political Hack]

Now:
Sr's - 45+
Jr's - 20+
Soph - 10+
Freshman - 10+

Then:
Sr - 20
Jr - 20
Soph - 20
Freshman/Redshirts/Medical - 30

I hate it for the kids coming out of high school now. Really sucks for the 2025-2027 kids. The constant rule changes and kids being granted 7-8-9 years of eligibility, is killing high school kids' opportunities.

[Political Hack]

Lebby was half-a-year in when the season opener hit. New recruiting styles and changes are popping up monthly. NIL has evolved as he was settling in. He's a smart guy offensively and will learn how to delegate. I think he's going to end up doing well, but just needs another year or two of experience. We'll be around .500 this year I suspect and hopefully grow from there.

[maroonmania]

Two things:
1. Nobody wanted this job and we had to overpay and make promises to get Lebby
2. MSU isn't willing to go all in to pay for a football coach, we've proven it over and over. If we would pay Mullen $7M almost 10 years ago, we should be able to pay that to get a proven guy now, but we won't. Leach is almost the only sitting HC we've hired in my lifetime. That's on Mississippi State University!

You are dead on with this. We don't really act like we really want to win in football. The ONLY coordinator/assistant we've ever hired as a HC that has worked out was Mullen, and that was just dumb luck. Felker, Croom, Morehead, and Arnett were all in over their heads and the jury is out on Lebby. Sherrill and Leach both won, even here at Lil old MSU. State, playing in the grinder that is the SEC, is a tough place to learn how to be a D1 head coach.

[Todd4State]

Yea it is very possibly Chadwell would not have come, but if he was still at Coastal Carolina and not in his first year at Liberty then he would have been an easier pull. Chadwell was more of an example of the type of coach we need to go after though and not these unproven OC's/coordinators. At the same time, we can't go after any random mid major coach that is winning because he has a talent advantage. It has to be a coach like Chadwell who was picked near the bottom and then brought a team up with lower rated players and did it consistently over a couple years.

But if you look at Chadwell's career I don't know that you can really say that. Coastal Carolina was a very good program when he took over and was a 10-2 team when their coach had some health issues. And he took over for Hugh Freeze and what he built up at Liberty and he won with Freeze's guys but then dropped to 8-4 last year.

A guy that I think would be a better comparison would be GJ Kinne at Texas State.

[Todd4State]

You are dead on with this. We don't really act like we really want to win in football. The ONLY coordinator/assistant we've ever hired as a HC that has worked out was Mullen, and that was just dumb luck. Felker, Croom, Morehead, and Arnett were all in over their heads and the jury is out on Lebby. Sherrill and Leach both won, even here at Lil old MSU. State, playing in the grinder that is the SEC, is a tough place to learn how to be a D1 head coach.

We consistently make stupid moves in football. Jackie was good but we held on to him for too long. Dan was basically a blind squirrel finding a nut. Leach was good and then passed away.

I fear that bringing Dan back is going to be the next stupid move MSU makes.

[Bothrops]

We are doing the only thing we can do in football recruiting right now, but you can read between the lines. We are already priced out of the market for in-state SEC talent, with a few exceptions. It boils down to this - if we dont win a bare minimum of 5 games this season with one being the last game, nothing tranfers to 2026. The roster jumps, and Lebby will be coaching for his job with a more limited roster. As long as any healthy program is offering what were paying or even less in many cases we will have to fill the roster with more and more G5 guys, which will bury this place regardless of who's coach. We have to win games this year in order to avoid a trainwreck in 2026, due to loss of assets.

Furthermore, he portal isn't going save us unless the university along with additional NIL is prepared to dump $20-30 million for just football player allocation. Signing and holding on to the right guys to turn the ship.

Meanwhile, this is a real life cartoon.

[maroonmania]

We are doing the only thing we can do in football recruiting right now, but you can read between the lines. We are already priced out of the market for in-state SEC talent, with a few exceptions. It boils down to this - if we dont win a bare minimum of 5 games this season with one being the last game, nothing tranfers to 2026. The roster jumps, and Lebby will be coaching for his job with a more limited roster. As long as any healthy program is offering what were paying or even less in many cases we will have to fill the roster with more and more G5 guys, which will bury this place regardless of who's coach. We have to win games this year in order to avoid a trainwreck in 2026, due to loss of assets.

Furthermore, he portal isn't going save us unless the university along with additional NIL is prepared to dump $20-30 million for just football player allocation. Signing and holding on to the right guys to turn the ship.

Meanwhile, this is a real life cartoon.

Does the house settlement deal give us any hope? From my understanding there will be a cap on total athletic payouts from the school to use across all sports and then each individual NIL deal beyond that has to get approved by a committee of some sort to be a true NIL deal that is reasonable market value (and not just pure pay for play). Not great but would seem to be way better than the total free for all we have now.

[Goldendawg]

Well, after our big recruiting weekend, we got 4 commits yesterday, 3 big OL(Hard to evaluate in HS) and a LB/Edge who has not been rated to date. Nationally, this caused the team rating to drop from 41 to 45, (24/7). We still do not have a single 4 star. The offer sheets of most of our 14 commits are very lacking with few having SEC offers except for a couple with OM and KY offers. This is looking like we are taking diamonds in the rough that we hope to develop in this portal/NIL $ driven FB world. But, how do you attract big names after 2-10 and 0-8 with an OTJ training HC and DC, again? Color me still concerned about recruiting this class.

[Goldendawg]

You are dead on with this. We don't really act like we really want to win in football. The ONLY coordinator/assistant we've ever hired as a HC that has worked out was Mullen, and that was just dumb luck. Felker, Croom, Morehead, and Arnett were all in over their heads and the jury is out on Lebby. Sherrill and Leach both won, even here at Lil old MSU. State, playing in the grinder that is the SEC, is a tough place to learn how to be a D1 head coach.

Showing my age, but Bob Tyler was very successful as a former Asst. who became a HC for us before the trumped up probation debacle. We should add all those 18 forfeits back to our overall and SEC records now.

[Political Hack]

Does the house settlement deal give us any hope? From my understanding there will be a cap on total athletic payouts from the school to use across all sports and then each individual NIL deal beyond that has to get approved by a committee of some sort to be a true NIL deal that is reasonable market value (and not just pure pay for play). Not great but would seem to be way better than the total free for all we have now.

Yes. But there will be NIL deals on top of the school payouts. Teams with larger markets will outpace us still, but not by as much as they have historically.

[Goldendawg]

Bumping my own thread as interest in football seems to have fallen off a cliff, probably with very good reason. Well, we now have 23 commits which gets us "up" to #30 on 24/7 rating. We now have that one elusive 4 star. Three of the last seven commits have very good offer sheets and the other four have yet to be rated, both instate and out of state players. The last four's offer sheets are pitiful at this time. Better hope their ratings come in as a surprise as one player is listed at #51 in the state of MS. Not easy recruiting to a program with an unknown OTJ training staff that just went 2-10, 0-8, with the NIL $ issues to boot. Hope my concern is premature and they are identifying some "diamonds in the rough" if that concept can still build a winning team in today's NIL/Portal mess.

[R2Dawg]

Bumping my own thread as interest in football seems to have fallen off a cliff, probably with very good reason. Well, we now have 23 commits which gets us "up" to #30 on 24/7 rating. We now have that one elusive 4 star. Three of the last seven commits have very good offer sheets and the other four have yet to be rated, both instate and out of state players. The last four's offer sheets are pitiful at this time. Better hope their ratings come in as a surprise as one player is listed at #51 in the state of MS. Not easy recruiting to a program with an unknown OTJ training staff that just went 2-10, 0-8, with the NIL $ issues to boot. Hope my concern is premature and they are identifying some "diamonds in the rough" if that concept can still build a winning team in today's NIL/Portal mess.

On one hand (gloom and doom trend), yeah we can't compete, etc.

However, on the other consider these points.
1. We have never gotten top recruits overall in big bunches to be to half of SEC. Just never happened. Yet we still competed with these little Miss kids that just had a lot in them to compete at a high level.

2. We are still a little school in big pond (SEC). We are in the best football conf period. That will attract some talent even in NIL era from other places - we got a 5 star QB from FSU - did that make anyone feel better?

3. Player evaluations have always been bad and NIL didn't change that. Transfer portal corrects for that and that makes it harder for us but we can still get some good talent by the misses. Yall know our storied history of getting no talent players and then they are All Americans, All SEC, etc. That will still happen, we must manage the transfer portal. Also we must get the talented kids that want to be here - Kamario Taylor, etc. (Josh Hubbard in basketball) to win at MSU.

Personally I'm good with winning 6-8 games a year with an occasional 9 win year and I'm ready to get back to that. 2-3 win years I am not OK with. OM has broke the bank and they still got nothing to show for it.

[Goldendawg]

On one hand (gloom and doom trend), yeah we can't compete, etc.

However, on the other consider these points.
1. We have never gotten top recruits overall in big bunches to be to half of SEC. Just never happened. Yet we still competed with these little Miss kids that just had a lot in them to compete at a high level.

2. We are still a little school in big pond (SEC). We are in the best football conf period. That will attract some talent even in NIL era from other places - we got a 5 star QB from FSU - did that make anyone feel better?

3. Player evaluations have always been bad and NIL didn't change that. Transfer portal corrects for that and that makes it harder for us but we can still get some good talent by the misses. Yall know our storied history of getting no talent players and then they are All Americans, All SEC, etc. That will still happen, we must manage the transfer portal. Also we must get the talented kids that want to be here - Kamario Taylor, etc. (Josh Hubbard in basketball) to win at MSU.

Personally I'm good with winning 6-8 games a year with an occasional 9 win year and I'm ready to get back to that. 2-3 win years I am not OK with. OM has broke the bank and they still got nothing to show for it.

I'm with you 100% on all these points. And heck, maybe even another SEC title game if they continue to have them in my lifetime. People forget we were #1 in the nation, but it seems like a life time ago. Together we can do this! Hail State!

[Dawgology]

Is HS recruiting even a thing anymore? Our best bet is to just hit the portal every season for 75% of our roster. If we sign any great players from HS we better play them day one because they will be goooooonnnneeee in a season or two. College football (nationwide) is a shitshow.

[Goldendawg]

Update: Dalton Toothman from Van Cleave in the boat, .87, 6'5", 295 OL with a great offer sheet with many SEC offers. Plans to enroll in December. Moves us up to #32 ranking with 23 commits with only 16 having their 24/7 composite. Will be very interesting to see their individual ratings and how it improves national rating of class to date. Still only 1 four star ,but who knows, seems to be a lot of quantity (23), but what about quality? Time will tell and a long way to December. Free info on all 2026 classes on 24/7(Genes Page). Clink on top of page FB Rec, then in drop down box Team Ranking, then clink on MSU for individual info on each player. Hail State!

[gtowndawg]

Personally I'm good with winning 6-8 games a year with an occasional 9 win year and I'm ready to get back to that. 2-3 win years I am not OK with. OM has broke the bank and they still got nothing to show for it.

For the life of me I don't understand why people act like that's not worth spending money for. 6-8 wins a year has always been good years for us. 8 wins is a GREAT year for us historically. But now all of the sudden it's not worth messing with? We are committing suicide athletically and nobody seems to care (as long as we can build a few more condos at the baseball stadium). We're just slow dancing in a burning room and people just shrug their shoulders..."oh well."

[DawgFromOxford]

Update: Dalton Toothman from Van Cleave in the boat, .87, 6'5", 295 OL with a great offer sheet with many SEC offers. Plans to enroll in December. Moves us up to #32 ranking with 23 commits with only 16 having their 24/7 composite. Will be very interesting to see their individual ratings and how it improves national rating of class to date. Still only 1 four star ,but who knows, seems to be a lot of quantity (23), but what about quality? Time will tell and a long way to December. Free info on all 2026 classes on 24/7(Genes Page). Clink on top of page FB Rec, then in drop down box Team Ranking, then clink on MSU for individual info on each player. Hail State!

