2014 BULLDOG FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS
Riding
the momentum of a three-game winning streak and a Liberty Bowl victory
to close the 2013 season, Mississippi State football unveiled its 2014
Signing Class with fan events in Starkville, Jackson, Tupelo and
Gulfport.
NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL) | Brandon Bryant | S | 5-11 | 194 | Tunica, MS (Rosa Fort HS) |
| Deion Calhoun | OL | 6-3 | 325 | Pleasant Grove, AL (Restoration Academy) |
| Ronald Cochran | OL | 6-4 | 255 | Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS) |
| Will Coleman | DE | 6-5 | 248 | Tyler, TX (Tyler JC) | | Logan Cooke | K/P | 6-5 | 200 | Kokomo, MS (Columbia Academy) | | Deshon Cooper | LB | 6-2 | 209 | Atlanta, GA (Columbia HS) | | Lashard Durr | CB | 5-11 | 181 | Gulfport, MS (Harrison Central HS) | | Nick Fitzgerald* | QB | 6-5 | 210 | Richmond Hill, GA (Richmond Hill HS) | | Jamoral Graham | WR | 5-10 | 165 | Decatur, MS (Newton County HS) | | J.T. Gray | S | 6-0 | 196 | Clarksdale, MS (Clarksdale HS) | | Gerri Green | LB | 6-4 | 221 | Greenville, MS (Greenville Weston HS) | | Grant Harris | DT | 6-3 | 270 | Bolton, MS (Clinton HS) | | Jordan Harris | OL | 6-5 | 299 | Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson HS) | | Braxton Hoyett | DT | 6-3 | 285 | Pelham, AL (Pelham HS) | | Darrion Hutcherson | TE | 6-7 | 250 | Dadeville, AL (Copiah-Lincoln CC) | | Jesse Jackson | WR | 6-2 | 201 | Petal, MS (Petal HS) | | Elgton Jenkins | OL | 6-4 | 283 | Clarksdale, MS (Clarksdale HS) | | Jocquelle Johnson* | OL | 6-4 | 308 | Jackson, MS (Copiah-Lincoln CC) | | Dontavian Lee | RB | 6-1 | 211 | Hattiesburg, MS (Forrest County HS) | | Chris Rayford | CB | 6-0 | 182 | Byhalia, MS (Byhalia HS) | | Elijah Staley | QB | 6-6 | 231 | Marietta, GA (Wheeler HS) | | Cory Thomas | DT | 6-5 | 273 | Bessemer, AL (McAdory HS) | | Aeris Williams | RB | 6-1 | 200 | West Point, MS (West Point HS) | |
* - early enrollee in January 2014
Brandon Bryant, DB, 5-11, 194, Tunica, Miss. (Rosa Fort HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A Mississippi High School Football Coaches Association
First-Team Offense Class 4A selection as an athlete ... Made one of the
biggest jumps on the Rivals.com board, going from an unranked safety to
the No. 36 prospect during the 2013 campaign ... Rated as the No. 18
prospect in the state according to ESPN.com ... Named to the 2013
247Sports All-State All-Prospect Second-Team Defense as a defensive
back ... As a senior, helped head coach Edwin Norwood and Rosa Fort to
an 11-2 overall record and a 4A Region 2 title with a 5-0 mark ...
Advanced to the third round of the MHSAA 4A state playoffs ... Anchor
of a defensive unit that allowed just 16.4 points per game and posted
one shutout ... In 2013, went 11-of-15 passing for 257 yards with two
touchdowns and five interceptions ... Added 117 carries for 896 yards
and 10 touchdowns as well as 22 receptions for 339 yards and two
touchdowns ... Selected as the MaxPreps Rosa Fort Offensive Player of
the Year following the 2013 campaign after accounting for 1,112
all-purpose yards and 1,237 total yards ... On defense recorded 37
tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five pass
breakups and one fumble forced ... Had one kickoff return for 91 yards
and one touchdown ... Passed for 563 yards and five touchdowns and
rushed for 700 yards and three scores as a junior ... In 2012 season
opener versus North Panola, rushed for 143 yards on 16 carries and
threw a touchdown pass ... A high school teammate of current Bulldog
Benardrick McKinney ... Uncle graduated from Mississippi State.
