Mississippi State football: Prime Candidates to Possibly Opt-out or Transfer

Mississippi State Football: Who Will Enter the Portal Next

Yesterday was a busy day for  Mike Leach and his Mississippi State Bulldogs program. Several players decided to state their intention to transfer and enter the portal and one player was rumored to have left the program, but it was refuted in later reports.  Mississippi State has benefited from the transfer program like every college program in the country. As of yesterday and today, it is clear that as the Transfer Portal gives, the Transfer Portal also takes. The Bulldogs have had six transfers just this week alone as Jalen Mayden, Nick Pendley, Tyrell Shavers, Jamari Stewart, Kareem Walker, and Tre Lawson are all trading in their Maroon colors. I will give my predictions on who I think might transfer or opt-out next.

Offense

Kylin Hill RB (SR)

Hill was a 4-star prospect out of Columbus (Mississippi). He won the 2019 Conerly trophy as the top college football player in the state of Mississippi. He declared for the draft as a junior but decided to come back to play in the Air Raid. Hill had a great game against LSU and tied the school record for receptions against Kentucky.

He was not with the team during the loss against Texas A&M. Leach said today during the SEC Coaches teleconference that he expects Kylin Hill to opt-out and prepare for the NFL Draft. I would like to see Hill transfer instead of opting out for the draft. I do feel he would get drafted but I would like to see him finish his senior year strong somewhere else.

Lee Witherspoon RB (SO)

Witherspoon was a 3-star prospect out of North Jackson (Alabama). He was second on the depth chart behind Kylin Hill in 2019 playing under Joe Moorhead. He has been passed up by the true freshman. Witherspoon contributes on special teams.

Witherspoon has yet to get a carry or catch in four games this year. For a player than ran for 2846 yards and 53 TDs his senior year of prep ball, he has not been able to find his footing in the Air Raid.

Quinton Torbor WR (RS-FR)

Torbor was a 3-star prospect out of Destrehan (Louisiana). He has not recorded any stays on the year. The Bulldogs have a long roster of wide receivers and two four-stars committed in the class of 2021 (Theodore Knox and Malik Nabers)

Cordavien Suggs OL (RS-JR)

Suggs was a 3-star prospect out of Duncan U. Fletcher (Florida). Suggs is originally from Jackson, MS. He has not found much playing time as he has appeared in only three games in his career.  He also has been passed up by younger players on the roster on the depth chart.

Defense

Jaylon Reed CB (RS-SO)

Reed was a 3-star prospect out of Olive Branch (Mississippi). So far, he has only appeared in three football games, all during his true freshman season. He has already been passed up by younger players on the depth chart.

Cameron Young DT (RS-SO)

Young was a 3-star prospect out of Franklin (Mississippi). He has played in a total of nine games in his Bulldog career. He has yet to play a game in 2020. He also has two classmates ahead of him in Jaden Crumedy and Nathan Pickering. The move to the 3-3-5 defense hurt his chances of getting on the field as there is only one defensive tackle on the field at a time.

King Ani DE (RS-FR)

Ani was a 4-star prospect out of Davidson Academy (Tennessee). Injuries have derailed Ani’s career and he has not been able to get on the field. He was also very raw coming out of high school.

WRAP IT UP

During the season you never want to lose out on talented players as it impacts the depth of the team. During the age of the transfer portal, it is inevitable that you will lose players and gain players.

Some players leave for a different reason, some looking for playing time or other off the field issues. I feel the Bulldogs I mentioned above would be better served entering into the portal to find another opportunity to play college football or in Kylin Hill’s instance, opting out and preparing for the draft or transferring to another school.