Mississippi State football needs a lot of new pieces on its roster to turn things around after a 2-10 season. They're going to go heavy in the transfer portal this offseason to make that happen. State is now making one of their first moves to build up their roster for the 2025 season by targeting a key position of need.
UCF Knights transfer center Caden Kitler visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs
Former UCF center Caden Kitler is set to take a visit to Mississippi State. 247 Sports' Steve Robertson first reported the news for Gene's Page (subscription needed).
UCF transfer Caden Kitler set for Mississippi State visit (VIP) https://t.co/gpjUbgYIUG
— Steve Robertson (@ScoutSteveR) December 7, 2024
Caden Kitler was one of the leaders for the UCF offensive line in 2024. The redshirt sophomore started 11 games this season, as an injury suffered against Florida sidelined him when the Knights faced Cincinnati. He and the Knight offensive line paved the way for one of the best rushing attacks in all of football, averaging 248 yards per game which ranked 7th nationally.
In his redshirt freshman season in 2023, Kitler made a pair of starts for the Knights. Kitler was a 3-star prospect in the class of 2022 and held offers from strong G5 programs coming out of high school. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Mississippi State football needs to land a center out of the transfer portal
Landing a center out of the transfer portal is practically a necessity for the Bulldogs this offseason. MSU's starting center, Ethan Miner, has exhausted his eligibility after one season in Starkville. Along with playing one of the most critical roles along the offensive line, he was arguably State's most consistently solid player up front.
Miner is a big loss for the Bulldogs, and right now there's no one ofn the roster that you are confident in sliding into that role. State needs to go to the portal for a center, and Kitler would be a good option for them there. Run blocking in particular is a strength for him, and Jeff Lebby has said he wants his run game to be far more consistent next season. After having success with a transfer center last season in Ethan Miner, you would hope that gives State an edge in attracting another center this year.