Deion Calhoun, OL, 6-3, 325, Pleasant Grove, Ala. (Restoration Academy) HIGH
SCHOOL: A two-way standout for Coach DeWayne Coker and the first
Restoration Academy player ever to sign a Division I football
scholarship . . . Rated the No. 46 overall prospect in Alabama by
Scout.com, and the No. 7 offensive lineman in the state . . . Has
played all three positions on the line during his career at some point
. . . A first-team all-state recipient as a defensive lineman in the
AISA by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . Selected by the
AISA for the East-West All-Star Game as an offensive lineman, and he
was named All-Metro first-team offensive lineman by the Birmingham News
. . . Played a leading role in the Bulldogs' run to the AISA Class A
championship game . . . Team out-scored opponents 546-88 for the season
. . . Also saw some duty as a short-yardage running back and scored a
touchdown in that role . . . As a junior, was the leading lineman on
the Class A championship squad which only began playing 11-man football
in 2004 . . . The 2012 squad posted a 13-1 record with their only loss
to the eventual AAA state champions from Tuscaloosa Academy . . . His
junior and senior teams posted a combined 25-3 record with consecutive
Region 1 championships.
Ronald Cochran, OL, 6-4, 255, Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: Talented in-state offensive lineman from who played for head
coach Scott Samsel ... The state's No. 8-rated offensive tackle
prospect by Rivals.com . . . Selected to play for the North Team in the
2013 Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game ... Helped pave the way for the
offense to tally 358 points, an average of 29.8 points a game ... Squad
reached the 40-point plateau twice, including posting 71 versus
Raleigh-Egypt.
Will Coleman, DE, 6-5, 248, Tyler, Texas (Tyler JC) JUNIOR
COLLEGE: A two-year letterwinner for head coach Danny Palmer ... Named
to the Second Team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference ...
A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and
247Sports ... Guided the Apaches to 9-2 overall record and a 47-21
victory against Garden City Community College in the Football Capital
of Kansas Bowl in Dec. 2013 ... Squad finished the season ranked No. 10
in the final NJCAA poll ... During second year with the program,
tallied 66 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble
and one fumble recovery ... Ranked 11th among all junior college
players, and first in the conference, in fumble recoveries with three
... Stood 11th in the NJCAA with 63 solo tackles ... Made a career-high
10 tackles against Navarro College on Oct. 5 ... In Kansas Bowl versus
Garden City CC, booked a season-best 2.5 sacks for a total of 12 yards
lost and recovered a pair of fumbles ... Tallied nine tackles in three
games (Kilgore College, Blinn College and the Kansas Bowl) ... As a
rookie, notched 18 stops and one sack while breaking up a pair of
passes ... A teammate of Bulldog wide receiver Jeremey Chappelle at
Tyler Junior College. HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Tyler Lee High School
... Participated in track throwing the discus and won the District
11-5A title with a toss of 175-09.
Logan Cooke, K/P, 6-5, 200, Kokomo, Miss. (Columbia Academy) HIGH
SCHOOL: One of the top punters in the nation, who was selected to play
in the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl and the Mississippi
Association of Independent Schools' All-State Football Game ... Played
for coach Kenny Williams at Columbia Academy and took on wide receiver
and defensive back roles in addition to punting duties ... Named a 2013
Preseason Fourth-Team All-American by Chris Sailer Kicking ... Rated by
ESPN.com as the 13th-best punter in the nation ... A 2013 247Sports
All-State All-Prospect First-Team Defense selection ... A member of the
MaxPreps 2013 Mississippi Preseason All-State Football Team ... A
three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ...
Selected to the 2013 All-Gridiron Second Team by the Mississippi
Gridiron and was a Second-Team All-Area honoree by the Hattiesburg
American following final campaign ... In 2013, booted 19-of-22 kickoffs
for touchbacks (86.4 percent) ... Tallied 24 punts for an average of
44.2 yards per boot ... Went 8-of-11 on extra points and 1-for-3 on
field goals ... Also served as a wide receiver, hauling in 14 passes
for 225 yards and two touchdowns ... As a junior in 2012, boomed 48
kickoffs with 41 touchbacks (85.4 percent) ... Recorded 17 kickoffs for
70 or more yards (35.4 percent) and averaged 66.4 yards a boot ... Went
36-for-39 on PATs and 2-for-6 on field goals ... Set Columbia Academy
school records for points in a season by a kicker (42) and points in a
career by a kicker (83) ... During sophomore year, averaged 58 yards a
kickoffs, went 20-for-23 on PATs and two-of-six on field goals ...
Punted 31 times for a 35-yard average ... Served as the vice president
of high school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes group.