I'm ok with quantity from high school. You figure most will transfer out anyways, so take in a bunch and try to find a few studs to keep. Quality comes from the portal.

[StarkVegasSteve]

For the life of me I don't understand why people act like that's not worth spending money for. 6-8 wins a year has always been good years for us. 8 wins is a GREAT year for us historically. But now all of the sudden it's not worth messing with? We are committing suicide athletically and nobody seems to care (as long as we can build a few more condos at the baseball stadium). We're just slow dancing in a burning room and people just shrug their shoulders..."oh well."

Because people either:

1. Don't believe that conference realignment will actually ever happen

2. They think baseball matters in terms of keeping you in a conference.....it doesn't.

3. They truly just don't care and would rather get drunk in the The Baseball Grove than be good at anything. I.E. Ole Miss' attitude up until Keith Carter.

[AROB44]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to StarkVegasSteve again.

[Goldendawg]

Positive update for today at least. All 23 of our commits have now received their composite ranking and our class is now ranked number 23 in the nation. This includes one 4 star with a composite of .8908, one player ranked 88, seven ranked 87, seven ranked 86, seven ranked 85. I'm sure as other schools fill their classes, we will not stay at 23 unless some of these players hopefully blow up during their senior season. If so, I hope we can hold onto them. This is a MSU public recruiting announcement for my 12 fellow elitedawgs who still care about football on this site.***

[R2Dawg]

Positive update for today at least. All 23 of our commits have now received their composite ranking and our class is now ranked number 23 in the nation. This includes one 4 star with a composite of .8908, one player ranked 88, seven ranked 87, seven ranked 86, seven ranked 85. I'm sure as other schools fill their classes, we will not stay at 23 unless some of these players hopefully blow up during their senior season. If so, I hope we can hold onto them. This is a MSU public recruiting announcement for my 12 fellow elitedawgs who still care about football on this site.***

Must be the older Dawgs because there have been worse droughts than what we are in now. One in 70s, 80s, 2000s are 3 worse loosing streaks than now but it does not feel great. We have always battled back. History says we bounce back from the lull we are in and come out swinging pretty soon.

Now if we have 2 more losing seasons in a row then I may want to tap out then.

[Political Hack]

Build it like Army did last year or like the big boys build it every year? Personally, i think if we try to build our teams the same way the other SEC teams do, we'll never catch them again. If we take developmental guys that are interested in being in Starkville for four years, I think that works out better for us over time than trying to buy a Ferrari each and every year.

So as dumb as this sounds, a team full of 3-stars may be better than chasing the 5-star's and one year wonders.

[CaptainObvious]

Are academics still a thing with scholarships?

Reason I ask is it amazes me that 4 of the State's best high school football programs are within 40 miles of Starkville and we cannot build any momentum with signees from these schools. Starkville, West Point and Louisville combined have more State Championships than any other 10 schools combined. Noxubee County has become a serious Class 4 contender. Choctaw County(formerly Weir and Ackerman) also have great history as HS football powers. Tupelo should be evenly split between Ole Miss and State as should Grenada. Either we didn't offer the kid from Choctaw County enough money and Miss MSU as a girlfriend, or these guys just DONT WANT to play at State for any reason.

[DownwardDawg]

Build it like Army did last year or like the big boys build it every year? Personally, i think if we try to build our teams the same way the other SEC teams do, we'll never catch them again. If we take developmental guys that are interested in being in Starkville for four years, I think that works out better for us over time than trying to buy a Ferrari each and every year.

So as dumb as this sounds, a team full of 3-stars may be better than chasing the 5-star's and one year wonders.

It doesn't sound dumb at all. It's spot on. We have to have the right coach running the right system at State.

[Todd4State]

Build it like Army did last year or like the big boys build it every year? Personally, i think if we try to build our teams the same way the other SEC teams do, we'll never catch them again. If we take developmental guys that are interested in being in Starkville for four years, I think that works out better for us over time than trying to buy a Ferrari each and every year.

So as dumb as this sounds, a team full of 3-stars may be better than chasing the 5-star's and one year wonders.

I agree that because we are Mississippi State and not Alabama we have to do something differently than everyone else. That's a big reason why I liked Leach. And Emory Bellard. Even Jackie- we had Joe Lee Dunn which had an unusual defense for that time which helped level the playing field for us.

And to your point I remember when Dan was here everyone praised him for taking 3 stars and developing them. And that worked too. How is what Lebby did this past week any different other than yes we do need to see if he can develop these players. But it's the same basic formula. Get guys that have good size and are raw and then develop them.

Of course as you and I both know we have to use the portal some to supplement but that's why this could actually work out even better because with Dan we often times had major holes at position groups and if the portal had been a thing back in the day I think Dan could have potentially done even better because we could have potentially filled those holes better.

[Todd4State]

Are academics still a thing with scholarships?

Reason I ask is it amazes me that 4 of the State's best high school football programs are within 40 miles of Starkville and we cannot build any momentum with signees from these schools. Starkville, West Point and Louisville combined have more State Championships than any other 10 schools combined. Noxubee County has become a serious Class 4 contender. Choctaw County(formerly Weir and Ackerman) also have great history as HS football powers. Tupelo should be evenly split between Ole Miss and State as should Grenada. Either we didn't offer the kid from Choctaw County enough money and Miss MSU as a girlfriend, or these guys just DONT WANT to play at State for any reason.

How many players has MSU lost from Starkville, West Point, or Noxubee over the years really? Sure we remember AJ Brown and Caleb Cunningham but the reality is we have gotten the lion's share from there. Willie Gay, Stonka, Aeries Williams, Justin Cox, Jeffrey Simmons, Kamario, and etc. It's the vast majority that we have gotten over the years. Louisville to me is sort of like South Panola in terms of distance from Starkville/Oxford. Yes, both are in the area but they also aren't super close. Ole Miss has gotten some players from Louisville and we have gotten our share of players from South Panola. And then you have a guy like Luke Altmeyer who almost every MSU keyboard warrior poo poo'd on and said that they didn't want him and he has turned out to be pretty solid at Illinois.

You have to think about it from the lens of a high school kid as well. They just see what MSU is now which is a 2-10 program. Most of them don't think "well if I go there I'm going to be an upperclassman with Kamario and the schedule is going to flip and they're going to be good when I'm an upperclassman." Plus with the portal it makes it different. Conceivably a player could go to Ole Miss while they're hot and then when we get our stuff together transfer in. Back in the day that wasn't an option. You would have to go to EMCC for a year and then transfer somewhere else. And that's only if you were a freshman that you had that option. The other option was Jackson State or Austin Peay.

We've already seen WR's transfer between MSU and Ole Miss already both ways- Malik Heath and Ayden Williams. And that's just at that one position group. I'm sure we'll see it from other position groups as well.

If you want to talk about something being disproportionate- how come we have so many of these powerful boosters in Madison and we rarely ever get players from Madison Central?

[Political Hack]

Agree with Todd, that's why Leach was such a great fit. Unique system with select players that can execute. I don't want to run the triple option or anything, but I do think we have to do things a little bit differently to have a chance in the SEC.

[Pancho]

Lebbys O is capable of that. now over to the D........

[CaptainObvious]

How many players has MSU lost from Starkville, West Point, or Noxubee over the years really? Sure we remember AJ Brown and Caleb Cunningham but the reality is we have gotten the lion's share from there. Willie Gay, Stonka, Aeries Williams, Justin Cox, Jeffrey Simmons, Kamario, and etc. It's the vast majority that we have gotten over the years. Louisville to me is sort of like South Panola in terms of distance from Starkville/Oxford. Yes, both are in the area but they also aren't super close. Ole Miss has gotten some players from Louisville and we have gotten our share of players from South Panola. And then you have a guy like Luke Altmeyer who almost every MSU keyboard warrior poo poo'd on and said that they didn't want him and he has turned out to be pretty solid at Illinois.

You have to think about it from the lens of a high school kid as well. They just see what MSU is now which is a 2-10 program. Most of them don't think "well if I go there I'm going to be an upperclassman with Kamario and the schedule is going to flip and they're going to be good when I'm an upperclassman." Plus with the portal it makes it different. Conceivably a player could go to Ole Miss while they're hot and then when we get our stuff together transfer in. Back in the day that wasn't an option. You would have to go to EMCC for a year and then transfer somewhere else. And that's only if you were a freshman that you had that option. The other option was Jackson State or Austin Peay.

We've already seen WR's transfer between MSU and Ole Miss already both ways- Malik Heath and Ayden Williams. And that's just at that one position group. I'm sure we'll see it from other position groups as well.

If you want to talk about something being disproportionate- how come we have so many of these powerful boosters in Madison and we rarely ever get players from Madison Central?

I guess I'm thinking more of the Diamond in the Rough McKinney type guys that play for those high schools. 1 or 2 players may make a high school basketball team great but it ain't making a football team great. Going back to South Panola and Meridian days of dominance, they just needed roadgrader offensive linemen to block for the 3 "Runners" in their backfield.

West Point, Louisville and Starkville have to have under rated fire plugs that are getting over looked by D1 schools. No way they could be that dominant year after year. Louisville may not play as tough a schedule during the season but when the whistle blows in playoff time those guys bring the lumber. Starkville and West Point play tough schedules and still dominate, some times beating each other. Takes more than a few high 3 and low 4 stars to do that year in and year out. Kids are being overlooked who may have developmental skills waiting to explode.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I guess I'm thinking more of the Diamond in the Rough McKinney type guys that play for those high schools. 1 or 2 players may make a high school basketball team great but it ain't making a football team great. Going back to South Panola and Meridian days of dominance, they just needed roadgrader offensive linemen to block for the 3 "Runners" in their backfield.

West Point, Louisville and Starkville have to have under rated fire plugs that are getting over looked by D1 schools. No way they could be that dominant year after year. Louisville may not play as tough a schedule during the season but when the whistle blows in playoff time those guys bring the lumber. Starkville and West Point play tough schedules and still dominate, some times beating each other. Takes more than a few high 3 and low 4 stars to do that year in and year out. Kids are being overlooked who may have developmental skills waiting to explode.

But why would we take a developmental guy that MIGHT develop instead of taking a G5 transfer that has shown he can do it at the collegiate level? Because for every Bernardrick McKinney there is a Darion Arrington. For every Justin Malone there is a Devon Desper

[Goldendawg]

This site has about turned to baseball only in interest vs that in the football season that is about two months away. Check the number of baseball threads and posts vs football. I want to win in all sports and football still wags the dog. Unless it has changed the top revenue producing men's college sports are FB, MBB, Hockey and then Baseball and the last two do not have nationwide interest and do not make $ (maybe a few schools). There are more informative, interesting threads on the Pack regarding FB at this time. We must fix FB. OK, I said it, Fire Away. Hail State in all sports!

[Leeshouldveflanked]

We might would do a little better at recruiting if a staff member or two spent less time fraternizing at the Cotton District and more time recruiting.

[Pancho]

Well please enlighten us. bet you say to recruit them boys with purty mommas. or was it the other way around?

[Goldendawg]

I started the 2025 FB Recruiting Thread on 4/25/24, (Still a "Sticky" at top of page). It was 32 pages, 369 posts, 243,644 views and considered a 5 star thread. This 2026 Recruiting thread has 3 pages, now 49 posts (I've bumped it several times myself with updates, etc), 5,433 views and not a single star. I know that it is a long time until the December signing date but this site is about dead regarding FB news with about 62 days until kickoff. I hate NIL and the Portal even more under today's rules, however it looks appears many EliteDawgs have little to no interest in football at this time. Check out the threads and you would think that it is still baseball season. In my opinion, little can change this unless we go at least 6-6 and are competitive and interesting/fun to watch in all games. This is what you get historically when you have constantly hired OTJ training Asst Coaching types. BTW, got an Email today. Plenty of tickets available to all seven home games. If we have another 2-10, 0-8 season there will be more opposition fans in DWS than State fans this year and plenty of empty seats to boot. We can't even sellout bama games anymore with their fans who used to buy a State season ticket just to see their team in person. Get it done Lebby or this could get ugly fast. First game in 1963, about 58th consecutive year family has had 8 to 12 season tickets. I too, have always had high hopes before each new season though often with "Maroon Colored Glasses". My glasses are broken until we start to win again. No coach we have ever had should go 2-2 OOC and 0-8 in the SEC. Right now it H_ll? State., not Hail State in FB.

[Bothrops]

In the last week or so we've lost recruiting battles to SMU, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Kentucky-lol, and a flip to FSU. We are 1-5 in that stretch and about to be 1-7 or 1-8.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We have to win. That is what it comes down to. Start 4-0 or 5-0 and someone of those guys commitments will magically start opening back up.

I personally still think we end up with the kid from Arkansas that committed to SMU. His demeanor does not fit the glitz and glam of Highland Park. And he cannot live in Plano with the random field of Longhorns.

[maroonmania]

I'm not really sure what there is to talk about in football until we see some games. After a 2-10 season we are basically running it back with the exact same staff. Also, the portal transfer window is closed for now and HS recruiting is not going very well. Unless you just like to dwell on negatives I'm just not sure what there is to discuss? Just hoping to see some signs of life for the program once the season starts.

[Quaoarsking]

I started the 2025 FB Recruiting Thread on 4/25/24, (Still a "Sticky" at top of page). It was 32 pages, 369 posts, 243,644 views and considered a 5 star thread. This 2026 Recruiting thread has 3 pages, now 49 posts (I've bumped it several times myself with updates, etc), 5,433 views and not a single star. I know that it is a long time until the December signing date but this site is about dead regarding FB news with about 62 days until kickoff. I hate NIL and the Portal even more under today's rules, however it looks appears many EliteDawgs have little to no interest in football at this time. Check out the threads and you would think that it is still baseball season. In my opinion, little can change this unless we go at least 6-6 and are competitive and interesting/fun to watch in all games. This is what you get historically when you have constantly hired OTJ training Asst Coaching types. BTW, got an Email today. Plenty of tickets available to all seven home games. If we have another 2-10, 0-8 season there will be more opposition fans in DWS than State fans this year and plenty of empty seats to boot. We can't even sellout bama games anymore with their fans who used to buy a State season ticket just to see their team in person. Get it done Lebby or this could get ugly fast. First game in 1963, about 58th consecutive year family has had 8 to 12 season tickets. I too, have always had high hopes before each new season though often with "Maroon Colored Glasses". My glasses are broken until we start to win again. No coach we have ever had should go 2-2 OOC and 0-8 in the SEC. Right now it H_ll? State., not Hail State in FB.

Honestly, Leach's death took so much out of me that I just haven't been able to get into it much since then.

If you asked me to name the 3 most fun seasons to be a Mississippi State fan in my lifetime, obviously I'd say 1999 and 2014, and then add 2020, 2021, and 2022. I can't imagine any Lebby year will ever crack the top 5 or even top 10 unless he starts winning big.

[Goldendawg]

Update. Commitment from #6 kicker in the country, full ride from Ft Payne AL, which has sent several kickers to big schools and a couple to NFL. Will report in Dec. Free, detailed article on genespage. Not ranked by 24/7 as kickers usually don't get a high ranking. Now ranked #29 in nation, 24/7, .8671 average ranking per player. One barely 4 star and 22 mainly .85 and .86, (14 total). Better be some real diamonds in the rough or hungry overlooked players. Is this the year you have to give 105 full rides? Offer sheets on about half these commits are very concerning. I know HS OL are hard to evaluate but we have offered the #53 player in MS, an OL. Hope he like the majority of these commits blow up their Sr year and then we can hold on to them, if so. Also, about 22 name schools behind us with a higher player ranking average with many spots left to fill. Can this strategy work in today's NIL/Portal world run by name brand successful programs or is this all we can afford or even get interest from after Arnett, then 2-10, 0-8? We need to win and compete with a fun to watch, interesting team on both sides of the ball in 2025!

[BuckyIsAB****]

Lebby has had a better off season than he had a year ago. Spring practice was more like practice than a frat party. But I just don?t think there is anything about him from day 1 that our fans were excited about.

[BuckyIsAB****]

He has to stop being their friend at some point and be a ball coach. Its not Moorhead bad cause he actually can relate to players, but you cant be their BFF

[R2Dawg]

Honestly, Leach's death took so much out of me that I just haven't been able to get into it much since then.

If you asked me to name the 3 most fun seasons to be a Mississippi State fan in my lifetime, obviously I'd say 1999 and 2014, and then add 2020, 2021, and 2022. I can't imagine any Lebby year will ever crack the top 5 or even top 10 unless he starts winning big.

You have got to be kidding. 2 of those 3 were losing seasons and that is best you can come up with? And we didn't just lose, we looked real bad doing it. 2022 OK but dang the other two were horrendous. Take the air raid glasses off.

[Quaoarsking]

You have got to be kidding. 2 of those 3 were losing seasons and that is best you can come up with? And we didn't just lose, we looked real bad doing it. 2022 OK but dang the other two were horrendous. Take the air raid glasses off.

7-6 is a losing season now?? Come on...

[Bothrops]

Lebby has had a better off season than he had a year ago. Spring practice was more like practice than a frat party. But I just don?t think there is anything about him from day 1 that our fans were excited about.

Not true. We were excited for his offensive prowess. The defense made any success on offense futile. Now if we have qb problems this season we'll know how this will end.

[ZedFedder]

3 in state recruits all just committed to out of state schools. 2 to Tennessee and 1 to NC. We would take all 3. Until we can shore up MS recruiting again it is going to be tough.

[StarkVegasSteve]

3 in state recruits all just committed to out of state schools. 2 to Tennessee and 1 to NC. We would take all 3. Until we can shore up MS recruiting again it is going to be tough.

Those JA kids were a weird deal. It felt like we had all 3 and then all of a sudden we could barely get one to visit. Don't know what is going on over there. I also feel like if we start 4-0 and show some signs of improvement they'll all come back into the fold.

[vv83]

3 in state recruits all just committed to out of state schools. 2 to Tennessee and 1 to NC. We would take all 3. Until we can shore up MS recruiting again it is going to be tough.

I am a huge Lebby proponent but this is a serious red flag

[Bothrops]

3 in state recruits all just committed to out of state schools. 2 to Tennessee and 1 to NC. We would take all 3. Until we can shore up MS recruiting again it is going to be tough.

Recruiting is a disaster right now. 2-10 and no trust in the defense is in all likelihood going to end Lebby's first HC gig. The portal could be more of the same with everyone fighting for the top 50 transfers and paying outrageous amounts for them. I'm dont know if there's a way out of this for us.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Not true. We were excited for his offensive prowess. The defense made any success on offense futile. Now if we have qb problems this season we'll know how this will end.

Let?s not pretend the offense was a whole lot better.

[Goldendawg]

Happy 4th of July and May God Richly Bless our Country in the Years Ahead. Now, update on our 2026 FB recruiting class (Just my analysis of a hardcore MSU fan, first game as an eight year old in 1963 and family has had 8 to 12 season tickets for about 58 consecutive years). There are little fireworks to date on this class . We were #23 or so a couple of weeks ago, based on volume of commits, but have fallen to #34 today. We will not stay anywhere close to there by December signing day. This is based on the 24/7 info free on genespage. There are also 21 name brand teams that have a higher avg ranking per player at this time and most only 6 to 17 commits. who will pass us. OM, of course is only one spot behind u$ with a rating of about 90.10 per player and only 9 commits. This class also has a majority of players with very concerning offer sheets to boot. My thoughts:

Imperfect Storm:

Leach sudden death and Arnett debacle requiring complete over haul of roster with limited talent.

Hard to recruit after 2-10 and 0-8.

OTJ training HC, DC and maybe some other position coaches.

All we can get with NIL $ issues.

Lazy recruiting (Don't really thing so with the five issues above).

Maybe HS recruiting doesn't mean as much in today's college football world with NIL/Portal and perhaps a few of these guys will be develop and stay as discovered "Diamonds in the Rough".

The class looks like it will end up ranked in the 40's or so. Maybe it won't matter as you turn the roster over every year and must have a HC that can successfully compete and win in this NIL/Portal world.

Had an appointment with my hard core State Optometrist yesterday. She said that they were out of any "Maroon Colored Glasses" for the 2025 season.*****

[Goldendawg]

Bump: Just got another commit, Tamario Johnson, S, 6-2, 190 lb, Pascagoula, #37 rated player in MS, 3 star, .8650 24/7 Sports Composite rating. As per the free article on genespage, "notable offers include Vanderbilt,Texas Tech, UNLV and Tulane". Team ranking moves up to #31 nationally. Now have 25 commits but Kicker not yet given 24/7 composite.

[Pancho]

The kicker is a good as any senior in 26

[ZedFedder]

Well, this is weird.

https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/4-star-wr-xavier-mcdonald-pulls-a-shocker-commits-to-sacramento-state-over-lsu-and-ole-miss/

[99jc]

Well, this is weird.

https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/4-star-wr-xavier-mcdonald-pulls-a-shocker-commits-to-sacramento-state-over-lsu-and-ole-miss/

That stupid 17er won't last a season in Sacramento country bumpkin to cali doesn't work well! MARK THIS!

[DEDawg]

Can we get this sticked

[ZedFedder]

Number 4 player in the state to Alabama.

[Pancho]

Number 4 player in the state to Alabama.

who is?

[ZedFedder]

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/07/alabama-football-gets-commitment-from-blue-chip-mississippi-dl.html?outputType=amp

[maroonmania]

Well, this is weird.

https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/4-star-wr-xavier-mcdonald-pulls-a-shocker-commits-to-sacramento-state-over-lsu-and-ole-miss/

You know that won't stick. I'm sure he got some financial incentive to make that commitment. I'm just glad HS recruiting has become less important because apparently the top HS recruits in MS are all about leaving MS as quick as they can. OM is having almost as much trouble in state as we are. Even in our worst years under Felker, Sherrill or Croom I've never seen a year where we had less interest from the best MS HS recruits.

[Pancho]

The players who think they are really good(or are told such) are out for top dollar from high school. See they New Albany kid and the Tupelo kid yesterday. Both have decommitted from MSU mainly for a cash handout from ole miss. The tupelo kid got more cash and stuck with the sharts. The New Albany kid took the sharts cash in a sack(daddy did) and then bolted and committed for the better offer in Baton Rouge. This is simply the way business is conducted nowadays. In my opinion, the kid has a better chance of making it in the SEC. There is no telling where the New Albany kid ends up ultimately playing in the end.

[Todd4State]

Those JA kids were a weird deal. It felt like we had all 3 and then all of a sudden we could barely get one to visit. Don't know what is going on over there. I also feel like if we start 4-0 and show some signs of improvement they'll all come back into the fold.

Is Shay Hodge still coaching there?

[Todd4State]

The players who think they are really good(or are told such) are out for top dollar from high school. See the New Albany kid and the Tupelo kid yesterday. Both have decommitted from MSU mainly for a cash handout from ole miss. The tupelo kid got more cash and stuck with the sharts. The New Albany kid took the sharts cash in a sack(daddy did) and then bolted and committed for the better offer in Baton Rouge. This is simply the way business is conducted nowadays. In my opinion, the kid has a better chance of making it in the SEC. There is no telling where the New Albany kid ends up ultimately playing in the end.

Then we need to do business differently. Whether it's get more money or to counter offer better.

[Brobi-wan]

I’m not sure it matters. If they can’t play on day 1, get someone who can from the portal. 4 year players are likely done.

[Todd4State]

I’m not sure it matters. If they can’t play on day 1, get someone who can from the portal. 4 year players are likely done.

