STARKVILLE — On a day usually reserved for optimism and a chance to gaze upon oozing potential, Mississippi State suffered hit after hit as the early signing period opened Wednesday.
Heading into the day with a top-30 recruiting class nationally according to the 247 Sports composite rankings, the Bulldogs watched their group drop to No. 36 overall and No. 10 in the Southeastern Conference following the flips of four-star receiver Malik Nabers (LSU), four-star athlete MJ Daniels (Ole Miss) and three-star junior college linebacker Navonteque Strong (LSU).
Strong, who decommitted from MSU on Tuesday, was perhaps the biggest loss of the trio given he was the presumed heir to Erroll Thompson’s slot at middle linebacker next year assuming Thompson does not return for an extra year in Starkville.
“We’re still recruiting, and we’re on a number of guys,” Leach said in response to a question about the flips. “And then also, some may be announced later, too. But we’re going to see what unfolds as the dust settles in January and, obviously, the transfer portal as well.”
While the Bulldogs lost a handful of important pieces, Wednesday was not completely lost. MSU made a major addition in previously uncommitted four-star receiver Antonio Harmon out of Kosciusko — a town Leach needed a brief aid in pronouncing during his early signing day press conference. Harmon signed with the Bulldogs over a slew of Power Five offers including Texas, LSU and Georgia and provided a slight buffer given the loss of Nabers.
Other additions Wednesday included former Virginia Tech pledge Canon Boone and one-time South Carolina commit Simeon Price. Boone filled a major need at offensive tackle and was a prospect MSU was heavy on during the early part of the 2021 cycle prior to his commitment to the Hokies.
As for Price, the high school wide receiver profiles as a running back in the air raid and received a comparison from Leach to former Missouri standout Jeremy Maclin in terms of body size and speed.
“They’d move (Maclin) all over the field, and (Price has), you know, just that kind of versatility,” Leach said.
The crown jewel of MSU’s 2021 class arrived in the form of four-star quarterback Sawyer Robertson. A native of Lubbock, Texas, where Leach spent a decade as the head coach at Texas Tech, Robertson ranks as one of the most prolific passers in Texas High School football history and is also slated to play baseball for the Bulldogs upon his arrival.
Standing nearly 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Leach said Robertson is a proven commodity given his track record of success and that he’s relatively mobile for his size. The first-year MSU head coach also addressed the balance Robertson will need to strike between playing for MSU’s baseball team while also learning the requirements of a quarterback in his program.
“We’ll just have to see what happens,” Leach said in reference to Robertson playing both baseball and football. “I mean, it’s challenging. I’ve had guys do it, though. You know, I’ve had our starting receiver was also the center fielder there at Texas Tech, but it is tough, and the sports are hard enough but then the academics in the midst of it.”
With 19 players now aboard, it’s expected MSU will add as many as seven more prospects to its 2021 class, while Leach alluded to a handful of signees who did not have their paperwork publicly announced Wednesday. He also made note that the Bulldogs have already begun looking for replacements for the spots vacated by Strong, Nabers and Daniels.
“At this point, our class is what it is,” Leach said. “There’s no real ahead of schedule at this point. Now it’s just the objective of filling the other scholarships. And we want a number of them filled by February, but still, I wouldn’t rule out keeping a few back and seeing what transpires as far as transfers and things after spring football.”
Mississippi State 2021 signees
— Four-star QB Sawyer Robertson — Lubbock, Texas
— Four-star WR Teddy Knox — The Woodlands, Texas
— Four-star LB John Lewis — Madison
— Four-star WR Antonio Harmon — Kosciusko
— Three-star QB Daniel Greek — Argyle, Texas
— Three-star WR/RB Simeon Price — Pensacola, Fla.
— Three-star OL Canon Boone — Dickinson, Texas
— Three-star DE Tre’von Marshall — Locust Grove, Ga.
— Three-star LB Nic Mitchell — Jacksonville, Fla.
— Three-star S Corey Ellington — Lexington
— Three-star LB Timar Rogers — Deland, Fla.
— Three-star WR Rodarius Thomas — Eufaula, Ala.
— Three-star DE transfer Randy Charlton — Miami, Fla. (UCF)
— Three-star WR Jacobi Moore — Gulfport
— Three-star OL Albert Reese — Clearwater, Fla.
— Three-star OL Gabe Cavazos — Lake Cormorant
— Three-star OL Carson Williams — Perkinston (Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.)
— Three-star LB DeShawn Page — Knoxville, Tenn. (East Mississippi C.C.)
— Three-star JUCO OT Nick Jones — Byhalia (East Mississippi C.C.)
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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