Football Recruiting - Southeast Region: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Four-star WR Pack heading to FSU

May, 19, 2013
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video Markell Pack (Purvis, Miss./Purvis) has been high on the Seminoles board for quite a while. So when he committed to Florida State late Saturday night, it was not a surprise that the Florida State coaches were a happy group.

New assistant coach Tim Brewster was the first to get the news Sunday morning.

"I decided to do it last night and when we talked this morning, they were pretty fired up," Pack said.

During the recruiting process, it was Brewster's candid approach that really hooked Pack.

"He's just straight up with me," said Pack, who holds offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State amongst others.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver is versatile given his size. He'll be able to do a lot of things at the next level, whether in the slot or out wide.

And from his perspective, he thinks he'll enter the offense as a good match.

"I just really like what they've got going," he said. "I think I'll fit in great."

Pack joins J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee), JoJo Robinson (Miami/Northwestern) and C.J. Worton (Homestead, Fla./South Dade) as the other wide receivers in Florida State’s 2014 class.

Pack, who ranks as a four-star prospect, is the tenth commitment for the Seminoles in this class.
For quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway), the schedule book is starting to fill.

The first day to mark off the calendar is Thursday, when his Parkway team scrimmages Alexandria (La.) Senior High to conclude spring drills. He'll play in front of coaches from several major colleges. At the end of the scrimmage, sometime around 7 p.m, he'll announce which six schools he plans on visiting this summer.

"It's going to be a big day," he said. "I can't wait."


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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- Everyone calls him “Pee Wee,” but not in an ironic way that you would call a big man “Tiny.” No, defensive tackle Davonte Lambert (Milledgeville, Ga./Georgia Military College) was born to that nickname.

“I was a premature baby and my auntie came up with that name when I was little, so it just stuck with me ever since,” Lambert said. “I was under five pounds.”

Now Lambert tips the scales at 280 pounds and stands 6-foot-3 atop the wish lists of a number of major college programs.

“I have offers from Georgia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi State, Miami, Texas Tech -- I don’t know all of them off the top of my head,” Lambert said. “I get a ton of letters every day with a lot of handwritten ones.”

Not too shabby for a guy who didn’t get much attention in high school. Now in junior college, Lambert is enjoying the spotlight.


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JACKSON, Ala. -- The recruiting process might have started slow for Jackson High School linebacker Gavin Bryant, but it has not slowed down. This spring, he’s added offers from the likes of Florida, Miami, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, giving him close to 15 total, all in the last three months.

Still, there’s one school that stands alone at the top -- the University of Alabama.

Bryant added an offer from the Crimson Tide in February, but the staff wants to see him at camp in June before the offer becomes committable. UA assistant coach Lance Thompson came by recently and told him to be ready to compete.

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Recruiting pitches: SEC

May, 10, 2013
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Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the SEC:

Alabama Crimson Tide
What they are selling:
What's not to sell? Alabama is coming off back-to-back national championships, and the Crimson Tide had nine players taken in April's NFL draft, including three in the first round. For the critics who say you won't play early at UA, ask T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper how much they contributed as freshmen.

What they are missing: Although they won a national championship, the Tide didn't generate much pass rush last fall, and they had trouble containing freshman sensation Johnny Manziel. Also, they need to rebuild the offensive line, a unit that anchored the offense last year.

Arkansas Razorbacks
What they are selling:
New head coach Bret Bielema runs a completely different offensive system than the previous two Arkansas coaches. The Razorbacks are selling an opportunity for freshmen to come in and earn playing time early in their careers.

What they are missing: The Razorbacks signed only one offensive lineman, Denver Kirkland, who was rated a four-star prospect or higher last year. In this run-heavy system, look for Arkansas to focus on landing talented players along the offensive line.

Auburn Tigers
What they are selling:
It's a new regime for Auburn, but there's a familiar face running the show. New head coach Gus Malzahn knows the program from his days as offensive coordinator. He's already shown the ability to recruit, stealing ESPN 150 linebacker Tre Williams away from the Tide. There's a sense of excitement on The Plains again.

What they are missing: Malzahn filled out his first recruiting class with playmakers, but Auburn needs to build up front on the offensive and defensive lines. No matter what offense you run, if you want to win in the SEC, you need to be able to compete up in the trenches.

Florida Gators
What they are selling:
With no proven wide receivers on the perimeter, Florida is attempting to sell early playing time at the position. A chance to play for one of the best defensive minds in college football in Will Muschamp is another selling point to defensive prospects.