Deshon Cooper, LB, 6-2, 209, Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: One of the South's top linebacker prospects ... Helped Columbia
to a 6-4 overall record and to a play-in game against Banneker to
qualify for the Class 4A playoffs ... A three-star recruit according to
Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports ... Earned a place on the Georgia
Sports Writers Association Class AAAA All-State First Team Defense ...
Selected to play in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game after final
season ... Tallied 49 tackles, 17.0 tackles for lost yardage, 16.0
sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery during senior year
... On offense made 18 receptions for 335 yards and three touchdowns
... As a junior, made 63 tackles with 6.0 sacks and four forced fumbles
... Contributed on offense with 123 receiving yards and two scores ...
Also suited up for the basketball squad at Columbia ... Won the Georgia
High School Association Class 4A state championship first two years
before falling to Eagle's Landing 61-47 as a junior.
Lashard Durr, CB, 5-11, 181, Gulfport, Miss. (Harrison Central HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A First-Team Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 6A
All-State selection in 2013 ... Helped Harrison Central and head coach
Steve Jones to a 7-5 record and a first-round appearance of the
Mississippi High School Athletic Association Class 6A playoffs ... Red
Rebels won four of their last five games to secure the school's first
trip to the state tournament since 2009 ... Named to the 2013 247Sports
All-State All-Prospect Second-Team Defense as a defensive back ...
Selected to the 2013 All-Gridiron Second Team by the Mississippi
Gridiron ... Took part in the 10th Annual Max Emfinger All-American
Bowl in January and received an invitation to play in the Texas vs. the
World Game on Feb. 23, in Dallas ... A three-star recruit according to
ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... Rated as the
16th-best prospect in the state by ESPN.com ... On defense as a senior,
tallied 61 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one
blocked field goal and one forced fumble ... Offensively during final
campaign, registered five rushes for 68 yards and 11 receptions for 287
yards and three touchdowns ... As a return specialist, recorded four
touchdowns on punt returns and ran back one kickoff 53 yards ...
Sparked a Harrison Central comeback win versus Ocean Springs with an
81-yard punt return for a TD to turn a 14-3 deficit into an eventual
17-14 victory ... Knocked away the final pass of the contest to seal
the victory ... Prior to senior year, was named one of the top
performers at the New Level Athletics Space Coast Shootout in
Rockledge, Fla. ... During junior year, booked 41 tackles with seven
interceptions and five pass breakups ... Ran track for Harrison
Central, participating in the 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles,
200-meter run, 300-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump ... As a
sophomore, placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles at the Mississippi
High School Athletic Association 6A state championship.
Nick Fitzgerald, QB, 6-5, 210, Richmond Hill, Ga. (Richmond Hill HS) Officially
enrolled early at MSU in January 2014 and will join Bulldogs for spring
drills ... Participated in Liberty Bowl practices on campus, thus
signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent
(per NCAA policy). HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner for head
coach Lyman Guy who guided the Wildcats to a 10-2 overall record and
the second round of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A State
Football Championship as a senior ... Earned Honorable Mention Georgia
Sports Writers Association and Atlanta Journal Constitution Class 5A
All-State selections following senior year ... Named the Region 3-5A
Player of the Year after final campaign ... A three-star recruit
according to ESPN.com and 247Sports ... A triple-option quarterback who
went 33-for-76 in the air, throwing for 778 yards and 12 touchdowns
while tossing just three interceptions during final campaign ...
Carried the ball 182 times for 1,429 yards and 25 scores in 2013 ...
Lifted the Wildcats to opening-round playoff win over Thomas County
Central with 150 rushing yards and both of the team's TDs ... Tabbed
the WSAV Memorial Health/Chatham Orthopaedic Associates Blitz Performer
of the Week and Enmark Player of the Week for the fourth week of the
season after accounting for seven touchdowns against Glynn Academy ...
Rushed for 162 yards and five scores and tossed two TD passes in the
contest ... Named to the Greater Savannah Area Football Team as both a
junior and senior ... Started as a wide receiver in 2012, catching 18
passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns ... Served as the backup
quarterback to Air Force's Dominique Allen during junior campaign and
tallied 334 yards rushing and six scores as part of the triple-option
offense ... Helped the Wildcats go 8-3 and reach the state playoffs for
the first time since 1996 as a junior, when he was a First-Team
All-Region 3-5A selection ... Also named First Team All-County during
after 2012 season ... Played three years of basketball for Richmond
Hill, averaging 7.9 points per game and 5.8 rebounds a contest as a
junior.