I don't think we can completely live off of the portal forever. We need a good core group of players to build around which helps attract players from the portal.

We need some kind of a mix of both.

[Bothrops]

If we aren't pretty good this year, or at least decent, we probably won't ever be as long as this dissolution process continues.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Is Shay Hodge still coaching there?

No he is not directly working at JA to my knowledge. But he probably trains them and he is extremely sideways with the OM staff right now. He likes ours a little better. Neither he or Espy have much contact with the OM staff right now. But it will always be difficult for him to push kids to State.

Saying that, if we show something positive in the first few weeks, I was told to expect all those kids to end up at State.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I don't think we can completely live off of the portal forever. We need a good core group of players to build around which helps attract players from the portal.

We need some kind of a mix of both.

You need 10-15 HS kids with 6-8 that can play immediately, 2-4 that know they are develop guys, and 2-3 wildcards that could pop. The rest need to be portal guys with a majority being multi year portal guys.

[maroonmania]

I'm thinking (certainly hoping) that we've bottomed out as far as the pay for play environment that has put us at such a disadvantage within the SEC. The settlement which puts everyone paying the 20.5 milllion to disperse as they wish will hopefully even out things a bit. I know there will still be 'approved' NIL deals and under the table money but the straight out pay for play bidding wars will hopefully subside. Actually, as bad as I hate to see it I do agree that we should put most of our 'payout' resources on players already on the team that have shown their worth and portal players that have already shown production at the college level rather than HS recruits. Paying big bucks to HS signees who will likely play little as true freshmen and who, if they do, will likely check out the transfer portal right after the season doesn't make a lot of financial sense when your resources are limited. So as disappointed as I am with our lack of interest from MS HS recruits, I'm trying not to let it bother me much because its a different day and time. If we show improvement on the field we will likely get the opportunity to take another crack at them later in the portal. I really think going forward the number of college football players that never check out the portal will be in the minority.

[R2Dawg]

You need 10-15 HS kids with 6-8 that can play immediately, 2-4 that know they are develop guys, and 2-3 wildcards that could pop. The rest need to be portal guys with a majority being multi year portal guys.

Agree. We need a mix. We also need the good but "want to be MSU" guys (Taylor). Don't sleep on the guys that are very good 3 stars but high character, leaders too. We've had a bunch over the years and these guys are winners. That is how we win. We'll never win the glamor or $$ war and never have.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Agree. We need a mix. We also need the good but "want to be MSU" guys (Taylor). Don't sleep on the guys that are very good 3 stars but high character, leaders too. We've had a bunch over the years and these guys are winners. That is how we win. We'll never win the glamor or $$ war and never have.

Lo'Kavian Jackson is one of those guys this year. We held off some late pushes from Louisville, and I believe Miami, to keep him. I think we'll see him in the rotation before the end of the year.

[Pancho]

please list what position group these guys are expected in since we have little knowledge of their names.

[Goldendawg]

Bump/Update: As usual our Top 10 in the nation Kicker only got an .81 ranking dropping the class to #35 with a per player ranking of .8648 with 25 commits. OM just moved past us with only 13 commits , #31, .9010 avg ranking per player, (No big $urprise). The remaining SEC teams will also pass us as they fill their classes and we will be last in the conference in with a class in the high '40's, HS recruiting, Unless, some of these guys blow up in their SR seasons and we manage to hold on to them in December. Also really bothers me that we have gone from DLU to not getting any highly regarded MS DL. Thought that was one of the reasons we kept Turner. But every top player wants $$$$$. To end up last in the SEC in HS recruiting class makes me really question this "staff" on and off the field if this does happen. Long way until December, but only one borderline 4 star at this point? How long since this has happened? We must win quickly and look exciting doing it on both sides of the ball. Who wants to go to an 2-10, 0-8 program in this NIL world to boot?

[Pancho]

even the ones who aren't very good want $$$

[ZedFedder]

Regardless of the what, how, or why, we are losing the battle in a major way in recruiting. There is no way around it.

[Pancho]

gotta win some

[Goldendawg]

Update: Class national ranking has dropped to #36, 25 commits, .8646 avg player ranking. Only one borderline 4 star There are about a dozen or so name programs with a higher avg player ranking that will easily pass us as they fill their slots. Long way until December but without some of these guys blowing up their SR year and us keeping those who do, this class could easily finish 50th in the nation and last in the SEC. Must win some this season and look competitive and fun to watch in losses to change the perception of our program and get some quality flips.

[DownwardDawg]

Agree. We need a mix. We also need the good but "want to be MSU" guys (Taylor). Don't sleep on the guys that are very good 3 stars but high character, leaders too. We've had a bunch over the years and these guys are winners. That is how we win. We'll never win the glamor or $$ war and never have.

Jonathon Banks instantly came to mind.

[bulldawg28]

The Hill rb from Tupelo carried them through the season and winning the state championship in 7A by himself at times. Dude is easily a high ranked 4 star pushing low 5 star. To be ranked a 3 star is pure comedy and bias. He's been the best player in their team the last 3 years.

[R2Dawg]

The Hill rb from Tupelo carried them through the season and winning the state championship in 7A by himself at times. Dude is easily a high ranked 4 star pushing low 5 star. To be ranked a 3 star is pure comedy and bias. He's been the best player in their team the last 3 years.

We are MSU, kid gonna lose a star and half just coming to us. Been going on for years. We'll take your Chris Jones 2 star and rankings can shove it.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We are MSU, kid gonna lose a star and half just coming to us. Been going on for years. We'll take your Chris Jones 2 star and rankings can shove it.

Except that Chris was a 5 star. Was rated the second best player in the country by signing day.

[ZedFedder]

Hill is criminally underrated, but this class is still very underwhelming. Really bad defensively.

[Todd4State]

The Hill rb from Tupelo carried them through the season and winning the state championship in 7A by himself at times. Dude is easily a high ranked 4 star pushing low 5 star. To be ranked a 3 star is pure comedy and bias. He's been the best player in their team the last 3 years.

This has been an issue for years and I'm not sure how to correct it. Kamario Taylor was laughably underrated last year. And that was after performing well at Elite 11.

[StarkVegasSteve]

This has been an issue for years and I'm not sure how to correct it. Kamario Taylor was laughably underrated last year. And that was after performing well at Elite 11.

They don't really respect the overall talent level of MS HS football. Because for every Kamario Taylor superhuman there's a 5'10 CB that runs a 5.1 he's playing against, especially at the 3A level.

[BuckyIsAB****]

The Hill rb from Tupelo carried them through the season and winning the state championship in 7A by himself at times. Dude is easily a high ranked 4 star pushing low 5 star. To be ranked a 3 star is pure comedy and bias. He's been the best player in their team the last 3 years.

Hes a legit SEC player. A lot of teams wont want him as a RB cause he will prolly run a 4.6-4.8 but he plays faster than that. Can catch, can block. He could end up a hell of a ILB

[BuckyIsAB****]

They don't really respect the overall talent level of MS HS football. Because for every Kamario Taylor superhuman there's a 5'10 CB that runs a 5.1 he's playing against, especially at the 3A level.

It?s the same way in Alabama, Louisiana, etc.

If our state would ever stand up for itself we would look a lot better. We played the MS AL game short handed and in AL every year forever until here lately. And the tide has turned a bit. Even when we have lost it has been a close game. And everyone loves to say how talented AL HSFB is. We have been right there with them

[maroonmania]

It?s the same way in Alabama, Louisiana, etc.

If our state would ever stand up for itself we would look a lot better. We played the MS AL game short handed and in AL every year forever until here lately. And the tide has turned a bit. Even when we have lost it has been a close game. And everyone loves to say how talented AL HSFB is. We have been right there with them

I'm not really sure it matters if the vast majority of the state's elite players are all going to go out of state. Everyone has a right to make their own school choice for whatever reason (NIL money, chance to win something, etc.) but it sure would be nice if the HS players in state had more loyalty to the in state schools. We've always had more than our share to leave the state if given the opportunity but now with NIL, we can't seem to keep any of them. This year we are having trouble even getting some of them to visit.

[Coach34]

Mississippi recruits are super talented just as the rest of the southern states- just less refined and a little more dumb. Miss recruits just need a little more growth usually on the college level. Thats why Mullen was so successful. He found the guys that needed developing and developed them. The portal has hurt this state on that

[bulldawg28]

Hes a legit SEC player. A lot of teams wont want him as a RB cause he will prolly run a 4.6-4.8 but he plays faster than that. Can catch, can block. He could end up a hell of a ILB

He's faster than a 4.6 and definitely not an LB over a RB. Dude is gifted with the ball in his hands.

[Political Hack]

Except that Chris was a 5 star. Was rated the second best player in the country by signing day.

He committed as a 2-star. Everyone panicked about taking a 2-star kid so early. I told everyone he was better than Kimdichee (sp?) and got laughed off the board. Pretty funny.

[Political Hack]

Mississippi recruits are super talented just as the rest of the southern states- just less refined and a little more dumb. Miss recruits just need a little more growth usually on the college level. Thats why Mullen was so successful. He found the guys that needed developing and developed them. The portal has hurt this state on that

The portal is killing development. It's almost not a job requirement for a college coach anymore.

[R2Dawg]

Except that Chris was a 5 star. Was rated the second best player in the country by signing day.

Yes I know but he was a 2 star when we got him. If he had not blown up people in camp that summer, he would have signed a nobody that turned into top DL in nation.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yes I know but he was a 2 star when we got him. If he had not blown up people in camp that summer, he would have signed a nobody that turned into top DL in nation.

Except he didn't blow up at any summer camp. Hevesy and Mullen kept him from going to camp at Bama and LSU. He was a 3 star by the time the end of the season rolled around. He went down to the MS/AL game and showed out and then went to the UA AA game and blew up. That's when the hype kicked into overdrive

[R2Dawg]

Except he didn't blow up at any summer camp. Hevesy and Mullen kept him from going to camp at Bama and LSU. He was a 3 star by the time the end of the season rolled around. He went down to the MS/AL game and showed out and then went to the UA AA game and blew up. That's when the hype kicked into overdrive

May be, I just remember he was #2 in nation by signing day.

[Political Hack]

May be, I just remember he was #2 in nation by signing day.

He had moved schools multiple times and was completely raw. No one had heard of him until the summer before his Sr season. He went to State's camp and the coaches were trying to keep him hidden. It didn't work. He blew up but he stuck to his commitment.

[BuckyIsAB****]

He's faster than a 4.6 and definitely not an LB over a RB. Dude is gifted with the ball in his hands.

I doubt he runs a 4.6. He can catch and do all of it. Im just telling you why he?s rated where he is. Probably because of 40 time at camos and he?s committed to us

[sack07]

I doubt he runs a 4.6. He can catch and do all of it. Im just telling you why he?s rated where he is. Probably because of 40 time at camos and he?s committed to us

He is 10x the football player that Branson Robinson was.

[Political Hack]

Recruiting used to be (1) can they play? (2) what are their measureables?


Now it's (1) what are their measureables? (2) how big is their social media presence. (3) how much is he going to costs? (4) can they play?

[ZedFedder]

Tylan Wilson to TAMU. Another Mississippi 4 star.

[Todd4State]

Recruiting used to be (1) can they play? (2) what are their measureables?


Now it's (1) what are their measureables? (2) how big is their social media presence. (3) how much is he going to costs? (4) can they play?

Yep!

[R2Dawg]

Recruiting used to be (1) can they play? (2) what are their measureables?


Now it's (1) what are their measureables? (2) how big is their social media presence. (3) how much is he going to costs? (4) can they play?

Agree and in that list, where is the intangebles? Problem is he got no heart.

We gotta be smart on who we get. Remember the year we had the big 5star DL and the 2 star DB from the same HS. The DL was a bust and the DB was Tavez Calhoun who was a stud. Give me more of that.