What they are missing: Production on offense. After finishing 114th nationally in passing offense, it will be hard to sell playing time to wide receivers without an explosive passing game in place.

Georgia Bulldogs
What they are selling:
Freshmen, if they're good enough, play early at Georgia. From running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall to offensive tackle John Theus to defensive end Jordan Jenkins, several freshmen Bulldogs made major contributions on a team that was a few yards away from making the national championship game.

What they are missing: Georgia has brought in four top-12 recruiting classes in the last four years. Depth might become an issue for some recruits, but Georgia has certainly shown a willingness to play younger players.

Kentucky Wildcats
What they are selling:
After finishing 2-10, Kentucky fired coach Joker Phillips. New head coach Mark Stoops is offering a fresh start and a chance to help build Kentucky in to a contender in the SEC East.

What they are missing: Plain and simple -- tradition. Sure, Kentucky is full of basketball tradition, but the success on the hardwood completely overshadows the football program. A record 50,831 fans attended the Wildcats' spring game, so the interest level is certainly headed in the right direction.

LSU Tigers
What they are selling:
An unprecedented 10 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft. LSU is selling the opportunity, not only for early playing time because of the departures, but a chance to make it to the NFL in three years.

What they are missing: Because of all the departures, there are some holes on both sides of the ball. Depth is now an issue at running back and LSU will need to replace Eric Reid, Kevin Minter, defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, defensive tackle Bennie Logan and linebacker Kevin Minter.

Ole Miss Rebels
What they are selling:
Ole Miss landed the No. 5-ranked class in the country, including No. 1 overall player Robert Nkemdiche and No. 1 offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Look for Ole Miss to sell recruits on the opportunity to help build something special under head coach Hugh Freeze.

What they are missing: Freeze brought a creative and innovative offense to the SEC, but the defense is still a work in progress. Ole Miss finished 12th in the SEC in pass defense and will need to continue to build depth in order to compete for the SEC West championship.

Mississippi State Bulldogs
What they are selling:
Only 11 of 22 starters return for a team that finished 8-5 last year. The Bulldogs offer recruits a chance to play early and play in the best division in college football.

What they are missing: Mississippi State returns its starting quarterback Tyler Russell, but who will he be throwing to? Last year's four leading receivers, including Chad Bumphis, are gone. Look for the Bulldogs to focus on offensive weapons in this recruiting class.

Missouri Tigers
What they are selling:
The Tigers return 14 of 22 starters on a team that went 5-7 in its first year in the SEC East. Missouri runs a fun and innovative offense that is sure to attract recruits, and there is certainly an opportunity to play early.

What they are missing: The defensive line is probably the most critical area on any defense in the SEC, and the Tigers lost their best lineman in Sheldon Richardson. Mizzou must find a viable replacement for Richardson and linebackers Zaviar Gooden and Will Ebner.

South Carolina Gamecocks
What they are selling:
The Gamecocks have been dominant on defense over the last few years, and a strong line is a big part of their success. South Carolina is selling an opportunity to be the next Jadeveon Clowney and be a part of one of the top defenses in the SEC.

What they are missing: Hard to believe, but head coach Steve Spurrier needs help at wide receiver. The Gamecocks signed only one wide receiver in their 2013 class. They have young bodies, but not much depth or production from the returning group.

Tennessee Volunteers
What they are selling:
A fresh start under new head coach Butch Jones. Since 2011, Tennessee has finished with the No. 13, 21 and 29 recruiting classes in the country. There plenty of holes to fill, and any incoming freshman will have plenty of opportunities to earn a starting spot.

What they are missing: Tennessee lost wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson to the NFL draft and must replace their production on the outside. The Volunteers are also thin in the secondary and will look to recruiting to plug some key holes on defense.

Texas A&M Aggies
What they are selling:
There is a lot to sell a recruit on at Texas A&M right now. An explosive offense which led the SEC in total offense by more than 100 yards a game, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and a team that went into Tuscaloosa and handed Alabama its only loss last season.

What they are missing: There are still some holes to fill on defense. The Aggies finished with the No. 8-ranked defense in the SEC and the No. 10-ranked pass defense in the league. They also need to replace talented defensive end Damontre Moore, who is now in the NFL.

Vanderbilt Commodores
What they are selling:
Head coach James Franklin has taken Vanderbilt to a bowl in two consecutive years, and the Commodores are bringing in a solid recruiting class. Selling recruits on an opportunity to play at Vanderbilt during one of the best eras in the school's football history is enticing to high school recruits.