Jamoral Graham, WR, 5-10, 165, Decatur, Miss. (Newton County HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: An elite four-star athlete for head coach Jackie Williamson at
Newton County High School ... Rated by ESPN.com as the third-best
prospect in the state and at No. 119 on the ESPN300 ... Cited by
ESPN.com as having exceptional versatility, speed, ball skills and
playmaking ability ... A 2013 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen honoree, the
first ever from Newton County ... Selected to participate in the 2013
All-Gridiron First Team by the Mississippi Gridiron ... Chosen to play
in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, but did not take part in
the contest due to injury ... Earned spots in the a Semper Fidelis
All-American Bowl and Army All-American games ... A member of the
MaxPreps 2013 Mississippi Preseason All-State Football Team ... Named
to the 2013 247Sports All-State All-Prospect Third-Team Offense as an
athlete ... Has been clocked at 4.42 in the 40-yard dash ... Helped the
Cougars score 263 points, an average of 26.3 per game as a senior ...
During final campaign, tallied 52 rushes for 421 yards and five
touchdowns as well as seven receptions for 91 yards and one TD ...
Returned three punt returns for 79 yards and a score ... On defense,
picked up 38 tackles (26 solos), 3.0 tackles for lost yardage, three
sacks, four pass breakups and one forced fumble ... Filled in at
quarterback in the fifth week of the campaign, completed 6-of-9 passes
for 75 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 103 yards and three
scores in a 33-10 win against West Lauderdale ... In the second week of
the season, caught five passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the
second quarter alone versus Choctaw Central ... Named the top performer
at the Steve Robertson's annual Southern Select combine prior to senior
season ... During junior year, accounted for 1,430 all-purpose yards
and caught 24 passes for 464 yards, averaging 19.3 yards per catch ...
Rushed for 495 yards as a junior ... Finished with a team-best 12
touchdowns, 11 coming on the offensive side of the ball ...
Defensively, chipped in with 21 hits, seven pass breakups and one
interception ... Earned a place on the U.S. Air Force 2010 Freshman
All-American Team as an athlete after averaging 34.1 yards per punt
return ... Ran track for the Cougars, competing in the 100 and
200-meter dashes as well as the 4x200-meter relay ... Placed third in
the 100-meter dash at the 2011 state championship meet ... Helped the
4x200-meter unit to a second-place finish at the state meet.
J.T. Gray, S, 6-0, 196, Clarksdale, Miss. (Clarksdale HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: Played junior season at Coolidge High School in Ariz., before
transferring to Clarksdale for senior campaign ... Grew up in the
Magnolia State and came home for final season ... A three-star recruit
by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... The 20th-best
prospect in the state according to ESPN.com ... Played at Clarksdale
for head coach Henry Johnson ... Team advanced to the second round of
the Mississippi High School Athletic Association 5A state playoffs
after a 38-21 victory against Ridgeland in the postseason opener ...
Team fell to Callaway in the second round of the playoffs ... Named to
the 2013 247Sports All-State All-Prospect First-Team Defense ... A
member of The Clarion-Ledger's Targeted 22 ... Selected to take part in
the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic ... Earned Arizona Division IV
Section II First-Team honors as a defensive back after junior season
and second-team accolades as a running back in 2012 ... Played on both
sides of the ball as a senior and recorded 58 tackles ... Offensively,
rushed for 939 yards and 16 scores ... As a junior at Coolidge, tallied
60 carries for 914 yards and 15 scores while catching 10 passes for 117
yards and a TD ... Defensively, booked a team-leading 112 tackles (75
solo) and two interceptions ... On special teams, added a combined 271
yards on kickoff and punt returns ... As a freshman for Clarksdale,
rushed 11 times for 42 yards ... On defense, intercepted one pass and
returned it 15 yards ... Named the MVP of the Rivals Camp Series at
Hamilton High School in March, 2013 ... Ran track for Coolidge and
qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter run, high
jump and long jump.
Gerri Green, LB, 6-4, 221, Greenville, Miss. (Greenville Weston HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A four-star standout linebacker by 247Sports and Scout.com ...
