CL article, MSU commits recruit at DD photo shoot.

[Leroy Jenkins]

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/r...soot/13317743/

This year's Dandy Dozen features five Mississippi State commits.

And each received the same message before heading out to Veterans Memorial Stadium for the photo shoot.

Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen and other members of MSU's staff told each to spend their time recruiting Javon Patterson, Leo Lewis and Fletcher Adams - the state's top uncommitted prospects.

"They said you better stay on those guys. They're not playing around," Murrah's Malik Dear said. "They really want them. We really want them. I think we'll get them."

Lewis, the nation's top inside linebacker, was flattered when he heard about the instructions passed along from Mullen.

"Man, that's really cool," he said. "That just shows they really are showing me love. They tell me I'm on top of their board. That's awesome."

Petal's Patterson simply chucked.

"They would have been after me today even if (Mullen) told them to or not, man," he said. "But I'm just here to go with the flow. I have to do what's best for me."

Dear views the Dandy Dozen photo shoot as a "major" recruiting advantage for the Bulldogs.

"I mean, we don't even have to tell those guys why they should commit to (MSU)," he said with a grin. "We just have to point out here to all these guys. It feels like half of us are going to Starkville. Why would they want to pass up on that?"