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We’re inside of 24 hours until ink hits paper in college football, the most important day of the offseason in the SEC as touted prep seniors sign binding letters of intent. National Signing Day has become a February spectacle we’re all interested in as football fiends, one that breeds anticipation at every major program in the country.
Dak Prescott has wrapped up his outstanding Mississippi State career, but quarterback isn’t the only position that needs to be filled in Starkville. Mississippi State will lose at least eight starters from last season, and several position battles should begin in spring camp.
Along with Ole Miss, the Bulldogs are still in the mix for top in-state prospect Jeffery Simmons. The former U.S. Army All-American, who is also considering Alabama, is a five-star prospect who is ranked 19th in the 2016 class.
Keep in mind that Mississippi State’s commit list doesn’t include defensive end Drelan Porter or defensive tackle Emmit Gooden, both of whom are early enrollees in junior college as of January. Also keep an eye on defensive end Raekwon Davis, who seems to change commitments as often as we’ll hear the words “Super Bowl” this week.
In addition to five graduating seniors that include Prescott, Mississippi State is also losing linebacker Beniquez Brown, defensive tackle Chris Jones and wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson as early departures to the NFL. But there’s good balance in the Bulldogs’ 2016 recruiting class, with nine offensive commits and six defensive ones.
While the Bulldogs are doing just fine on the home front, having locked up eight players from the Magnolia State, six states are represented in this year’s class, including a three-star prospect from as far as Indiana.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 2016 RECRUITING CLASS
- National rank: 40
- SEC rank: 12
- Commitments: 16
- Commitments by rating: 1 four-stars, 15 three-stars
Top incoming offensive players: Three-star TE Jordan Thomas, Three-star TE Dontea Jones, three-star ATH Jamal Couch.
Top incoming defensive players: Four-star DE Marquiss Spencer, Three-star CB Lashard Durr, Three-star DT Tre Brown.
Primary remaining targets: Five-star DT Derrick Brown, Five-star DE Jeffery Simmons.
Best-case scenario: With the chances of losing members of this class low, the Bulldogs need to get everyone enrolled in time for fall practices. Landing Brown is a long shot, but bringing in him and Simmons and would lift Mississippi State in the recruiting rankings while simultaneously keeping the two players away from SEC rivals.
VERBAL COMMITS
- Marquiss Spencer, DE, four-star
- Jamal Couch, ATH, three-star
- Erroll Thompson, LB, three-star
- Nero Nelson, ATH, three-star
- Korey Charles, ATH, three-star
- Jordan Thomas, TE, three-star
- Greg Eiland, OT, three-star
- Cameron Dantzler, ATH, three-star
- Dareuan Parker, OT, three-star
- John Michael Hankerson, S, three-star
CURRENT CLASS
- C.J. Morgan-Walker, CB, three-star (early enrollee)
- Dontea Jones, TE, three-star (early enrollee)
- Lashard Durr, CB, three-star (early enrollee)
- Christian Roberson, TE, three-star (early enrollee)
- Tre Brown, DT, three-star (early enrollee)
Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to the 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