Ranked as the 12th-best prospect in the state by ESPN.com ... Played
for head coach Shannon Williams' Greenville Weston Hornets ... Invited
to participate in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic and Semper
Fidelis All-American Bowl ... A member of The Mississippi Press'
Fantastic 15 list of the state's top collegiate football prospects at
the beginning of the 2013 season ... A 2013 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen
selection, just the second in school history joining Quentin Groves
(2002) ... A member of the MaxPreps 2013 Mississippi Preseason
All-State Football Team and the Mississippi Gridiron 2013 All-Gridiron
First Team ... Named to the 2013 247Sports All-State All-Prospect
First-Team Defense ... As a senior, tallied 98 tackles with 11.5 for
lost yardage and 5.0 sacks ... Broke up seven passes, forced a trio of
fumbles and recovered one during 2013 campaign ... On offense, made six
catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns ... Selected as the MaxPreps
Defensive Player of the Game following performances versus Clarksdale
and Gentry ... During junior year, notched 89 tackles, four pass
breakups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles ... On
offense, carried just eight times for 37 yards, but caught 10 passes
for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a tight end.
Grant Harris, DT, 6-3, 270, Bolton, Miss. (Clinton HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: One of the top defensive line prospects in the state of
Mississippi ... A three-star selection by 247Sports, Rivals.com,
ESPN.com and Scout.com ... Named to the 2013 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen
... Became just the fourth Clinton player to be named Dandy Dozen and
first since 2000 ... Possesses an 80-inch wingspan ... Notched 92
tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles as a
senior ... Racked up 71 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble as a
junior ... Coached by Judd Boswell.
Jordan Harris, OL, 6-5, 299, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com,
Scout.com and 247Sports ... Rated as the 130th-best offensive tackle in
the nation according to ESPN.com ... Selected to play in the second
annual Florida-Georgia All-Star Game ... Helped Stephenson to a 9-3
overall record and 7-2 mark in 5A Region 6 action during the 2013
campaign ... Played for head coach Ron Gartrell's Jaguars ... Helped
the offense score 383 points during the campaign, an average of 31.9
per contest ... Squad topped the 40-point plateau four times and scored
a year-high 62 points at Dunwoody on Sept. 13 ... Lifted the Jaguars to
a 27-7 win against Flowery Branch in the opening round of the Georgia
High School Association (GHSA) 5A playoffs before falling to North
Paulding 35-7 in the second round ... Named to the Class 5A preseason
all-state team prior to senior year ... A 5A All-Region 6 First-Team
selection as a junior ... Guided the Jaguars to a 9-3 record and 7-2
region mark during junior campaign ... Squad advanced to the third
round of the GHSA playoffs with victories against Pope and East
Paulding in the first two rounds ... Helped pave the way for the
Jaguars to 365 points during junior campaign, an average of 30.4 points
a contest ... Team tallied 40 or more points twice, including tallying
63 at Lakeside in the third week of the season.
Braxton Hoyett, DT, 6-3, 285, Pelham, Ala. (Pelham HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247Sports ... The 30th-best prospect in Alabama, and the 84th-best
defensive tackle in the country, according to ESPN.com ... Played for
head coach Brett Burnett and helped the Panthers to a 6-5 overall
record as a senior ... An AlabamaVarsity.com Super All-State Second
Team selection and a Friday Night Fuel Team Alabama Defense pick ...
Earned a spot in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic ... Made 73
tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks while adding one fumble
recovery during senior year ... As a junior, booked 101 tackles with
15.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks ... Broke up three passes as a junior ... Ran
track for Pelham and was the Shelby County champion in the shot put
with a throw of 42-feet, 9.5 inches ... Second cousin is New York Giant
Justin Tuck.
Darrion Hutcherson, TE, 6-7, 250, Dadeville, Ala. (Copiah-Lincoln CC) JUNIOR
COLLEGE: Suited up at tight end for two years for head coach Glenn
Davis at Copiah-Lincoln ... A three-star recruit according to
Rivals.com and 247Sports ... Led Copiah-Lincoln to a 7-2 overall record
in 2013 ... Part of an offense that averaged 432.9 yards a game, the
13th-best mark in the National Junior College Athletic Association
(NJCAA) ... Hauled in a season-high two passes for 20 yards against
Pearl River on Oct. 12 ... Tallied a season-long 28-yard reception
versus Hinds Community College on Sept. 19 ... During first year on
campus, helped the Wolfpack finish 9-3 and claim the Mississippi
Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) State
Championship ... Played defensive end as a rookie. HIGH SCHOOL:
Attended Dadeville High School and played for head coach Richard White
... Was the 20th-ranked tight end nationally and 18th-best player from
Alabama according to Rivals.com ... Ranked as the 14th-best player in
Alabama by Scout.com ... The 13th-ranked tight end nationally and
14th-best prospect from Alabama on 247Sports' big board ... The
31st-best tight end nationally and the 25th-best recruit from Alabama
according to ESPN.com ... Ranked 15th overall in Alabama by SuperPrep
... Ranked 12th on the Birmingham News' 2012 Super Seniors ... Member
of the 4A Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Team in senior
season ... Selected to play in the 2012 Offense-Defense All-American
Game following senior season ... Caught 31 passes for 550 yards and 6
touchdowns on offense while collecting 36 tackles (18 solo) including 2
sacks and 1 INT on defense in his senior season ... Guided the Tigers
to a 12-1 record and trip to the Alabama High School Athletic
Association 4A state tournament quarterfinals ... During junior
campaign, tallied 57 tackles with 6.0 sacks ... Offensively, hauled in
14 passes for more than 400 yards ... Also played basketball for the
Tigers PERSONAL: Born June 12, 1993 ... Son of Rachel Hutcherson and Darryl Heard.
