Mississippi State Looks to Finish Strong on Recruiting Front with Top Players Visiting

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The coaching job Dan Mullen has put together over the past seven years at Mississippi State more times than not seems to get little recognition. After a tough 5-7 season during his first year in Starkville, the Bulldogs have been consistent winners going to a bowl game every year since the 2010 season.

The 2014 season has been the peak of Mullen’s efforts going 10-3 pushing the Bulldogs up to No. 1 in the nation for the first time in school history. MSU won nine games in 2015 after losing top talent to the NFL, far exceeding preseason expectations. With a growing and established winning pedigree comes top recruits and big expectations. MSU ran the recruiting tables within Mississippi for the 2015 class but are playing catchup to a strong recruiting effort by Ole Miss for 2016. The Bulldogs can make up ground before National Signing Day if they can net some top area talent and pull some of the great recruits visiting Starkville this weekend.

For MSU to gain ground quickly, landing Starkville High School talents A.J. Brown and Kobe Jones are “must gets.” Jones visited the Bulldogs this weekend but Brown headed to Alabama for an official. Brown (6-1, 220) is widely considered one of the top wide receivers in the nation having a standout senior year with 83 receptions for 1,371 yards finding the end zone 13 times. If Jones does not commit to Alabama over the weekend, he still has an official scheduled with Cal on Jan. 22. Jones (6-4, 265) has a lot of potential being able to play defensive end or defensive tackle. He has upcoming visits at Alabama (Jan. 22) and Ole Miss (Jan. 29).

Other area recruits MSU could easily net includes West Point offensive lineman Scott Lashley and Noxubee County defensive end Jeffery Simmons. Lashley (6-6, 300) has the size to come in and be a contributor for MSU if he continues to put in the time in the weight room. He has one other official visit currently scheduled, heading to Oregon on Jan. 22. Simmons (6-3.5, 275) is a beast and highly productive player. Registered 105 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 18.5 sacks, and 21 quarterback hurries during his senior year.

Another big recruit visiting, pun intended, is Raekwon Davis. Davis (6-6.5, 325) committed to MSU, mid-article, over the weekend flipping the Meridian talent who had been committed to Alabama for almost a year to the Bulldogs. The U.S. Army All-American selection had 55 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss during his senior year.

Mississippi State could flip a couple of other recruits with Cecil Stallings (South Carolina) and Jeremiah Moon (Florida) visiting. Stallings (6-4, 250) has seen his recruiting stock grow lately despite being committed to South Carolina since July 17, 2015. No other official visits are currently on the books but Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others, have all offered. Moon (6-4, 215) has the size to play anywhere at linebacker depending on how his frame fills in at the next level. The Hoover High School (AL) talent committed to Florida on July 25, 2015, and has offers from Auburn, Louisville, Kentucky, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. MSU made headway with Moon while Geoff Collins was DC at MSU, now at Florida. South Carolina adding Will Muschamp as head coach has opened Stallings’ to hearing pitches from other schools.

Another difference maker visiting Starkville is in-state 4-star wide receiver Nigel Knott. Nott (5-11, 175) is an explosive athlete playing on both sides of the ball for Germantown High School. He is considered one of the top cornerbacks in the nation coming up with 51 tackles, three picks, and four pass breakups during his senior year. An Under Armour All-American Game selection, Nott is pushing 30 total offers with Oregon, Ole Miss, and MSU appearing to be the frontrunners.

MSU had an all hands on deck mentality hoping some of the current commits will help sell the program. The current MSU commits in Starkville this weekend included Korey Charles, Marquiss Spencer, Greg Eiland, Jordan Thomas, Nero Nelson, and Dareuan Parker.

The Bulldogs 2016 class is currently 16 deep with a lot of talent coming in on the defensive side of the ball and at tight end. Areas of need include wide receiver, linebacker, running back, and quarterback.

Mississippi State 2016 Verbal Commitment List

DB Cameron Dantzler, 6’2”, 170 lbs, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hammond, LA

DB Lashard Durr, 6’0”, 180 lbs, Copiah-Lincoln C.C., Wesson, MS

DB C.J. Morgan-Walker, 5’11”, 185 lbs, Parkway HS, Bossier City, LA

DE Emmitt Gooden, 6’4”, 275 lbs, Haywood HS, Brownsville, TN

DE Drelan Proter, 6’4”, 200 lbs, South Panola HS, Batesville, MS

DE Marquiss Spencer, 6’5”, 240 lbs, Greenwood HS, Greenwood, MS

DT Tre Brown, 6’5”, 290 lbs, Copiah-Lincoln C.C., Wesson, MS

DT Raekwon Davis, 6’6.5”, 325 lbs, Meridian HS, Meridian, MS

LB Erroll Thompson, 6’2”, 255 lbs, Florence HS, Florence, AL

OT Greg Eiland, 6’7”, 320 lbs, Philadelphia HS, Philadelphia, MS

OG Dareuan Parker, 6’5”, 320 lbs, DeSoto Central HS, Southaven, MS

TE Dontea Jones, 6’6”, 255, Jireh Prep, Matthews, NC

TE Christian Roberson, 6’4”, 230 lbs, McEachern HS, Powder Springs, GA

TE Jordan Thomas, 6’7”, 270 lbs, East Central C.C., Decatur, MS

WR Korey Charles, 5’10”, 170 lbs, North Florida Christian, Tallahassee, FL

ATH Nero Nelson, 5’10: 175 lbs, Simmons School, Hollandale, MS

*Emmit Gooden has announced he will enroll at a JUCO.

Photo credit: scout.com; Raekwon Davis