STARKVILLE — One of Mississippi State football’s top tacklers won’t return for the 2025 season.

Stone Blanton, the Bulldogs starting linebacker, declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday. He made the announcement with a post on social media.

“After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I am humbled and excited to declare for the 2025 NFL draft,” he wrote. “This journey has been filled with unforgettable moments, lessons and blessings.”

Blanton was second on the team and tied for 10th nationally with 124 tackles this season. The junior had one year of eligibility remaining.

It’s the second significant roster move of the day for MSU after Georgia wide receiver Anthony Evans III announced his commitment in the transfer portal.

What Stone Blanton declaring for NFL draft means for Mississippi State football

Blanton, a Jackson native, transferred to MSU after two seasons at South Carolina. Although MSU struggled defensively, he was one of the few bright spots. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

His departure leaves a hole in Mississippi State’s defense that doesn’t have an obvious replacement. Fellow linebacker Nic Mitchell is returning and so is sophomore Zakari Tillman, who showed flashes as a playmaker. Five linebackers have transferred out of MSU, but most of them were depth pieces. Two have transferred in, headlined by Tennessee’s Jalen Smith, an All-SEC freshman.

The Bulldogs signed four-star Winona linebacker Tyler Lockhart in the 2025 recruiting class.

Safety Isaac Smith, MSU’s leading tackler, is returning next season.

MORE: Should Mississippi State basketball be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting slump?

Feb. 7 is the deadline for players to opt out of the draft and return to college.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

‘Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.’

A blast of cold air is moving into the U.S. and is forecast to reach down into Mississippi. All of the state will be affected and some areas will see temperatures plummet into the mid-teens.

“This is going to be a significant cold air outbreak,” said Eric Carpenter, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. “It’s coming out of the Arctic regions.

“Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.”

The cause of it is a shift in the Arctic jet stream.

“The jet stream is allowing it to drop down into the U.S.,” Carpenter said. “The Arctic jet stream is a lot farther South than usual.”

Temperatures in much of the state are predicted to drop into the teens and even the Gulf Coast is expected to see below-freezing temperatures. And as cold as that seems, it may get colder than the current forecast.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the forecast trended colder as we get closer,” Carpenter said. “So, I would continue to monitor the weather.”

Here are the expected temperatures across the state from Saturday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 24, according to AccuWeather as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Jackson temperatures

• Saturday: High 67, low 29
• Sunday: High 43, low 20
• Monday: High 38, low 18
• Tuesday: High 36, low 20
• Wednesday: High 37, low 21
• Thursday: High 47, low 27
• Friday: High 50, low 29

More: Rain, snow coming to US soon. What will Arctic blast from polar vortex bring Mississippi?

Southaven temperatures

• Saturday: High 50, low 24
• Sunday: High 34, low 17
• Monday: High 28, low 16
• Tuesday: High 27, low 20
• Wednesday: High 33, low 25
• Thursday: High 43, low 27
• Friday: High 45, low 32

More: Mississippi is home to one of the best bakeries in the nation, according to NYT. See where

Corinth temperatures

• Saturday: High 53, low 25
• Sunday: High 38, low 14
• Monday: High 28, low 13
• Tuesday: High 28, low 15
• Wednesday: High 32, low 16
• Thursday: High 43, low 22
• Friday: High 47, low 27

Oxford temperatures

• Saturday: High 53, low 24
• Sunday: High 38, low 14
• Monday: High 31, low 13
• Tuesday: High 29, low 17
• Wednesday: High 33, low 18
• Thursday: High 45, low 23
• Friday: High 46, low 27

Greenville temperatures

• Saturday: High 60, low 28
• Sunday: High 37, low 19
• Monday: High 34, low 19
• Tuesday: High 32, low 19
• Wednesday: High 38, low 21
• Thursday: High 44, low 28
• Friday: High 49, low 33

Starkville temperatures

• Saturday: High 63, low 29
• Sunday: High 39, low 16
• Monday: High 37, low 14
• Tuesday: High 34, low 18
• Wednesday: High 38, low 19
• Thursday: High 45, low 24
• Friday: High 49, low 25