Jesse Jackson, WR, 6-2, 201, Petal, Miss. (Petal HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A four-star recruit according to ESPN.com and checked in No.
129 on the ESPN300 list ... The fourth-best in-state prospect according
to ESPN.com ... Selected to participate in the 2014 Under Armour
All-America High School Football Game ... Played for head coach Marcus
Boyles ... A three-star prospect according to Scout.com and 247Sports
... Slated at No. 4 on The Mississippi Press' Fantastic 15 list of the
state's top collegiate football prospects at the beginning of the
season ... A member of the MaxPreps 2013 Mississippi Preseason
All-State Football Team ... Selected to the 2013 All-Gridiron First
Team by the Mississippi Gridiron ... Named to the 2013 247Sports
All-State All-Prospect Second-Team Offense ... Rated as the No. 27 wide
receiver in the nation by the 247Sports Composite ... Finished the year
as the No. 11 recruit in Mississippi according to Scout.com ... Helped
Petal to a 10-3 record and a trip to the second round of the
Mississippi High School Athletic Association Class 6A state playoffs
... Did not play entire senior season due to injury suffered during
42-7 win against Jim Hill ... Prior to injury, caught 22 passes for 332
yards and three touchdowns ... As a junior, hauled in 39 passes for 842
yards and 11 TDs ... Tallied 1,018 all-purpose yards as a junior after
adding 176 yards on kickoff returns ... Contributed on defense with 17
tackles during junior campaign ... Transitioned from quarterback to
wide receiver following freshman year ... Also played basketball as a
freshman at Petal and played baseball as a freshman and sophomore. PERSONAL:
Mother, Angela, played basketball at Southern Miss (1997-2000) and
spent time with the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers and Portland Fire.
Elgton Jenkins, OL, 6-4, 283, Clarksdale, Miss. (Clarksdale HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to 247Sports ... Rated as the
15th best prospect in Mississippi by 247Sports ... Was a high school
teammate of fellow 2014 signee J.T. Gray as a senior ... Two are the
first SEC prospects from Clarksdale since Charles Mitchell went to the
NFL after four years at Mississippi State . . . Earned Second-Team 5A
Mississippi Association of Coaches All-State honors as a senior ...
Selected to play for the North Team as an offensive lineman in the
Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Game following final year ...
Earned a place on the Mississippi High School Athletic Association
(MHSAA) Region 1-5A First All-Region Team ... Played for head coach
Henry Johnson and helped the Cougars to a 7-5 record in 2013 ... Team
advanced to the second round of the MHSAA 5A state playoffs after a
38-21 victory against Ridgeland in the postseason opener ... Played on
both sides of the line during final campaign . . . Collected19 tackles
with 2.0 sacks in 2014.
Jocquell Johnson, OL, 6-4, 308, Jackson, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln CC) Officially
enrolled early at MSU in January 2014 and will join the Bulldogs for
spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a
letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy). JUNIOR COLLEGE: Suited up at
left tackle for two years at Copiah-Lincoln for head coach Glenn Davis
... Started every game of two-year career ... A three-star recruit
according to Scout.com and 247sports.com ... Became the first
Copiah-Lincoln player to sign with MSU since offensive lineman Phillip
Freeman in 2007 ... Led the Wolfpack to a 7-2 overall record in 2013
... Helped the offense surpass the 40-point plateau four times as the
Wolfpack averaged 33.7 points a contest ... Part of an offensive line
that allowed the Wolfpack to average 432.9 yards a game, the
13th-highest total among NJCAA clubs ... During first year on campus,
helped the Wolfpack finish 9-3 and claim the Mississippi Association of
Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Championship, the
program's first since 1985, with a 41-37 victory over Gulf Coast ...
