Mississippi State Football Recruiting Priorities for 2016
With just under a month until National Signing Day, Mississippi State football has needs to fill with the 2016 recruiting class.
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As of the moment I wrote this, the Bulldogs are 43rd in the country in the recruiting rankings for 2016 according to 247 Sports. Many Bulldog fans have become convinced Dan Mullen needs to recruit better due to the at best inconsistent, and at worst sub par, play it received form the offensive line in 2015.
Expecting incoming freshmen to make an immediate impact is a daunting proposition, but today’s athletes often enter college with fully developed bodies ready to compete. It may not be a sure thing to expect an incoming recruiting class to contribute immediately, but with a mostly veteran team returning in 2016, the Bulldogs will not need a ton of help from the incoming class.
This list is only players who are uncommitted and play positions the Bulldogs have huge holes entering 2016. The Bulldogs have some already committed they need to hold on to as well. Cornerback will be a position they need to fill some holes on, but Lashard Durr has already signed as a JUCO transfer and the Bulldogs have a few others they need to hold on to as well. That’s the reason you don’t see any corners listed here.
Here is where the Bulldogs need to make their priorities.
No. 1: Scott Lashley
Much of the recruiting talk has centered around Starkville Wide Receiver A.J. Brown, but Lashely might be the most important player the Bulldogs can get in 2016. The offensive line needs an injection of talent, and Lashley would fill the need. Currently, he is projected to sign with Mississippi State.
No. 2: A.J. Brown
Brown isn’t too far behind Lashley. Brown became a much more important target for the Bulldogs when De’Runnya Wilson announced his intentions to enter the NFL Draft in 2016. There are still plenty of good receivers on the roster for Mississippi State Football, but the addition of A.J. Brown would add some much needed depth to the receiving corps.
No.3 Kobe Jones
It’s nice to have a power house program in your own backyard. Jones could provide the much needed inside pass rush and run stuffing abilities the Bulldogs might lose if Chris Jones heads to the NFL.
No. 4 Jeffery Simmons
Most people close to the Mississippi State football team believe Chris Jones will head to the NFL in 2016. If he does, the Bulldogs will need a pass rusher to take his place. Simmons could easily fill that void, even if it meant adjusting where people played on the existing line. Mississippi State appears to have a slight edge, but it will likely come down to Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
No. 5 Javious Bardney
How much Bardney can help immediately is still very much undetermined. But with the offensive line being in the shape it is, he could certainly help. Once again, this will likely be a battle between Mississippi State and Ole Miss that comes down to the wire.
This list is only players who are uncommitted and play positions the Bulldogs have huge holes entering 2016. The Bulldogs have some already committed they need to hold on to as well. Cornerback will be a position they need to fill some holes on, but Lashard Durr has already signed as a JUCO transfer and the Bulldogs have a few others they need to hold on to as well.
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Getting into the Top 20 won’t likely happen. But there is still plenty of talent on the board the Bulldogs need on their roster, and it’s up to the coaching staff to go out and get it.