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Mississippi State football lands commitment from top JUCO recruit in the country

The nation's best JUCO prospect has committed to the Bulldogs.

ByAndrew Miller|
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet sits on the sidelines during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet sits on the sidelines during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

For as tough as it's been to watch Mississippi State football on the field this season, the Bulldogs have seen some success off the field as they look to improve for the future. That continued on Tuesday night when State added one of its best commitment so far for the 2025 signing class.

Top-ranked JUCO defensive lineman Zavion Hardy commits to Mississippi State football

Tuesday night, Mississippi State football added another big-time commitment to their 2025 recruiting class. The JUCO defensive line recruit, Zavion Hardy, made his pledge for the Bulldogs. 247 Sports names Hardy the best overall JUCO recruit in the nation, while the On3 industry rankings put him as the top DL.

The 6-6, 280 lb defender out of East Mississippi CC chose the Bulldogs over South Carolina, Arkansas, and Florida. The Macon, GA native originally committed to South Carolina out of high school before ultimately enrolling at EMCC. Hardy's commitment brings State up to the #25 class in the nation according to On3.

Bulldogs continue adding instant-impact commits for their defense

Mississippi State football is having a horrific season defensively. They're in the midst of their worst defensive season since 2016, and they still have several high-powered offenses left to play. And while there's no fixing that this year, the good news is that Jeff Lebby and his staff seem committed to not letting that problem continue beyond this season.

13 of the Bulldogs' 20 commitments are on the defensive side of the ball with six of those 13 being 4-star prospects. By the On3 industry rankings, Mississippi State own commitments from the top-4 JUCO prospects in the nation, all of whom play defense. Not only are Lebby and his staff working to bolster the defense with more talented prospects, they're making sure to land players that can make immediate impacts in the 2025 season.

Zavion Hardy, in particular, is a massive addition to the class considering State's struggles along the DL. The Bulldogs are weak in the trenches right now and have poor depth there. Hardy helps immensely in improving that spot going into next season.

This season has been and will continue to be a struggle for Bulldog football, but if they can continue to make hay on the recruiting trail, there will be excitement heading into 2025.

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