[Political Hack]

Quay Evans vs Willie Gay

[Pancho]

kiffin had a player shot and killed last night in cordova TN

[StarkVegasSteve]

Tylan Wilson to TAMU. Another Mississippi 4 star.

Ole Miss and State both have an issue with in state kids right now. No matter what ranking you look at, Ole Miss has one top 10 commitment and we have none. Tennessee has more than the both of us combined. Sac State has one, Texas has one, A&M now has one, Bama has one. LSU has one or two depending on which ranking you use.

Like it's not a Mississippi State problem. It's a statewide problem. Now, if we show live this year I think there's a few that will come back into the fold, mainly the Tennessee guys. But it's still a huge worry.

[ZedFedder]

Ole Miss and State both have an issue with in state kids right now. No matter what ranking you look at, Ole Miss has one top 10 commitment and we have none. Tennessee has more than the both of us combined. Sac State has one, Texas has one, A&M now has one, Bama has one. LSU has one or two depending on which ranking you use.

Like it's not a Mississippi State problem. It's a statewide problem. Now, if we show live this year I think there's a few that will come back into the fold, mainly the Tennessee guys. But it's still a huge worry.

The difference is that OM is getting four star guys from other states.

[Goldendawg]

Update or maybe more accurately a "Downdate". We have now dropped to a national ranking of #37 and still have only 1 borderline 4 star and 24 three stars, (many with very questionable offer sheets). There are approximately 18 name programs that are behind us but have a higher per player ranking and many spots to fill that will likely pass us. Long way until December and a genespage article mentioned some of these players may be processed for other programs' processed players before signing day in this NIL madness. We better hope some of the guys blow up their Senior year and we can keep them also. If not, this class could end up in the high 40's or low 50's, probably the worse class in my long State life.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Update or maybe more accurately a "Downdate". We have now dropped to a national ranking of #37 and still have only 1 borderline 4 star and 24 three stars, (many with very questionable offer sheets). There are approximately 18 name programs that are behind us but have a higher per player ranking and many spots to fill that will likely pass us. Long way until December and a genespage article mentioned some of these players may be processed for other programs' processed players before signing day in this NIL madness. We better hope some of the guys blow up their Senior year and we can keep them also. If not, this class could end up in the high 40's or low 50's, probably the worse class in my long State life.

Out of those 24 three stars I would expect at least 5-6 to get processed.

[maroonmania]

Update or maybe more accurately a "Downdate". We have now dropped to a national ranking of #37 and still have only 1 borderline 4 star and 24 three stars, (many with very questionable offer sheets). There are approximately 18 name programs that are behind us but have a higher per player ranking and many spots to fill that will likely pass us. Long way until December and a genespage article mentioned some of these players may be processed for other programs' processed players before signing day in this NIL madness. We better hope some of the guys blow up their Senior year and we can keep them also. If not, this class could end up in the high 40's or low 50's, probably the worse class in my long State life.

I know its not of the same importance as it used to be with the transfer portal available, but I've been keeping up with recruiting to some degree since the Felker days and this is the worst HS recruiting class I can remember.

[vv83]

@Mods can you take down the 2025 sticky and sticky this one?

[Cardinal]

Trust Lebby to coach them up!

[Goldendawg]

@Mods can you take down the 2025 sticky and sticky this one?

I started both of these threads. The 2025 recruiting thread started on 4/25/24 with the last post being made on 2/4/25. I asked for it to be stickied. Through it's life, it got 639 replies, 251,449 views and was quickly rated five stars. I started the 2026 recruiting thread. It has been up since 6/11/25. It liked to have never got enough interest to be rated five stars. It is a long way to December signing day, but something positive better happen to this class before then. To date, it has 122 replies and only 15,694 views. Even I have little hope for the 2025 season and this class could easily end up with the worst rating of any high school class since I have been following it since 1963. Some say high school recruiting doesn't mean much anymore, but that being said I dare say we would take many of the players committed from schools ranked 1-36 and even some who will eventually pass us. Football is about dead at MSU including this site and I hate to see it.

[Goldendawg]

Update: As I predicted our HS class has just dropped to a National ranking of #44 with 15 known name schools behind us with a higher per player ranking and spots to fill. Someone posted that we would probably process 5 to 6 of these 25 commits before signing day. And just who do we replace them with, other processed players from other schools hoping they are better prospects? Right now our long list of targets on 24/7 has only 2 prospects who are even listed as "warm" toward us. Some of these 25 have offer sheets that are very lack luster for the SEC. Maybe some of these guys blow up their SR year, but can we keep them in that scenario? This has the makings of the worse ranked HS recruiting class in my long MSU life. Time will tell. Better be some real diamonds in the rough that we have now. I hope something good is going on behind the scenes that only our coaches know about.

[MrCoachKlein]

Yeah, it's not looking good. Only optimistic thing I can think of is maybe he's finding the diamonds in the rough that fit his system. I'll give that view a 0.1% chance. To be fair baseball coach change up probably stole some of the excitement from recruiting news.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah, it's not looking good. Only optimistic thing I can think of is maybe he's finding the diamonds in the rough that fit his system. I'll give that view a 0.1% chance. To be fair baseball coach change up probably stole some of the excitement from recruiting news.

TRANSFER. PORTAL. I've said this for two years now, we're going to be portal heavy until next year. We may have 23 commitments right now, but we'll end up with 15-17 and we'll portal the rest. Now next year we may go 20-22 HS recruits but we have to get immediate depth and difference makers. We can't wait 2-3 years for guys to develop.

[msugolf]

TRANSFER. PORTAL. I've said this for two years now, we're going to be portal heavy until next year. We may have 23 commitments right now, but we'll end up with 15-17 and we'll portal the rest. Now next year we may go 20-22 HS recruits but we have to get immediate depth and difference makers. We can't wait 2-3 years for guys to develop.

Shhhh. Dont even try with them. They would rather melt and freak out. Some folks arent happy unless they are miserable

[Tripp McNeely]

TRANSFER. PORTAL. I've said this for two years now, we're going to be portal heavy until next year. We may have 23 commitments right now, but we'll end up with 15-17 and we'll portal the rest. Now next year we may go 20-22 HS recruits but we have to get immediate depth and difference makers. We can't wait 2-3 years for guys to develop.

Not a bad strategy actually, especially since it should be easier to recruit 2027 kids (and we seem to have really good "ins" with the top MS kids at least) if we can string together 5-6 wins. Selling 2-10 to 26' kids has been a struggle to say the least

[MrCoachKlein]

Shhhh. Dont even try with them. They would rather melt and freak out. Some folks arent happy unless they are miserable

Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not miserable or freaking out. I understand we need to be portal heavy like SVS said. These 2 things aren't mutually exclusive. We need to be portal heavy and the current recruiting class is pretty lackluster.

[Goldendawg]

Update: Had fallen to #45 nationally, but got a commit from Fl yesterday , IOL, .86 6'3", 300 lbs., very impressive offer sheet for a welcome change. Moved us back to #44, 26 commits all 3 stars. Loadholt seems to be working hard to get his type players for the OL for the future. Still at least 15 programs that will pass this class in ranking unless some blow up their SR year and we keep them or process some and replace with higher ranked players. Long way until December but this class is very concerning at this point.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Update: Had fallen to #45 nationally, but got a commit from Fl yesterday , IOL, .86 6'3", 300 lbs., very impressive offer sheet for a welcome change. Moved us back to #44, 26 commits all 3 stars. Loadholt seems to be working hard to get his type players for the OL for the future. Still at least 15 programs that will pass this class in ranking unless some blow up their SR year and we keep them or process some and replace with higher ranked players. Long way until December but this class is very concerning at this point.

I think if we can get off to a good start, we'll process some and see those JA guys come on board, at least White. Albert may be too far gone.

[Goldendawg]

I think if we can get off to a good start, we'll process some and see those JA guys come on board, at least White. Albert may be too far gone.

Hope you are right. How many years has it been that we didn't even get one 4 star?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Hope you are right. How many years has it been that we didn't even get one 4 star?

It would be a first since I started following it in like 05ish. Of course I would love to know the last time that neither Mississippi State/OM/Southern Miss had ZERO commits from anyone in the top 5 in the state.

[Goldendawg]

Update: Commit #27 - 6'2" 195 WR from Copiah Lincoln, 1st JUCO. Not rated at this time so we are still at #44 national ranking.

[Brobi-wan]

I miss those big bodied receivers we used to have on that 2014 squad.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I miss those big bodied receivers we used to have on that 2014 squad.

Those were just projects that worked out. I mean Wilson was Mr. Basketball in Alabama and Fred Brown was just a raw athlete from Jim Hill.

[Todd4State]

Those were just projects that worked out. I mean Wilson was Mr. Basketball in Alabama and Fred Brown was just a raw athlete from Jim Hill.

I saw Fred Brown play when he was at Jim Hill. I would just say he was underrated moreso than he was raw.

He and Dan had some issues.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I saw Fred Brown play when he was at Jim Hill. I would just say he was underrated moreso than he was raw.

He and Dan had some issues.

He had some issues as well. Got caught plagiarizing like 4 times. The swept the first two times under the rug.....which by the way.....was an underrated quality of Dan's. Yea we had some guys get in trouble or get arrested during his tenure but a lot of stuff got swept under the rug. Heck Nick James should've gotten a DUI every weekend he was here but Mullen literally just had the cops follow him home from the bars every night.

And then there was the Pita Pit incident......IYKYK.

[Todd4State]

He had some issues as well. Got caught plagiarizing like 4 times. The swept the first two times under the rug.....which by the way.....was an underrated quality of Dan's. Yea we had some guys get in trouble or get arrested during his tenure but a lot of stuff got swept under the rug. Heck Nick James should've gotten a DUI every weekend he was here but Mullen literally just had the cops follow him home from the bars every night.

And then there was the Pita Pit incident......IYKYK.

Yeah- I'm sure that definitely went both ways with Dan and Brown for sure.

If you are coaching at MSU you definitely have to get in good with the Starkville police department.

[KOdawg1]

Going to be the worst HS class we've signed in years.

[DawgFromOxford]

Going to be the worst HS class we've signed in years.

Probably a mix but is it due to this staff can?t recruit? We aren?t putting forth the funds necessary to recruit well? Kids don?t want to play for 2-10? Other reasons?

[Brobi-wan]

Probably a mix but is it due to this staff can?t recruit? We aren?t putting forth the funds necessary to recruit well? Kids don?t want to play for 2-10? Other reasons?

Kids don’t want to play for two and ten. The kids who will play for us are doing it for money. They’ll also just leave when they’re offered more. Going to have to win a year or two with some mercs and then get some local kids to buy in.

[Todd4State]

Probably a mix but is it due to this staff can?t recruit? We aren?t putting forth the funds necessary to recruit well? Kids don?t want to play for 2-10? Other reasons?

It seems like the offensive staff is doing much better than the defensive staff right now. I just can't see the defensive staff hanging around much longer without significant changes.

[Goldendawg]

Kids don’t want to play for two and ten. The kids who will play for us are doing it for money. They’ll also just leave when they’re offered more. Going to have to win a year or two with some mercs and then get some local kids to buy in.

Still #44 with 27 commits and an unranked JUCO WR. I just counted 16 more name teams that have a higher average ranking per committed player and spots to fill that could easily pass this class. Some on here have said that HS recruiting is not important anymore with the portal. Here are my two questions: !. Would you take many of the HS recruits on the 43 teams ranked ahead of us right now? 2. Can you process some players and beat the teams ranked ahead of us with their processed players? This class looks like a major disappoint that will get worse before signing day unless we win some games in '25 and look good and exciting in the losses. A couple of 5 or 6 wins need to be in SEC games also. JMO.

