2026 HS/JC Football Recruiting

[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.