Squad participated in the Mississippi Bowl and was ranked No. 14 in the
final NJCAA poll. HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Callaway High School and
played for head coach Daryl Jones ... Took part in the 2011
Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic ... Named to the Mississippi
Coaches Association 5A First Team All-State Team and the all-metro team
in 2011 ... Helped the Chargers to playoff trips as a sophomore and
junior ... Tallied 14 pancake blocks in a 20-0 shutout of Provine
during junior campaign.
Dontavian Lee, RB, 6-1, 211, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Forrest County HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247Sports for head coach Larry Dolan ... Earned a spot on the
Mississippi High School Football Coaches Class 4A First-Team All-State
Offense squad as a senior and the second team as a junior ... The
59th-best running back in the country according to Scout.com and rated
as the 23rd-best prospect in the state by ESPN.com ... A member of the
MaxPreps 2013 Mississippi Preseason All-State Football Team ... Named
to the 2013 247Sports All-State All-Prospect Second-Team Offense ...
Selected to the 2013 All-Gridiron Second Team by the Mississippi
Gridiron ... Checked in at No. 17 in the Clarion-Ledger's Targeted 22
... Took part in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic ... Carried
Forrest County to the Mississippi High School Athletic Association 4A
state championship with a 21-6 victory against Lafayette ... Title was
the first in the history of the Aggie program, which finished the
campaign with a 13-2 overall record and made its initial appearance in
the state finals ... Team lost just one game to a 4A squad during the
campaign ... In the championship game, rushed for 43 yards and had a
key 15-yard touchdown reception that put the Aggies ahead 21-6 with
4:20 remaining in the third quarter ... In the state quarterfinal game
versus St. Stanislaus, tallied 253 all-purpose yards, including 90
rushing and 128 receiving ... For the season, gained 1,590 yards
rushing on 222 carries and registered 13 touchdowns while hauling in 29
passes for 432 yards and eight scores as a senior ... Defensively,
tallied 43 tackles (31 solo stops), 5.0 tackles for lost yardage, 1.0
sack, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles as a linebacker ...
Tallied a pair of defensive touchdowns with a fumble and interception
return for TDs ... Returned 11 kickoffs for 250 yards ... Selected as
the Nov. 19 WDAM Player of the Week for performance against Columbia in
the state tournament ... Totaled 111 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards
and two completions for 17 yards ... Added six tackles and an
interception returned for a touchdown versus Columbia ... As a junior,
carried the ball 138 times for 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns ... Caught
17 passes for 301 yards and five scores while completing all six pass
attempts for 76 yards and five TDs ... Earned Academy Sports and
Outdoors Player of the Week for Sept. 20, 2012, after 307 rushing yards
and two touchdowns against Purvis High School ... As a sophomore was
named a Hattiesburg American All-Star ... Recorded 1,163 rushing yards
on 167 carries and scored seven touchdowns ... Added nine receptions
for 242 yards and four scores ... Also participates in basketball and
track for Forrest County ... In track, runs the 100-meter dash and
throws the shot put.
Chris Rayford, CB, 6-0, 182, Byhalia, Miss. (Byhalia HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Scout.com ...
Helped Byhalia to a 4-8 overall mark and a trip to the second round of
the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class 4A
playoffs ... Played for head coach John Danley ... Earned a spot on the
MHSFCA 4A First-Team All-State Defense ... A FOXMemphis All-Mid-South
Team pick and an All-Gridiron Third Team selection by the Mississippi
Gridiron prior to the start of the 2013 campaign ... A First-Team
All-District honoree as a junior and a second-team selection following
sophomore campaign ... Named to the 2013 247Sports All-State
All-Prospect Second-Team Defense ... Battled through injuries, but
still recorded 32 rushes for 324 yards and three touchdowns while
adding a catch for 71 yards and a score ... On defense, booked 64
tackles, 6.0 hits for lost yardage, 2.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries
(two returned for touchdowns) and two pass breakups ... Anchor of a
defense that held opponents to 12 or fewer ... Ran track for the
Indians and qualified for the 2013 state meet in the 100-meter relay,
400-meter relay and 100-meter dash ... Took fourth place at the North
State meet in the 100-meter sprint as a junior.
