STARKVILLE — It was a scene that captured the 2015 recruiting haul for the Mississippi State football team.
Midway through the first half of MSU’s basketball game against LSU on Saturday afternoon, during a normally quiet media timeout, fans at the Humphrey Coliseum began to stir, as a smattering of applause turned into an ovation.
Walking down one aisle and across the coliseum floor to his seat was MSU football coach Dan Mullen. Behind him was All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Dak Prescott, but it was who followed Prescott — Jamal Peters — who caused the commotion. Peters, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound safety from Bassfield High School, is MSU’s most highly sought after prospect in the Class of 2015.
After walking through and receiving their applause, the trio briefly searched for a seat as fans and students shifted to make room.
That search for ample room in MSU’s crowded student section was almost the only drama Mullen had to deal with in the days leading up to National Signing Day, which opened this morning.
“It really is looking to be a very quiet finish,” said Mike Singer, Southeastern analyst for Rivals.com. “In recruiting, that is just so rare that I’m almost expecting something wild and unexpected to happen. The unexpected always seems to happen on National Signing Day, but this one for MSU might just go as planned.”
For months, Mullen and his staff have had the bulk of MSU’s recruiting haul in place, led by standouts like Peters, a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 2 player in the state, according to 247sports.com. MSU also has received commitments from four-star defensive tackle Fletcher Adams, of Brandon; four-star running back Nick Gibson, of Pinson Valley, Alabama; and Malik Dear, a four-star athlete from Jackson.
The class, which features 15 in-state players and 12 from the Southeast, began to trickle in this morning, when high school seniors could sign binding National Letters of Intent to their school of choice.
For the Bulldogs, the only suspense revolved four-star linebacker prospect Leo Lewis, of Brookhaven High, who was expected to announce his decision late this morning.
But there was no suspense surrounding Peters, arguably the jewel of the latest class. Peters committed to MSU in July 2014, and he never visited another school officially. For most recruiting experts, the future safety was MSU’s most important piece to the recruiting puzzle.
“Jamal Peters is the best safety prospect that has come through this state in 20 years, maybe one of the best ever,” Scout.com’s Steve Robertson said. “You’re looking at a guy with next-level athletic ability, and he plays a position of need. He was a must-get, and the coaching staff did a great job.”
But while Peters and an in-state group featuring Adams, Collins safety Mark McLaurin, and Warren Central cornerback Chris Stamps formed the nucleus of MSU’s latest crop, the out-of-state contingent also is strong.
“I think (Nick Gibson) is without a doubt the best player in the class,” Singer said. “There are others, like Justin Johnson (wide receiver from Hoover, Alabama), but Gibson is the guy I look at as being the star of the class.”
Not all commitments made it. Darrien McNair, a three-star prospect from Ocala, Florida, announced Monday he and the Bulldogs had severed ties. He had been committed since March of 2014. Still, Mullen’s latest class could go down as his best.
In all, 20 high school seniors and one junior college prospect, linebacker Traver Jung of Holmes Community College, were expected to send in letters of intent this morning. That group is expected to join six signees already on campus as early enrollees. That group includes a trio of junior college standouts, led by Martinas Rankin, the No. 1-ranked junior college offensive lineman in the country. At 6-4, 325 pounds, Rankin projects as a possible replacement for departed left tackle Blaine Clausell, a four-year starter.
MSU also has added four-star slot receiver Donald Gray from Copiah-Lincoln C.C., who signed with the Bulldogs out of high school in 2012.
Among early enrollees from high school is Dear, the 5-9, 226-pounder from Murrah High, who had 3,298 rushing yards, 2,410 receiving yards, and 84 touchdowns as a prep standout.
Though the rankings are fluid due to late activity, MSU’s class remained solidly in the top 20 according to Scout (No. 14), Rivals (No. 16), and 247sports.com (No. 18).
Mullen will talk about the program’s signing class at 3 p.m. today.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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