Jeff Lebby and his staff secured five commitments in a single night for Mississippi State football.
As we gear up for the kickoff of the 2024 college football season, recruiting season is in full swing. Mississippi State football is hosting over a dozen official visitors on campus this weekend, making their first major push towards filling out the Class of 2025.
The summer months have traditionally been when MSU finds the most success on the recruiting trail, and this year is no exception. Saturday marked the biggest recruiting day of the summer so far, with five recruits committing to the Bulldogs.
3-Star Cornerback Derrion Horsley Commits to MSU
The first commitment of the night came from 3-star cornerback Derrion Horsley from Georgia. The 6’2″, 185 lb Horsley is rated as an 87 overall prospect by 247 Sports, ranking as the 78th cornerback and the 85th-best player in Georgia. MSU was his first Power Five offer.
3-Star Safety Stephen Miller Commits to MSU
MSU added another defensive back from Georgia with the commitment of 3-star safety Stephen Miller. Rated as an 89 overall prospect by 247 Sports, Miller is the 39th-ranked safety prospect, the 43rd-best player in Georgia, and the 463rd-ranked player nationally. MSU beat out LSU, Tennessee, and Arkansas for the 6’2″, 185-pounder.
3-Star Safety Sekou Smith Jr. Commits to MSU
The Bulldogs continued to bolster their secondary with the commitment of 3-star safety Sekou Smith Jr. from Miami. The 6’1″, 170 lb safety is rated as an 86 overall prospect by 247 Sports, ranking as the 75th safety prospect, the 108th-best player in Florida, and the 878th-ranked player nationally. Smith Jr. held offers from Ole Miss, Miami, and Texas A&M.
3-Star Lineman Josiah Clemons Commits to MSU
State beefed up their offensive line with the commitment of 3-star lineman Josiah Clemons from Clinton. At 6’7″, 335 lbs, Clemons is rated an 85 overall prospect by 247 Sports, ranking as the 113th-best offensive tackle prospect and the 33rd-best player in Mississippi. MSU was his first Power Five offer.
JUCO Linebacker LaKendrick James Commits to MSU
MSU closed out the night with the commitment of JUCO linebacker LaKendrick James. Last season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, James recorded 30 tackles, nine for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. The 6’2″, 217 lb linebacker does not yet have a rating, but he held an offer from Ole Miss.
Saturday Night Boosts MSU’s Recruiting Trail
Jeff Lebby and his staff had a relatively slow start to their 2025 class, with just four commitments going into Saturday. Despite having two 4-star recruits in QB KaMario Taylor and Edge Tyshun Willis, their class ranked just 71st nationally.
After Saturday night’s success, MSU has moved up to 61st in the rankings. While still lower than desired, the rankings are expected to rise as players like Horsley and Clemons receive national rankings and James gets evaluated.
More commitments are expected for MSU on Sunday, as momentum builds. With several recruits joining this weekend, further commitments are likely throughout the summer.