What they are missing: Vanderbilt is not yet on par with other SEC schools as far as facilities. The Commodores, though, are certainly headed in the right direction. A new indoor practice facility is being constructed, and stadium renovations are in the planning stages.
Cornelius Sturghill quickly has become a nationally known prospect.


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ESPN 150 ATH Jamoral Graham has committed to Mississippi State and our scouts believe he will make an impact wherever he ultimately lines up.


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ESPN 150 ATH Jamoral Graham commits

May, 7, 2013
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Mississippi State, quiet on the trail thus far in the 2014 class, added a big pledge Tuesday from ESPN 150 athlete Jamoral Graham (Decatur, Miss./Newton County), multiple sources report.

LSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss also extended scholarship offers to the 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect. Graham currently sits at No. 109 in the ESPN 150, is the nation's 15th best ATH, and Mississippi's fourth highest rated recruit.

ESPN calls Graham, "one of the more smooth and fluid skilled athletes this class has to offer... Can run with the fastest of receivers downfield. Has fluid change-of-direction skills that with further development could really propel him to the next level."

Graham rushed for 495 yards and six touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 464 yards and five more scores during his junior season.

He's commitment No. 2 for the Bulldogs. Three-star wide receiver Nikia Cathey (Memphis, Tenn./Westwood) kicked off their class in January.
Recruiting has steadily picked up for four-star quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway), and that trend continued Monday.


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Cards reach double digits with Culver

May, 3, 2013
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Cornerback De'Eric Culver (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby) became Louisville's 10th Class of 2013 pledge Friday, multiple sources report.

Culver selected the Cardinals over scholarship offers from Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and South Carolina.

Auburn, Indiana, Missouri, South Florida, Tennessee and Vanderbilt also recruited the 5-foot-10, 169-pound prospect.

Culver posted an electronically-timed 4.75 40-yard dash, 4.63 20-yard shuttle, 29.5-inch vertical, 31-foot power throw and 63.93 SPARQ this spring at a Nike Combine.

Six of Louisville's 10 commitments are from the Sunshine State.
BRADENTON, Fla. -- On the fields of the IMG Academy Southeast Regional 7-on-7 Tournament, George Campbell (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) stood off to the side with a sling hanging off his shoulder and covering his broken wrist.

That injury, suffered a few weeks back, will keep him out of East Lake's spring practices starting at the beginning of May. But fortunately for him, he's already got a ton of offers to begin with and won't be reliant on coaches coming by for the evaluation period.

That doesn't mean he isn't frustrated, though.


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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Defensive end Derek Barnett (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Academy) looked forward to a meeting this offseason with Drew Richmond (Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School).

After all, Richmond’s team ended the season for Barnett last November with a one-point win the state-playoff semifinal round.

Barnett said he thought he earned a victory over Richmond on Sunday at the Nike Football Training Camp on the home turf of the coveted 2015 offensive tackle.

“I want to go up against the best,” Barnett said, “so I was like, ‘Come on, let’s battle.’ It went well. I got the best of him. He got me a few times, but I think I won that one.”


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Tales From the Road: Georgia QBs 

April, 17, 2013
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Tales From the Road spotlights players who stand out to RecruitingNation writers at camps, combines and various events. Here is a look at a few Georgia quarterbacks who recently performed at a high level:

QB Deshaun Watson
Vital stats: 2014 / Gainesville (Ga.) High School / 6-foot-3, 186 pounds

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Gabe Angel might outgrow his position as a running back. Regardless, his spot as a premier prospect in the Class of 2016 remains solid.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound freshman out of Lebanon (Tenn.) Wilson Central stood out among backs on Sunday at the Nike Football Training Camp in Memphis – for more than just his size.

Angel picked up his first scholarship offer last year from Mississippi State after its coaches saw footage of him in 7-on-7 competition. He added an offer from Vanderbilt in December and recently picked up offers from Tennessee and Ole Miss.

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BUFORD, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List defensive end Lorenzo Carter (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) credits his blindingly pink socks and highlighter yellow shoelaces with helping him win the defensive lineman MVP award at the Atlanta NFTC on Saturday.

The award came with a brilliant gold dog tag that complemented his outfit. But what really caught Carter’s eye, and fashion sense, was the big gold box that he was handed that contained his invitation to The Opening.


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