Editor’s Note: It’s never too early for football. In anticipation for Mississippi State’s 2026-27 season, The Dispatch will spend this week and next breaking down MSU’s position groups. Today’s position: the wide receivers.
Mississippi State’s wide receivers have big shoes to fill.
Brenen Thompson, who transferred to Starkville last year and had one of the best years for a Bulldog receiver in recent memory, is off to the NFL. Leaving with him are 1,054 yards, six touchdowns and 57 receptions in the maroon and white.
Anthony Evans III is the only key piece in the receiving room returning from last season, leading the Bulldogs in receptions last year with 67.
Using Ourlads.com projected depth chart, here is a look at MSU’s 2026-27 receiving room.
The starters
Anthony Evans III – senior
Evans found a home in Starkville last season.
After two years of limited production at Georgia, Evans led the Bulldogs in receptions (67) and was second in receiving yards (831) last season. Evans is likely to see an up in production this season with All-SEC receiver Brenen Thompson off to the NFL.
Evans measures at 5’ 11, 180 pounds, and is one of MSU’s three player representatives to take center stage at SEC Media Days next Thursday.
Ayden Williams – senior
Ayden Williams was one of the highest-rated recruits in the class of 2023, but hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype.
He was the second best player in Mississippi out of Ridgeland High School, and committed to play for Ole Miss. Williams had just seven receptions in two seasons with the Rebels.
He was in the shadow of Evans and Thompson, who were also a part of MSU’s 2025 portal class, and was fourth in receiving yards (252) and receptions (21). Williams is projected to jump into the top WR-Z role, according to Ourlads.com, typically a speedy receiver used in motions who is less of a deep threat lining up off the line of scrimmage.
Williams measures at 6’ 3, 250.
Marquis Johnson – senior
Jeff Lebby must love taking receivers from other SEC schools.
During the 2025 portal rotation, Williams, Evans and Thompson all came to Starkville by way of a conference foe.
Johnson is the latest name in that trend, and was Lebby’s highest rated portal commit this offseason. He played in 37 games in three seasons at Missouri, amassing 1,075 yards on 66 receptions. Johnson had 340 yards and two touchdowns last season.
He comes in at 5’ 11, 190 pounds.
The backups
Sanfrisco Magee – redshirt sophomore
Sanfrisco Magee was quiet for most of last season, but made himself known in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Magee scored a 42-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter in the eventual loss to Wake Forest, breaking tackles from two defenders en route to paydirt. The play, by far his biggest of his State career, showcased his skillset for his redshirt-sophomore season.
Magee was a 3-star recruit from McComb. He has six receptions through 86 yards in two seasons in Starkville. He comes in at 6’ 2, 200 pounds.
Zion Ragins – redshirt sophomore
Zion Ragins marks yet another receiver poached by Lebby from another SEC school.
Ragins was a four-star recruit out of high school and played his first two years at Oklahoma. He started five games as a true freshman, tallying 10 receptions for 68 yards. Ragins only appeared in two games last season, earning his redshirt before transferring to MSU.
He measures at 5’ 8, 170 pounds.
Gracen Harris – redshirt freshman
Gracen Harris, a 4-star talent according to ESPN, didn’t see the field much his freshman year.
He played in just two games with one reception. He measures at 5’ 11, 175 pounds.
Also on the roster
Matt Mayfield – junior
A juco transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Had 502 yards and three touchdowns at Co-Lin. Measures at 6’ 2, 185.
The freshmen
Bull Mitchell (redshirt) – 5’ 11, 210 pounds from Fort Valley, Georgia.
Jesse Primer IV (redshirt) – 6’ 0, 175 pounds from Canton, Mississippi.
Fischer Southall – 6’ 2, 185 pounds from Fairhope, Alabama.
Jayden Cration – 6’ 3, 185 pounds from Canton, Mississippi.
Zion Crumpton – 6’ 1, 165 pounds from Montgomery, Alabama.
Camden Capehart – 5’ 8, 170 pounds from Winnsboro, Texas.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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