Elijah Staley, QB, 6-6, 231, Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A four-star quarterback prospect by ESPN.com and a three-star
prospect according to Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports ... The
18th-best quarterback in the country according to ESPN.com ... Played
under head coach Mike Collins for three years ... Named one of
MaxPreps/Reebok Top-25 Most Dynamic High School Athletes in July, 2013
... A Marietta Daily Journal Dynamite Dozen selection prior to 2013
campaign ... An Honorable Mention All-Region 5-6A selection as a junior
... Played five games as a senior, completing 72-of-115 passes (62.6
percent) for 1,072 yards and 12 touchdowns ... Rushed for 102 yards and
a pair of scores during final campaign ... Prior to final campaign,
took part in the Elite 11 Atlanta Camp, where he received instruction
from former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer ... Threw for 1,801 yards and
12 touchdowns as a junior, taking the Wildcats back to the playoffs for
the first time in six years ... Added five more rushing scores during
junior campaign ... Lifted the squad to the playoffs with 183 passing
yards in playoff-berth clinching win against Cherokee in the season
finals ... As a sophomore, completed 40 percent of passes for 833 yards
and four touchdowns ... Suited up for the Wheeler basketball team and
was a Class 6A First-Team All-State selection by the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sportswriters Association as a junior,
averaging 18.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game ... Helped the Wildcats
and head coach Doug Lipscomb to the state semifinals and 21-9 overall
record in hoops ... Scored 40 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and
dished out seven assists against Etowah during the 2012-13 season ...
Played for the AAU Team Southern Stampede ... A member of the Wheeler
track and field program, competing in the triple jump, 100-meter dash,
200-meter race and 4x100-meter relay team. PERSONAL: Son of Norman
and Sharon Campbell ... Half-brother of Greek professional basketball
player, and former Georgetown standout, Patrick Ewing Jr.
Cory Thomas, DT, 6-5, 273, Bessemer, Ala. (McAdory HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com,
Scout.com and 247Sports ... Rated as the 19th-best prospect in the
state of Alabama by ESPN.com ... A four-year letterwinner for head
coach David Powell ... 2013 Alabama Sports Writers Association
First-Team 5A All-State selection following junior and senior campaigns
... Earned a place on the MaxPreps 2013 Alabama Preseason All-State
Football Team ... Helped the Yellow Jackets to a 10-3 overall record
and 6-1 mark in Region 5 contests as a senior ... Squad advanced to the
quarterfinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA)
5A state playoffs before falling to Southside 28-25 ... Anchor of a
defense that surrendered only 161 points, an average of 12.4 per
contest ... Recorded 75 tackles and 3.0 sacks during final campaign ...
Recovered a fumble against Southside in the quarterfinals that led to a
touchdown and 7-0 McAdory lead ... Played as a safety as a freshman ...
Also has suited up for the basketball program.
Aeris Williams, RB, 6-1, 200, West Point, Miss. (West Point HS) HIGH
SCHOOL: A four-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Scout.com and
247Sports and a three-star prospect by Yahoo.com ... A three-year
starter for head coach Chris Chambless ... Ranked as the 42nd-best
running back in the country and the 11th-best recruit in Mississippi by
ESPN.com ... The Mississippi Association of Coaches 5A Offensive Player
of the Year as a senior ... A 2013 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen selection
who was also a member of The Mississippi Press' Fantastic 15 list of
the state's top collegiate football prospects at the beginning of
senior season ... Became the fourth Dandy Dozen player from West Point,
joining Chris Washington (1989), Chris Jefferson (1990) and Michael
Carr (2009) ... Took part in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic
... A 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee ... Finished just shy of
the 4,000-yard rushing mark (3,994 yards) in prep career ... Gained
1,697 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 265 carries during senior year
... Registered nine receptions for 85 yards and a score during final
campaign ... Selected as the WCBI-TV Offensive Player of the Year
following senior year ... Against Center Hill, rushed for 252 yards and
four touchdowns (32, 27, five and 15 yards) to help Green Wave to 69-41
victory ... Rushed for 1,519 yards as a junior with five touchdowns on
268 carries ... Added six receptions for 77 yards in 2012 ... A
Columbus Dispatch All-Area Second-Team honoree as a junior, when the
Green Wave advanced to the MHSAA 5A state semifinals ... Versus
Hernando in 49-14 victory, ran for 112 yards and three scores (four, 10
and 15 yards) ... During sophomore season, rushed for 778 yards on 129
carries and contributed 12 scores ... Hauled in 13 passes for 250 yards
and a pair of TDs as a sophomore. PERSONAL: Family lived in Racine, Wis., before moving to West Point.
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