Using Scout for the rankings, here are some numbers from the past few years…

2009

• MSU finished 8th (out of 12) in the SEC
• Their average stars were 3.15
• The SEC average was 3.19

2010

• MSU finished 10th (out of 12) in the SEC
• Their average stars were 2.62
• The SEC average was 3.10

2011

• MSU finished 11th (out of 12) in the SEC
• Their average stars were 2.77
• The SEC average was 3.24

2012

• MSU finished 7th (out of 14) in the SEC
• Their average stars were 3.11
• The SEC average was 3.25

2013

• MSU finished 9th (out of 14) in the SEC
• Their average stars were 3.22
• The SEC average was 3.33

While this is a consensus top 25 class for Mississippi State, there is always a feeling of inadequacy when you’re still in the bottom half of the conference. Some feel as though MSU isn’t raising its level of recruiting, the floor is just rising. In other words, we are just benefiting from the momentum of the SEC.

Well, based on these numbers, that isn’t true.

The average stars of all SEC schools in the last 5 years were 3.21. It went as low as 3.1, and as high as 3.33 – a range of .22.

The average stars for MSU were 2.97. It went as low as 2.62, and as high as 3.23. That’s a range of .60.

The biggest proof of this can be seen between 2011 and 2012. In 2011, the SEC was at 3.24, the following year they only went up .01 to 3.25. MSU went from 2.77 to 3.11, a .34 jump.

Mullen’s first class benefited from some of Croom’s recruiting off the 2007 year, but from there he had to build from the ground up. Each year has been better than the last.

Just based off rankings, it appears as though 2012 was better, but that class had 28 signees, this class has 23 (actually 21, but recruiting services are still listing Jiles and Simpson). You get more points for more commits. The mean in 2013 is better than 2012. If State signed another handful of 3-stars (which they could have done), this would be a top 15 class.

What’s more, the amount of 4 & 5 stars have dramatically increased. In his first two signing classes (to be all recruited by Mullen), MSU signed five 4-stars and zero 5-stars. In the last two years, MSU has signed eight 4-stars and three 5-stars.

Things are looking up on the recruiting trails, and it’s because of the winning seasons the Bulldogs have strung together. If State can keep winning and continue to recruit hard, even more talent will come to Starkville.