Mississippi State football has to load up in the transfer portal this offseason, and the defensive side of the ball in particular is where they need to do major work. The Bulldogs have managed a few solid commitments to this point, but now they've gained a transfer that can make some waves.
Former Texas linebacker Derion Gullette commits to Mississippi State Bulldogs out of transfer portal
Mississippi State added a talented piece for their defense out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Texas linebacker Derion Gullette committed to the Bulldogs. The 6-3, 235 Teague, TX native is tied for being the 5th highest-rated linebacker in the transfer portal right now.
Texas transfer LB Derion Gullette has committed to Mississippi State, per @APSportsAgency. https://t.co/tdsiKaK0Ur
— Max Olson (@max_olson) December 18, 2024
Gullette was a highly-regarded prospect coming out of high school. He was rated as a 90-overall 4-star in the class of 2023, holding offers from nearly every major program in the country. He redshirted as a true freshman and played in five games this season for the Longhorns, recording a pair of tackles.
But despite limited opportunities to this point, Gullette is a coveted transfer linebacker. According to ESPN's Max Olson, Gullette was scheduled to take visits to rival Ole Miss and North Carolina later in the week, but his visit to Starkville went well enough that he's instead locking himself in with Mississippi State.
Coleman Hutzler finally gets a significant win in the transfer portal for Mississippi State
Landing Derion Gullette is a big win for defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler. Along with being the DC, Hutzler is State's linebacker coach, meaning this was a recruitment that fell heavily on his shoulders. He got the job done and brought a talented player from a major program into the class.
Given the general lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball and the struggles that unit experienced under Hutzler's leadership in 2024, State desperately needed to get some wins in the transfer portal with defensive recruiting. This is a strong win in that department, and it's a great early step towards ultimately turning things around for the Bulldog defense.