Mississippi State finished another year of recruiting this Wednesday when they celebrated their 2016 class.
Overall, 13 recruits signed in this year’s class. The class also finished 31st in the country according to the 24/7sports.com’s composite rankings. The crown jewel of the class is 5-star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. Simmons, a Macon, Mississippi native, was ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi and he is also the No. 19 player nationally and the No. 3 defensive end. MSU beat out Alabama and Ole Miss for his signature. He led Noxubee County High School to two straight 4A championships.
MSU football Head Coach Dan Mullen spoke on the class Wednesday afternoon.
“He was number one on our list, not just because of the talent out there on the field,” Mullen said. I’ve known Jeffery for three years and you look at what he does in the classroom, you look at the effort he gives in everything he does. I see him as potentially being the next Fletcher Cox.”
MSU also pulled Starkvile native and 4-star defensive lineman Kobe Jones. Jones gave MSU two of the four big targets from the local area. However, the Bulldogs missed out on Starkville native and 4-star receiver A.J. Brown and 4-star offensive lineman Scott Lashley. Mullen adressed those losses as well.
“In the end you are going to win some and lose some,” Mullen said. “Our program isn’t for everybody.”
With the loss of Lashley, MSU had to make up ground at the offensive line position, and they achieved with the late addition of Stewart Reese.
Reese is a 6’5, 340-pound offensive guard out of Fort Pierce, Florida. He is a 3-star according to 24/7sports.com, but a 4-star according to Scout.com, Rivals.com, and ESPN.com.
MSU seemed to focus on four areas with the class: tight end, offensive line, defensive line and defensive backs. They signed four defensive lineman with Simmons, Jones, Tre Brown, and 4-star defensive end Marquis Spencer. MSU only ended up with three offensive linemen.
They also signed at least four defensive backs, with a couple more recruits potentially playing the position.
With Darrion Hutcherson graduating and the possibility of Gus Walley never playing again due to concussion concerns, MSU was left with only one tight end, Justin Johnson. The Bulldogs got a little help with three tight end commitments, including the No. 1 JUCO tight end in the country, Jordan Thomas.
Thomas is a 6’6, 275-pound player out of East Central Community College. Mullen spoke highly of Thomas Wednesday.
“I think people are going to be impressed with Jordan Thomas. His size and athleticism just create major mismatches, he is a guy I see making an immediate impact for us,” Mullen said.
Overall, what looked like a disappointing class has rounded out rather nicely. The pickup of Jeffery Simmons really changed the perception of this class by fans and coaches. The Bulldogs still have spring practice and the spring game on April 16. They open the season on Sept. 3rd against South Alabama.