[Brobi-wan]

Still #44 with 27 commits and an unranked JUCO WR. I just counted 16 more name teams that have a higher average ranking per committed player and spots to fill that could easily pass this class. Some on here have said that HS recruiting is not important anymore with the portal. Here are my two questions: !. Would you take many of the HS recruits on the 43 teams ranked ahead of us right now? 2. Can you process some players and beat the teams ranked ahead of us with their processed players? This class looks like a major disappoint that will get worse before signing day unless we win some games in '25 and look good and exciting in the losses. A couple of 5 or 6 wins need to be in SEC games also. JMO.

You’re right. High school is less important. It hasn’t reached unimportance. I think we’ll be okay long term…IF we win in the next couple of years. We need 2 SEC wins.

[Todd4State]

Still #44 with 27 commits and an unranked JUCO WR. I just counted 16 more name teams that have a higher average ranking per committed player and spots to fill that could easily pass this class. Some on here have said that HS recruiting is not important anymore with the portal. Here are my two questions: !. Would you take many of the HS recruits on the 43 teams ranked ahead of us right now? 2. Can you process some players and beat the teams ranked ahead of us with their processed players? This class looks like a major disappoint that will get worse before signing day unless we win some games in '25 and look good and exciting in the losses. A couple of 5 or 6 wins need to be in SEC games also. JMO.

It also looks a lot like Dan Mullen's typical class. You have a couple of studs like JJ Hill and then you have a bunch of diamonds in the rough like Nickerson.

[Tripp McNeely]

It also looks a lot like Dan Mullen's typical class. You have a couple of studs like JJ Hill and then you have a bunch of diamonds in the rough like Nickerson.

I think the issue that most have is the word "bunch" that you use. You have a couple, like Nickerson, but most of these guys are not those "raw" athletes that Mullen would recruit and develop...a LOT of these guys have neither the production nor the physical attributes that could lead to the hope that they'll develop into productive SEC players!

[Goldendawg]

I think the issue that most have is the word "bunch" that you use. You have a couple, like Nickerson, but most of these guys are not those "raw" athletes that Mullen would recruit and develop...a LOT of these guys have neither the production nor the physical attributes that could lead to the hope that they'll develop into productive SEC players!

This class could easily end up ranked in the mid 50's. To date, there is not a single 4 star. As much as Dan hated recruiting, did he ever have a HS class ranked this poorly? Having a few "diamonds in the rough" is fine and we have developed some NFL players from these type MS players in the past. Check the offer sheets of the majority of these commits, it is very concerning. Hard to recruit to 2-10, 0-8 with a bunch of unknown coaches with an OTJ training HC (again) and an OTJ training DC. We must win our share in 2025 and look good in the losses. Only way to change this. Time will quickly tell.

[Bothrops]

This class could easily end up ranked in the mid 50's. To date, there is not a single 4 star. As much as Dan hated recruiting, did he ever have a HS class ranked this poorly? Having a few "diamonds in the rough" is fine and we have developed some NFL players from these type MS players in the past. Check the offer sheets of the majority of these commits, it is very concerning. Hard to recruit to 2-10, 0-8 with a bunch of unknown coaches with an OTJ training HC (again) and an OTJ training DC. We must win our share in 2025 and look good in the losses. Only way to change this. Time will quickly tell.

The rankings are not entirely on the coaches. Our only 4 star got bumped down after he committed. And the best RB in the state is committed to us and has been completely ignored by the recruiting services. I dont expect this to ever change now. They are showing you they're ****ing you is what it boils down to.

[ZedFedder]

Another Mississippi four star to an out of state school. Jase Matthews to Auburn.

[ZedFedder]

And yes, OM is not getting them either. The difference is they are pulling a good many four stars from out of state. We have to turn the tide here at some point.

[StarkVegasSteve]

And yes, OM is not getting them either. The difference is they are pulling a good many four stars from out of state. We have to turn the tide here at some point.

I'm interested to see how many of those stick. Lane doesn't really like recruiting at the HS level and if he sees some deficiencies in his roster this season, he's not going to wait 2 years to develop a HS kid. He'll process them, no matter how many stars they have, and go get a guy out of the portal.

[maroonmania]

It also looks a lot like Dan Mullen's typical class. You have a couple of studs like JJ Hill and then you have a bunch of diamonds in the rough like Nickerson.

I don't believe Mullen ever had a class ranked this low but just going off memory. But then again HS recruiting was more important back then. Biggest thing is we don't want to keep flipping the roster every year. Not only does it kill continuity in the program, it is very expensive. We have got to bring in SOME HS recruits that can play in the SEC and are willing to stick with us. To me, that is why it is so concerning how poorly we are doing in state. You would at least think MS recruits would be more willing to stick with us if they become solid SEC contributors than guys from out of state.

[Todd4State]

I don't believe Mullen ever had a class ranked this low but just going off memory. But then again HS recruiting was more important back then. Biggest thing is we don't want to keep flipping the roster every year. Not only does it kill continuity in the program, it is very expensive. We have got to bring in SOME HS recruits that can play in the SEC and are willing to stick with us. To me, that is why it is so concerning how poorly we are doing in state. You would at least think MS recruits would be more willing to stick with us if they become solid SEC contributors than guys from out of state.

Dan would have to have a completely different strategy now with the portal for sure.

I don't know what's going on in state with recruiting because it's not like Ole Miss is just cleaning up with them either.

The thing about the portal is it kind of goes both ways. If you are a player from Mississippi you can take a chance on yourself and go to Bama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn because if things work out then you start at a blueblood and maybe you win a NC. If they recruit over you then MSU is probably always an option. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up getting a lot of players back in the next few years. We've already seen that happen with several players like Stone Blanton, Cole Smith, Scott Lashley, and Jaekwon Bouldin...and even guys like Ayden Williams who went to Ole Miss although Ole Miss has gotten more guys from us thus far.

Back when Dan was the coach your options were MSU or JUCO if you were still a freshman or Jackson State if you didn't want to sit out a year. One BIG problem with Dan is his ego and the fact that he would hold grudges against recruits sometimes. With the portal you can't do that.

I will say that if we are going to keep players that are developmental it's a lot more likely that we're going to keep them if they are from Mississippi rather than Georgia or Florida.

[basedog]

Dan would have to have a completely different strategy now with the portal for sure.

I don't know what's going on in state with recruiting because it's not like Ole Miss is just cleaning up with them either.

The thing about the portal is it kind of goes both ways. If you are a player from Mississippi you can take a chance on yourself and go to Bama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn because if things work out then you start at a blueblood and maybe you win a NC. If they recruit over you then MSU is probably always an option. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up getting a lot of players back in the next few years. We've already seen that happen with several players like Stone Blanton, Cole Smith, Scott Lashley, and Jaekwon Bouldin...and even guys like Ayden Williams who went to Ole Miss although Ole Miss has gotten more guys from us thus far.

Back when Dan was the coach your options were MSU or JUCO if you were still a freshman or Jackson State if you didn't want to sit out a year. One BIG problem with Dan is his ego and the fact that he would hold grudges against recruits sometimes. With the portal you can't do that.

I will say that if we are going to keep players that are developmental it's a lot more likely that we're going to keep them if they are from Mississippi rather than Georgia or Florida.

Two things Todd you said:
1) I don't know what's going on in state with recruiting because it's not like Ole Miss is just cleaning up with them either.
I think the NIL is or was an advantage for the blue bloods especially in the very beginning. Bit slowly other programs have gained a little mo and understand how to deal with the NIL.

2) I will say that if we are going to keep players that are developmental it's a lot more likely that we're going to keep them if they are from Mississippi rather than Georgia or Florida.
You nailed this comment. One thing about Mississippi High School football. We have a lot of small towns and many football programs have lots of say 2-star players, one reason is lack of money for faculties like in the weight room. Another reason is lack of media attention in some of the small towns.

I will add, With Lebby he was unknown as a HC because he is young. Sometimes a first year HC is like a freshman football player, he has to grow and learn what it takes. I do believe Lebby is a fast learner and given time he will be ok at Msu.

[Goldendawg]

We just dropped to #45. There are also about 18 name programs that have many slots to fill with much higher average player ranking than us. This is very troublesome. The only way I see to prevent the worst high school class in my 62 years of following state since I was 8 years of age is to win enough games this year to change some minds. We may have to process several on this commitment list and flip some better players that 44 teams ahead of us and more to come think are better prospects.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We just dropped to #45. There are also about 18 name programs that have many slots to fill with much higher average player ranking than us. This is very troublesome. The only way I see to prevent the worst high school class in my 62 years of following state since I was 8 years of age is to win enough games this year to change some minds. We may have to process several on this commitment list and flip some better players that 44 teams ahead of us and more to come think are better prospects.

We're going to go portal heavy again. Some of them will be processed yes, but some of the guys we got are being brought in for depth too. I would say, AT THIS POINT, there's only about 5-7 HS guys from any state on our board that we would take a commitment from. I mean you obviously take a kid like Bralan Womack, Tristan Keys, or Nolan Wilson if they called but they're not calling. None of those guys had any interest in either State or OM. Now to the realistic guys, a guy like TJ White you would take and I think there's a better than average chance he ends up in our class. Dereon Albert would be a take if he called. I don't think he will, but there's a chance. He's more set on out of state than White. Jase Matthews is another kid we'd take if he called. I think he's going to end up at either State or OM, but I can't say right now. Now on the flip side, if Xavier McDonald called either State or OM right now, I don't think either would take a commitment. A guy like Emmanuel Tucker, I don't think he'll decommit from LSU, but they could drop him. I don't think if he called we'd take his commitment after he decommitted from us and kind of ghosted Loadholt in the process. I think Kavon Conciauro from Houston Co in GA would be a take if he decommitted from Duke and I think he ends up in our class.


Overall I think this class is still going to be VERY portal heavy. I think 27 will be the first year you really see us after HS kids hard again. And look, this staff doesn't prioritize HS recruiting as much. They prioritize 12-15 guys a class and if they don't get those guys they're not going to pivot to a development who will leave in 2 years and never contribute jack squat. They'll go get a transfer. It's a lot like how OM is recruiting these days.

[ZedFedder]

Bralan Womack to Auburn

[Todd4State]

We're going to go portal heavy again. Some of them will be processed yes, but some of the guys we got are being brought in for depth too. I would say, AT THIS POINT, there's only about 5-7 HS guys from any state on our board that we would take a commitment from. I mean you obviously take a kid like Bralan Womack, Tristan Keys, or Nolan Wilson if they called but they're not calling. None of those guys had any interest in either State or OM. Now to the realistic guys, a guy like TJ White you would take and I think there's a better than average chance he ends up in our class. Dereon Albert would be a take if he called. I don't think he will, but there's a chance. He's more set on out of state than White. Jase Matthews is another kid we'd take if he called. I think he's going to end up at either State or OM, but I can't say right now. Now on the flip side, if Xavier McDonald called either State or OM right now, I don't think either would take a commitment. A guy like Emmanuel Tucker, I don't think he'll decommit from LSU, but they could drop him. I don't think if he called we'd take his commitment after he decommitted from us and kind of ghosted Loadholt in the process. I think Kavon Conciauro from Houston Co in GA would be a take if he decommitted from Duke and I think he ends up in our class.


Overall I think this class is still going to be VERY portal heavy. I think 27 will be the first year you really see us after HS kids hard again. And look, this staff doesn't prioritize HS recruiting as much. They prioritize 12-15 guys a class and if they don't get those guys they're not going to pivot to a development who will leave in 2 years and never contribute jack squat. They'll go get a transfer. It's a lot like how OM is recruiting these days.

One way to look at it as far as 2029 goes.

We have our QB in KT

We have our RB in JJ Hill

Just need to build around that group in 2027 and the portal.

[DEDawg]

One way to look at it as far as 2029 goes.

We have our QB in KT

We have our RB in JJ Hill

Just need to build around that group in 2027 and the portal.

I like playing the long game and just getting better each year. At our best, we are a 9 win team every 3-4 years anyway. I also think the portal will be drastically different by 2029

[archdog]

My nephew, who was in the QB room at Missouri last year, entered the portal late and never found a landing spot.
Sooner or later, the portal is going to be dangerous for kids to jump into unless they do not have a place to land immediately.
The student athletes are going to be slow to learn this, but every single cycle there are players that don't find a place to land and the lose their scholarships the second they hit the portal.

[Todd4State]

I like playing the long game and just getting better each year. At our best, we are a 9 win team every 3-4 years anyway. I also think the portal will be drastically different by 2029

It would be awesome if we could get to the point where we are a consistent 9 win team every year.

[Dawgology]

My nephew, who was in the QB room at Missouri last year, entered the portal late and never found a landing spot.
Sooner or later, the portal is going to be dangerous for kids to jump into unless they do not have a place to land immediately.
The student athletes are going to be slow to learn this, but every single cycle there are players that don't find a place to land and the lose their scholarships the second they hit the portal.

I read a stat somewhere but now I can’t remember the exact number, it was high though. The amount of kids that don’t find a place to land and lose their scholarship and end up out of college is staggering if the number was correct. The portal is incredibly bad for STUDENT athletes.

[Todd4State]

I read a stat somewhere but now I can’t remember the exact number, it was high though. The amount of kids that don’t find a place to land and lose their scholarship and end up out of college is staggering if the number was correct. The portal is incredibly bad for STUDENT athletes.

A lot of them don't have a choice though. I think a lot of them enter after they get cut and are just trying to see if they can find a landing spot so they can see what their options are.

[Goldendawg]

I read a stat somewhere but now I can’t remember the exact number, it was high though. The amount of kids that don’t find a place to land and lose their scholarship and end up out of college is staggering if the number was correct. The portal is incredibly bad for STUDENT athletes.

And the NCAA and the courts who opened this Wild, Wild, West" portal with no rule$ are mute on this. So much for "Student Athletes". A degree opportunity which can still be life changing for the 95% or so which will never sniff the league without buying a ticket for a game is gone for the vast majority.

[Goldendawg]

We have moved up from #45 to #44 with the same 28 commits, no four stars. Four star Emanuel Tucker from New Albany, now listed as a DL, who decommited from us months ago committed to OM yesterday. What has happened to our reputation as DLU? OM now #25 with only 16 commits. We better win tonight and several more during this year to get some much needed attention that our program is now in an upward direction to salvage our 2026 class. It will easiiy drop into the 50's by December signing day if it retains these same 28 players.

BTW: 43 teams ahead of us at this time seem to still think HS recruiting matters to implement with the portal.

[DEDawg]

I imagine we had a ton of recruits in the stands tonight. That has to go a long way

[Pancho]

there were several who we need to flip

[ZedFedder]

At some point they had to see some evidence, and they got it.

[bulldawg28]

If high school kids don't see it it sure helps with the portal.

[StarkVegasSteve]

there were several who we need to flip

There were 3-4 flip candidates in the crowd. I think there's a good chance we flip 2-3 of them.

[ZedFedder]

Those kind of things go a long way. I don't know much about recruiting, but I really hope this helps us make a run at some of these higher profile Mississippi kids.

[Todd4State]

Those kind of things go a long way. I don't know much about recruiting, but I really hope this helps us make a run at some of these higher profile Mississippi kids.

Me too. It seems like most of them don't even give us the time of day. But wins like Arizona State can change perception.

[Goldendawg]

Me too. It seems like most of them don't even give us the time of day. But wins like Arizona State can change perception.

And yet the number 19 prospect in MS, a DL rated .88 commits to OM yesterday. My, have we fallen from being DLU. Winning more will help correct this as most higher ranked athletes want to play for a winner, not help rebuild a losing program,

[StarkVegasSteve]

And yet the number 19 prospect in MS, a DL rated .88 commits to OM yesterday. My, have we fallen from being DLU. Winning more will help correct this as most higher ranked athletes want to play for a winner, not help rebuild a losing program,

I don't know if he would've called us we would've taken his commitment right now. I feel like he's a candidate to be processed by OM later on in the recruiting cycle.

I also know we made up some ground with Derion Albert and TJ White this weekend. We're trying to get them both here for Tennessee weekend.

[DEDawg]

And yet the number 19 prospect in MS, a DL rated .88 commits to OM yesterday. My, have we fallen from being DLU. Winning more will help correct this as most higher ranked athletes want to play for a winner, not help rebuild a losing program,

His dad is Dwayne Curtis

[ZedFedder]

I don't know if he would've called us we would've taken his commitment right now. I feel like he's a candidate to be processed by OM later on in the recruiting cycle.

I also know we made up some ground with Derion Albert and TJ White this weekend. We're trying to get them both here for Tennessee weekend.

Would be big to beat TN in front of them as TN commits.

[Pancho]

His dad is Dwayne Curtis

the guy who played basketball at ole miss?

[DEDawg]

the guy who played basketball at ole miss?

Yep the same

[KB21]

I think we will start seeing an upturn in our high school recruiting. Jeff Lebby has always been able to connect with the players. However, up until this point, he hasn't had proof of concept. He's starting to get that now. When we are 4-0 going into that Tennessee game, I imagine we will have a huge recruiting weekend that weekend. Play well in that game, and I think we can get some guys to flip that weren't considering us earlier in the process because of having just 6 wins over the past two seasons.

What Jeff's recruiting staff has done for the time being is target players who they deem to be undervalued. Now suddenly, a guy like Kaleb Morris has offers from Alabama and Auburn.

[BankerDog]

Lawrence Hopkins is an issue. Both for State and OM.

[ZedFedder]

Lawrence Hopkins is an issue. Both for State and OM.

Who is that?

[BankerDog]

Who is that?

A street agent based in MS. He really came on the scene when Emerick was still here. Was over Dodwell?s recruitment. Then over the Daniels kid at West Point as well as Waller?s and several more. If you look now, he is helping almost every one of the top players pushing them out of state.

And look, I get not wanting to pay these kids top dollar-if you have heard some of their asking prices as unproven HS kids; no way you?d give them the amount of money they?re asking. The Oatis kid last year at Ark now was wanting $300k?our starting QB this year is at $750K or so? why pay that money to a high school kid when you can get a FCS kid (Whittson) out of the portal for the same or a little bit more??

It?s also crazy that the guy who brought Womack to Hartfield is a former State player, multi millionaire now and we still couldn?t even get in the game with him. That?s how bad the street agent NIL game is right now.

[Pancho]

What is his cut?

[Todd4State]

A street agent based in MS. He really came on the scene when Emerick was still here. Was over Dodwell?s recruitment. Then over the Daniels kid at West Point as well as Waller?s and several more. If you look now, he is helping almost every one of the top players pushing them out of state.

And look, I get not wanting to pay these kids top dollar-if you have heard some of their asking prices as unproven HS kids; no way you?d give them the amount of money they?re asking. The Oatis kid last year at Ark now was wanting $300k?our starting QB this year is at $750K or so? why pay that money to a high school kid when you can get a FCS kid (Whittson) out of the portal for the same or a little bit more??

It?s also crazy that the guy who brought Womack to Hartfield is a former State player, multi millionaire now and we still couldn?t even get in the game with him. That?s how bad the street agent NIL game is right now.

It will be interesting to see if Hopkins moving on to the Army All American Bowl as a "talent scout" changes anything in Mississippi.

[Goldendawg]

Back up to #41 ranking with the same 28 commits, but many teams with a higher rating per player and many more slots to fill will pass us. Only way we move up is to keep winning, continue to gain attention that we are on an upward path and flip some higher rated players while processing some of our lowest ranked players. Having a few diamonds in the rough is one thing, but you no longer have the time to develop this many in today's wild, wild college sports world. Unless some of these players have a great senior year, we have no 4 stars. How long ago has this been the situation? Most teams ahead of us will be developing 4 stars and even some 5 stars. The concerning thing to me is also the poor offer sheets of many of our commits. Time will tell, but signing day grows closer by the day.

[Brobi-wan]

Back up to #41 ranking with the same 28 commits, but many teams with a higher rating per player and many more slots to fill will pass us. Only way we move up is to keep winning, continue to gain attention that we are on an upward path and flip some higher rated players while processing some of our lowest ranked players. Having a few diamonds in the rough is one thing, but you no longer have the time to develop this many in today's wild, wild college sports world. Unless some of these players have a great senior year, we have no 4 stars. How long ago has this been the situation? Most teams ahead of us will be developing 4 stars and even some 5 stars. The concerning thing to me is also the poor offer sheets of many of our commits. Time will tell, but signing day grows closer by the day.

OM is sitting the no. 1 WR in the nation (Not MS) on the bench this year. High school recruiting is nearly dead.

[Pancho]

no current guarantee that caleb plays quality minits for Lame next season which will result in portal activity

[Goldendawg]

OM is sitting the no. 1 WR in the nation (Not MS) on the bench this year. High school recruiting is nearly dead.

Respectfully disagree. A proper balance of HS/JC is still important along with the portal. Word here is that Cunningham is injured. You mean to say you wouldn't have wanted him when we are struggling to have a third receiver step forward? This situation is present even though we brought in multiple receivers from the portal for this season. I dare say you would take any of the four and even five stars that are committed to the top 25 teams ahead of us now, much less 26-40. Don't give me what appears to be sour grapes or we didn't want them anyway. There is a reason both us and Ole Miss have virtually none of the top players even in Mississippi committed at this time. We need a blend of both. Better to get as many of the top high school four stars that we can and hope they can contribute quickly with good coaching than to continuously take 40-60 portal players every year that many saw little playing time because they were behind the four and five star players many recruited from high school that they couldn't beat out for playing time. JMO.

[Brobi-wan]

Respectfully disagree. A proper balance of HS/JC is still important along with the portal. Word here is that Cunningham is injured. You mean to say you wouldn't have wanted him when we are struggling to have a third receiver step forward? This situation is present even though we brought in multiple receivers from the portal for this season. I dare say you would take any of the four and even five stars that are committed to the top 25 teams ahead of us now, much less 26-40. Don't give me what appears to be sour grapes or we didn't want them anyway. There is a reason both us and Ole Miss have virtually none of the top players even in Mississippi committed at this time. We need a blend of both. Better to get as many of the top high school four stars that we can and hope they can contribute quickly with good coaching than to continuously take 40-60 portal players every year that many saw little playing time because they were behind the four and five star players many recruited from high school that they couldn't beat out for playing time. JMO.

If I have to pay similar money for unproven high school recruits or even a D2 standout, I would take the division two guys. He would be older, have more quality snaps, and more muscle maturity. That’s just my take at this point. I can’t justify paying someone for them to “grow” into their next team. Just my take

[Pancho]

If they can't contribute in year 2 then don't pay them.

[Goldendawg]

If they can't contribute in year 2 then don't pay them.

Agree, whether HS, JC or Portal. This is Semi-Pro now. Earn your $ or gone. Still hard to justify this class at this time. Not a single 4 star with 40 teams ahead of us with many four stars. Keep winning, getting positive attention and make some flips of potentially better players before December. Hail State!

[Dawgology]

Highschool recruiting is basically pointless. ID 5-10 must haves in high school and go all in. The rest handle through the portal with proven talent.

[Todd4State]

Highschool recruiting is basically pointless. ID 5-10 must haves in high school and go all in. The rest handle through the portal with proven talent.

Probably need more like 15-20 than 5-10.

[Todd4State]

I think we will start seeing an upturn in our high school recruiting. Jeff Lebby has always been able to connect with the players. However, up until this point, he hasn't had proof of concept. He's starting to get that now. When we are 4-0 going into that Tennessee game, I imagine we will have a huge recruiting weekend that weekend. Play well in that game, and I think we can get some guys to flip that weren't considering us earlier in the process because of having just 6 wins over the past two seasons.

What Jeff's recruiting staff has done for the time being is target players who they deem to be undervalued. Now suddenly, a guy like Kaleb Morris has offers from Alabama and Auburn.

