NCAA Transfer Portal: Mississippi State Still Adjusting Roster Under Mike Leach
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Mike Leach’s first game as Mississippi State’s head coach could not have gone any better a year ago. The Bulldogs walked into Death Valley to take on the defending national champs celebrating on the way out after a 44-34 victory over the No. 6 team in the nation. But then a four-game losing streak broken up by a 24-17 win against Vanderbilt dovetailed into a three-game slide. Yet, winning brings optimism and those in Starkville can hang their collective hats on closing out with victories against Missouri and then- No. 24 Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, TX). But due to the NCAA Transfer Portal, the Bulldogs’ roster will look drastically different this fall.
MSU is not close to having their name dragged around the most in the portal, but they are up there. So far 20 players have left with just six coming to the program. The college football world expected heavy losses on offense for the Bulldogs, especially at quarterback, as Leach reshapes the offense in his image, but 13 are gone from that side of the ball. The shocker, of the 13 that includes five receivers, which four were rated as three-stars out of high school with Tyrell Shavers earning four-star status.
Adding a positive outlook to the new look roster, Leach and Co. performed well in quick work along the recruiting trail securing the 26th rated class in the nation. Of the 23 players signed, five are four-stars with 17 talents listed as three-star prospects.
Mississippi State Players Transferring Out
Quarterback (3)
Garrett Shrader – to Syracuse
Jalen Mayden – to San Diego State
Allan Walters – undetermined
Running Back (2)
Kareem Walker – undetermined
Lee Witherspoon – UAB
Receiver (5)
Tyrell Shavers – to San Diego State
JaVonta Payton – undetermined
Kyziah Pruitt – undetermined
Dontea Jones – undetermined
Cameron Gardner – undetermined
Offensive Line (3)
Brandon Cunningham – undetermined
Nick Pendley – to Georgia Tech
James Jackson – to South Alabama
Defensive Linemen (3)
Jamari Stewart – South Florida
Tre Lawson – undetermined
Devon Robinson – Memphis
Defensive Backs (3)
Javorrius Selmon – to Jackson State
Korey Charles – Western Illinois
Taury Dixon – undetermined
Special Teams (1)
K Jace Christmann – to Florida
Players Transferring to Mississippi State
Quarterback (3)
Jack Abraham – from Southern Miss
Chance Lovertich – from South Alabama
Jack Kristofek – Sam Houston State
Receiver (1)
Makai Polk – from Cal
Defensive Linemen (1)
Randy Charlton – from Central Florida
Defensive Backs (1)
Jalen Green – from Texas
Photo credit: hailstate.com; No. 0 JaVonta Payton