Vicksburg temperatures

• Saturday: High 68, low 30
• Sunday: High 39, low 19
• Monday: High 38, low 21
• Tuesday: High 33, low 19
• Wednesday: High 37, low 20
• Thursday: High 47, low 29
• Friday: High 49, low 33

Meridian temperatures

• Saturday: High 69, low 35
• Sunday: High 44, low 19
• Monday: High 37, low 18
• Tuesday: High 35, low 19
• Wednesday: High 43, low 18
• Thursday: High 47, low 24
• Friday: High 50, low 28

Natchez temperatures

• Saturday: High 67, low 31
• Sunday: High 41, low 23
• Monday: High 39, low 21
• Tuesday: High 31, low 18
• Wednesday: High 35, low 20
• Thursday: High 48, low 27
• Friday: High 49, low 31

Hattiesburg temperatures

• Saturday: High 68, low 38
• Sunday: High 46, low 22
• Monday: High 43, low 20
• Tuesday: High 39, low 20
• Wednesday: High 43, low 24
• Thursday: High 48, low 26
• Friday: High 52, low 29

Biloxi temperatures

• Saturday: High 64, low 46
• Sunday: High 57, low 32
• Monday: High 42, low 28
• Tuesday: High 44, low 29
• Wednesday: High 45, low 30
• Thursday: High 49, low 34
• Friday: High 55, low 39

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

Josh Hubbard found himself open with the basketball underneath the basket. It was an open layup, with his defender a few steps behind in the dust. 

The Mississippi State star leapt, but kissed the ball too hard off the glass and it fell off the rim. An open layup, missed. 

It was that sort of game for Hubbard. And in reality, it’s been that sort of two months for Hubbard, who’s shooting slump continued on Tuesday. The No. 18 Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2 SEC) were smacked 88-66 at No. 1 Auburn (16-1, 4-0) for their second straight loss. Although Hubbard led them in scoring with 17 points, he shot 2-of-12 from the field, missing his first seven shots until 8:09 remained in the game. 

How concerned should Mississippi State be? Here’s a look at the numbers. 

What Josh Hubbard’s stats say

Hubbard is actually shooting more efficiently than his breakout freshman season. After Tuesday, the sophomore guard is shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.1% from 3. That’s up 2.2% from the field and 0.6% from 3-point range from last season. His 17.0 points per game are tops on the team. 

However, Hubbard’s efficiency has declined since a hot start to the season. 

Through the first four games, Hubbard shot 59.3% from the field and 60.0% from 3-point range. Since the Utah win on Nov. 17, Hubbard is 60-for-172 from the field (34.8%) and 34-for-114 from 3-point range (29.8%). 

MORE: Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions

Why Mississippi State should be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting

The worry with Hubbard’s efficiency is that it doesn’t seem to be improving. He’s shot at or below 33.3% in four of the last five and six of the last eight games. In the last three games, Hubbard is 10-of-37 from the field (27.0%) and 6-of-26 from 3 (23.1%).

Injuries are also mounting on the perimeter. Kanye Clary sat out again for the 10th consecutive game with a lower-leg injury. Mississippi State hasn’t provided an update on his status since the injury. Riley Kugel, who averages 9.6 points per game, also didn’t play after being a game-time decision. MSU has not said what his injury is or how long he could be out.

Why Mississippi State shouldn’t be concerned with Josh Hubbard’s shooting 

Last season’s team that made the NCAA tournament needed Hubbard to be the go-to scorer. This season’s team has proven it can win games when Hubbard doesn’t have a great offensive performance. 

Although the Bulldogs have lost two games in a row — both to top 10 teams in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll — they still began the season 14-1 for their best 15-game start in 21 years. Hubbard has been held under 15 points six times this season and MSU has won all of those games. That includes some of MSU’s biggest wins of the season against Vanderbilt, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Utah.

Hubbard also entered Tuesday third in the country with a 4.25 assist/turnover ratio. He didn’t record any assists against Auburn and had one turnover.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.