I'm sure TJ White will be at our game among others.

[Goldendawg]

Highschool recruiting is basically pointless. ID 5-10 must haves in high school and go all in. The rest handle through the portal with proven talent.

So you wouldn't take many of the 4 and 5 stars from the 40 teams ranked ahead of us, especially those who might contribute in year one or by year two in the program. Still think we need best MS players that we can get especially in DL. Why recruit and $ign the 28 we have committed to date HS/JC players at all unless for diamond in rough, Scout Team or warm bodies? We have no 4 stars at this point. A balance of good HS players and Portal players is needed, JMO. Look at the 60 or so we brought in this year, still waiting for a 3rd WR, better TE's, and of course DL and OL to step up. Of course beat TN, keep winning, 7-5 or 8-4 and recruiting will improve at all levels with better players. Winning solves everything.

[Dawgology]

So you wouldn't take many of the 4 and 5 stars from the 40 teams ranked ahead of us, especially those who might contribute in year one or by year two in the program. Still think we need best MS players that we can get especially in DL. Why recruit and $ign the 28 we have committed to date HS/JC players at all unless for diamond in rough, Scout Team or warm bodies? We have no 4 stars at this point. A balance of good HS players and Portal players is needed, JMO. Look at the 60 or so we brought in this year, still waiting for a 3rd WR, better TE's, and of course DL and OL to step up. Of course beat TN, keep winning, 7-5 or 8-4 and recruiting will improve at all levels with better players. Winning solves everything.

If I understand what you wrote that’s exactly what I’m saying. Go after 5-10 4-5 star players at needed positions out of high school but throw all high school resources at those with the expectation that they start getting snaps game one. Handle our other needs, warm bodies, proven talent through the portal grabbing 4 star guys that are riding the bench at blue blood programs or over performing at smaller schools. There’s no reason to waste resources on unproven high school players anymore.

[Goldendawg]

Update: Back down to #44 with 27 three stars, no four stars but a couple are close. Need to of course keep looking good and winning more to get flips in the future, especially some of the many best MS players of whom most are committed to out of state programs at this time. Still need the best HS players (that can make an impact within 2 years) that we can get to blend with great evaluation and signing of portal players. Hail State!

[Todd4State]

Update: Back down to #44 with 27 three stars, no four stars but a couple are close. Need to of course keep looking good and winning more to get flips in the future, especially some of the many best MS players of whom most are committed to out of state programs at this time. Still need the best HS players (that can make an impact within 2 years) that we can get to blend with great evaluation and signing of portal players. Hail State!

I think there is going to be a lot of coaching turnover in the SEC that is going to make things interesting this recruiting and portal cycle for us in a good way.

[DEDawg]

JJ Bush to Missouri. We literally can?t buy a 4 star this year.

[StarkVegasSteve]

JJ Bush to Missouri. We literally can?t buy a 4 star this year.

It's not cause we can't. It's because we don't want to. We don't want to overspend on HS players. It sucks but it's the truth. We're going to be portal heavy again this offseason and need most of our Rev Share for that. Also, Bush will decommit at least one more time. This is his 3rd commitment.

[BigDawg81]

Apparently, Lebby is having recruiting adjustments. I wonder what are the adjustments?

[DEDawg]

Apparently, Lebby is having recruiting adjustments. I wonder what are the adjustments?
My guess is some players we thought ran out of eligibility this year may be getting another year

[Goldendawg]

Apparently, Lebby is having recruiting adjustments. I wonder what are the adjustments?

Free article available on Genespage. Lebby personally broke the news to two of our recruits to look elsewhere. What's sad about this is that our national ranking only dropped from #43 to #44. This class could easily drop into the 50s if we keep all of these players. The ranking and worse than that, offer sheets of many these commits is very concerning.

[Tater]

Free article available on Genespage. Lebby personally broke the news to two of our recruits to look elsewhere. What's sad about this is that our national ranking only dropped from #43 to #44. This class could easily drop into the 50s if we keep all of these players. The ranking and worse than that, offer sheets of many these commits is very concerning.

Sign of the times. Roster turnover is huge. Until there are binding multi-year contracts - why spend money on a guy's freshman year and then have him bolt to LSU? Just get the developed guys to plug and play. Focus on cheap / free prospects in high school recruiting. About the only thing worth a damn to get is guys who play day 1 / stud QB.

[TrapGame]

My guess is some players we thought ran out of eligibility this year may be getting another year

Yep, Lebby said today the five for five situation is causing them to rethink the roster. So, it sounds like we are getting a few guys for an extra year.

[Todd4State]

Yep, Lebby said today the five for five situation is causing them to rethink the roster. So, it sounds like we are getting a few guys for an extra year.

I think it's very likely. Even if the NCAA doesn't grandfather the current players in I imagine that there would be a ton of lawsuits like Diego Pavia's and so I suspect the NCAA will go ahead and just bite the bullet and grandfather everyone in.

At the same time, there does need to be some kind of standard. Right now, you could go to JUCO and technically play football for 7 years if things go through as expected.

And if that happens I would imagine in the future we would start using JUCO's like minor league affiliates essentially and send guys like the ones we just processed there first to see if they develop and then add them. Almost no reason for a player that is a developmental guy to not do it because doing so doesn't cost you eligibility and if you don't pan out to be a SEC player USM is still an option. So, really nothing to lose except time.

[Todd4State]

Also, I would sincerely hope that MSU is making these decisions because they have a very good grasp of what is about to happen and I believe we do.

[Todd4State]

Sign of the times. Roster turnover is huge. Until there are binding multi-year contracts - why spend money on a guy's freshman year and then have him bolt to LSU? Just get the developed guys to plug and play. Focus on cheap / free prospects in high school recruiting. About the only thing worth a damn to get is guys who play day 1 / stud QB.

It's interesting in our situation because we are in a state that historically produces a ton of talent so everyone knows that there is talent in Mississippi. So, the higher end guys (I don't know that I can really call very many of them developed) end up going out of state a lot of times because unfortunately the Alabama, LSU, Georgia, etc. helmets are sexier than Mississippi State for now. And I think a lot of those players know that if they get recruited over, MSU is still an option. So, it's hard for MSU to get the higher end guys at this time- at least on the front end.

I think we need to still recruit them and get an many high end players as we can BUT at the same time I think to make sure our numbers don't get too out of whack we need to take some- probably more than most- developmental guys to try to fill depth and see if we hit on any of them. The reality is the portal goes both ways and the ones that don't develop we can always process out ourselves and then just replace them with someone from the portal.

I think that's the best way to have some balance there.

And then the players that are REALLY raw but athletic- send them to JUCO for a couple of years and see what happens and how the develop and use that as another avenue to add talent.

I think this is how we are going to have to manage this era in general.

[Pancho]

have an excellent year at some point with a team of 24 to 26 year olds

[TrapGame]

have an excellent year at some point with a team of 24 to 26 year olds

So like most BYU teams? ***

[Pancho]

yea, without ever leaving the country

[Goldendawg]

We have dropped from 44 to 46 nationally. We now have 22 commitments as three more decommitted or were told to look elsewhere. They were a safety from Georgia ranked #162 in the state with an 85 rating, an offensive tackle from Tennessee ranked #37 in the state with an 86 ranking, and a linebacker from Florida ranked #166 in the state with an 86 ranking. I expect to see more of this if the NCAA grants 5 years to play 5.

[Goldendawg]

Update: Have dropped to #48 with about 10 other programs that will pass us as they have a higher rating per player and many spots to fill. Yes, we need to work the portal very hard, but at this point 47 programs are ahead of us with much better HS prospects than us and still seem to think HS recruiting is important. We must win at least two SEC games and go bowling to flip some players and process some of these commits! There are only so many players that want to help rebuild a program vs. play for a winner, no matter how much $ that you throw at them. JMO.

[bulldawg28]

No need to worry about recruiting rankings. Just get the players you need from the portal. So far Lebby has shown he does a great job with getting the type of players needed for the team to be successful. I trust Lebby.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We are not going to pay a lot for HS players right now. We just aren't, especially the guys who aren't ready. We are going to be portal heavy again this year.

[Goldendawg]

We are not going to pay a lot for HS players right now. We just aren't, especially the guys who aren't ready. We are going to be portal heavy again this year.

So what's up with these 22 commits? Are they all cheap gets? How many are impact players early? How many are hopefully diamonds in the rough that we can develop in a couple of years? If these guys are the majority of what we end up with, is this our future Scout team? I think that there are a lot of sour grapes on this site because we are #48 nationally right now, so we are just going to be a portal program. The SEC teams we play seem to want and have plenty of 4 and even a few 5 star HS commits. Last year's portal class went 0-8 in the SEC and looked bad doing it. The jury is still out on this year's portal class at 0-2 in SEC play. The majority of our portal players couldn't start at other SEC programs, are from lower level programs or big program subs. We need the right mix of the best HS and portal players we can get. But, let's just flip the team again next year at 7-5, 6-6, 5-7 or Heaven forbid, 4-8 with 0-8 in the SEC again. JMO, fire away.

Note: If we go 7-5 or even 6-6, I agree that we should spend what it takes to keep our best players that helped get us there and use the portal to fill our needs for 2026 season. Still think we need the best HS players we can get that can contribute in year one and maybe be a starter in year 2 or 3.

[StarkVegasSteve]

So what's up with these 22 commits? Are they all cheap gets? How many are impact players early? How many are hopefully diamonds in the rough that we can develop in a couple of years? If these guys are the majority of what we end up with, is this our future Scout team? I think that there are a lot of sour grapes on this site because we are #48 nationally right now, so we are just going to be a portal program. The SEC teams we play seem to want and have plenty of 4 and even a few 5 star HS commits. Last year's portal class went 0-8 in the SEC and looked bad doing it. The jury is still out on this year's portal class at 0-2 in SEC play. The majority of our portal players couldn't start at other SEC programs, are from lower level programs or big program subs. We need the right mix of the best HS and portal players we can get. But, let's just flip the team again next year at 7-5, 6-6, 5-7 or Heaven forbid, 4-8 with 0-8 in the SEC again. JMO, fire away.

Note: If we go 7-5 or even 6-6, I agree that we should spend what it takes to keep our best players that helped get us there and use the portal to fill our needs for 2026 season. Still think we need the best HS players we can get that can contribute in year one and maybe be a starter in year 2 or 3.

It's about building depth and having bodies to practice. Out of that 22 there's probably 6-8 that can contribute in the next 2 years. I'm just being honest. There's just not many HS players out there that can contribute Day 1. I mean take a look at our class last year. 3 of our top 5 recruits haven't sniffed the field and Kamario plays sparingly. Lockhart is finally getting some run.

[Goldendawg]

It's about building depth and having bodies to practice. Out of that 22 there's probably 6-8 that can contribute in the next 2 years. I'm just being honest. There's just not many HS players out there that can contribute Day 1. I mean take a look at our class last year. 3 of our top 5 recruits haven't sniffed the field and Kamario plays sparingly. Lockhart is finally getting some run.

Thanks, appreciate your post, but it's sure not keeping 47 teams ahead of us at this point with loading up with many highly rated 3 stars, 4 stars and 5's to the Bluest of Bloods. I read about our class last year, HS and Portal was for depth and get enough on the practice/scout team to even be able to have a positive practice session. So, your're telling me we have to do this two classes in a row? We are either poorer than I thought or no one very highly ranked in HS wants to play for a program rebuilding from the bottom, 0-8 last year. 0-2 this YTD and a 14 game SEC losing streak. Beat FL, win a couple more and get some meaningful flips, process some of these Scout team players, and also work the portal better. BTW, we hit the portal hard for OL last year and still having to play Luke Work, a true Soph out of position and Jimothy Lewis who is not ready. Read here we paid big $ for one in particular and the return on these investments is a weakness of the team even before the injuries. Must have had to overpay or poor evaluations for portal OL. Hail State!