Coming off the bye week, Mississippi State football currently has 20 commitments for the 2021 recruiting class. New head coach Mike Leach and his staff have started strong in Mississippi with 10 commits already hailing from the state.
The break in the action gives us a great chance to take a break from the hard-to-watch football being played by the Bulldogs right now and take a look into what the future holds for Mississippi State football. We are going off of the 247Sports.com recruiting rankings.
Quarterback (2)
Leach has already reeled in a pair of Texas native quarterbacks in Sawyer Robertson and Daniel Greek. Hailing from Coronado in Lubbock, Texas, Robertson is currently the best recruit in the class ranking as a four-star recruit and the 10th best pro-style quarterback.
With both players committing in early spring last year, not much drama is expected with either before National Signing Day.
Four-star QB: Sawyer Robertson of Coronado High School (Texas)
Three-star QB: Daniel Greek of Liberty Christian Academy (Texas)
Running back (1)
The priority on recruiting running backs should be lowered due to the contributions of true freshmen Jo’Quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson this season. Mississippi State did garner an early commitment last year from three-star Amariyon Howard.
With Marks, Johnson and the possibility of adding Howard, the Mississippi State football stable of running backs looks loaded for the foreseeable future.
Three-star RB: Amariyon Howard of Starkville High School (Mississippi)
Wide receiver (4)
What might be the best star-studded position group in the recruiting class so far, multiple wide receivers have decided to commit to the Bulldogs. Two highly ranked four-star recruits in Theodore Knox and Malik Nabers, both in the top 50 in their positions, have the potential to be huge playmakers in Leach’s air raid offense. Both are Louisiana natives and close friends despite Knox transferring to Texas last summer.
We may not see many more receivers join this year’s recruiting class, but the four already committed should be able to make an impact early next season.
Four-star WR: Theodore Knox of The Woodlands School (Texas)
Four-star WR: Malik Nabers of Comeaux High School (Louisiana)
Three-star WR: Brandon Buckhaulter of Hartfield Academy (Mississippi)
Three-star WR: Jacobi Moore of Harrison Central High School (Mississippi)
Offensive line (3)
If there’s any group that needs to improve for the Bulldogs next season, it’s the offensive line. Mississippi State ranks second in the conference in sacks given up with 14, only trailing South Carolina by two.
The Bulldogs are off to a good start with a commitment from three-star offensive guard Mayklan Pounders, who ranks 50th in the country at his position. Along with Pounders, in-state three-star offensive tackle Gabe Cavazos and junior college prospect Nick Jones have also already committed for the 2021 recruiting class. Jones comes the famed East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), which has been best known for being apart of the Netflix series “Last Chance U” and for sending a number of its players on to major FBS schools and later the NFL.
Look to see Leach and offensive line coach Mason Miller continue browsing the field for potential future Bulldogs.
Three-star OL: Makylan Pounders of Byhalia High School (Mississippi)
Three-star OL: Gabe Cavazos of Lake Cormorant High School (Mississippi)
Three-star OL: Nick Jones of East Mississippi Community College (Mississippi)
Defensive line (1)
This position group is currently the thinnest in the 2021 recruiting class with only one true defensive lineman commitment. Granted not one that needs too much improvement, Mississippi State currently ranks third in the SEC with 12 sacks.
Three-star defensive end Tre’von Marshall is currently the lone commitment for the defensive line. While currently listing as a weak-side defensive lineman, Smith, who stands at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, has the potential to grow into a three-technique defensive tackle in Leach’s defense.
Mississippi State will have to replace both of its defensive ends as Marquiss Spencer and Kobe Jones are both seniors.
Three-star DL: Tre’von Marshall of Locust Grove High School (Georgia)
Linebackers (4)
With senior Erroll Thomspon playing his final season in the maroon and white, the Bulldogs will have to replace the heart of its defense.
Mississippi State currently has four linebackers committed, headlined by the top two rated linebackers in junior college football Deshawn Page and Navonteque Strong. Along with a pair of commits out of Florida, the linebackers appear to be one of the stronger position groups early for Leach’s 2021 recruiting class.
Three-star OLB: Nic Mitchell of Mandarin High School (Florida)
Three-star MLB: Navonteque Strong of Gulf Coast Community College (Mississippi)
Three-star OLB: Timar Rogers of Deland High School (Florida)
Three-star WLB: DeShawn Page of East Mississippi Community College (Mississippi)
Cornerbacks (3)
The cornerbacks are one of, if not, the youngest position group for the Bulldogs as true freshman Emmanuel Forbes currently leads the team in interceptions with two.
Mississippi State is currently recruiting a number of cornerbacks and has all three commits hailing from Mississippi as of right now. Since three-star athlete MJ Daniels was recruited by cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath, we are currently listing Daniels as a cornerback as it is most likely he starts his career there for Mississippi State.
Three-star Cortez Eatmon, who committed on May 2., is currently the ninth rated played in all of junior college football.
Three-star CB: Cortez Eatmon of Gulf Coast Community College (Mississippi)
Three-star CB: MJ Daniels of George County High School (Mississippi)
Three-star CB: Brendan Toles of Lafayette High School (Mississippi)
Safeties (2)
With only one senior in Fred Peters planning on departing this season, Mississippi State is almost done with this position group with already two commitments from three stars Corey Ellington and Myzel Williams.
Former Bulldog commit and four-star Kadarious Calloway, who switched to Alabama on July 9., is one’s recruitment to watch closely as he is still reportedly in constant contact with the Mississippi State football staff.
Three-star Safety: Corey Ellington of Holmes County Central High School (Mississippi)
Three-star Safety: Myzel Williams of Deland High School (Florida)
Special Teams (0)
Mississippi State currently has no commitments from any special teams players thus far, but both starting kicker Brandon Ruiz and punter Tucker Day are both juniors who are expected to return for their seniors seasons.
Photo courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications
