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Mississippi State Bulldogs surging for top uncommitted RB prospect

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Mississippi State Bulldogs surging for top uncommitted RB prospect


Meridian (Miss.) four-star running back Daniel Hill was not expected to be uncommitted and unsigned following the Early Signing Period.

South Carolina appeared to be on the verge of landing his pledge in the fall. Alabama has been in the mix for the 6-foot, 220-pounder, while Tennessee also made his final three back in October.

Mississippi State was always mentioned, but never considered a true frontrunner. That’s slowly changed in December. Hill, the son of a former Bulldog, visited Starkville on Dec. 8 to see MSU and new head coach Jeff Lebby.

“I had a great time,” Hill said of the visit to On3’s Sam Spiegelman. “The whole coaching staff welcomed me and my family and we all enjoyed ourselves.”

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Ahead of Hill’s Jan. 6 commitment date, Mississippi State is surging in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Spiegelman logged a pick in favor of the Bulldogs on Dec. 13. On Saturday, Miss State recruiting insider Paul Jones did the same, accompanying his pick with a 90% confidence level.

South Carolina still holds the lead for Hill in the RPM, but MSU is surging. The No. 188 overall prospect and No. 14 RB in the 2024 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking — could be staying in-state to begin his college career.

“The Bulldogs are working hard to keep the legacy recruit inside the state of Mississippi. This recruitment has had no shortage of twists and turns, which is expected to continue into next month’s announcement,” Spiegelman wrote on Dec. 21.

Bulldogs hoping for multiple recruiting wins in January

Hill isn’t the only Mississippi State target set to come off the board early in January. Three days before Hill’s announcement at the All-American Bowl, Starkville (Miss.) four-star wide receiver Braylon ‘Stonka’ Burnside will announce on Jan. 3 at the Under Armour All-America Game.

The hometown recruit and one-time Miss State commit is down to the Bulldogs and Ole Miss. Multiple recruiting insiders have logged RPM picks in favor of MSU over the Rebels, pointing to a potentially big week for Lebby and his staff. Other new pledges include elite JUCO linebacker Branden Jennings and Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville three-star WR Mario Craver.

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The Bulldogs are amidst a major December that saw eight prospects commit, including Baltimore St. Frances Academy four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren, the No. 22 signal-caller in the cycle.

During the Early Signing Period, 20 of the 22 commits in Miss State’s class put pen to paper. The class ranks No. 27 in the nation and No. 14 in the SEC, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. If Hill were to commit, he would become the highest-ranked prospect in the class.



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Leading rusher Davon Booth announces return to Mississippi State football for 2025 season

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Leading rusher Davon Booth announces return to Mississippi State football for 2025 season


Mississippi State football will leading rusher Davon Booth back next season season.

The running back and the Bulldogs revealed the news in a joint social media post on Tuesday that said, “Booth is back.”

Booth, who was a senior and out of eligibility, is allowed to return because of an NCAA decision in December to grant junior college players an extra year of eligibility for 2025-26. Booth played two seasons at Cerritos College in 2021 and 2022 before joining Utah State and transferring to MSU.

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He rushed for 759 yards and five touchdowns this season and also caught four touchdowns. Booth also returned kickoffs, averaging 25.7 yards per return.

What Davon Booth’s return means for Mississippi State

The running back room looks like it will be one of the strengths for the Bulldogs with Booth’s return.

In addition to Booth, Mississippi State added South Alabama’s Fluff Bothwell in the transfer portal, who was an All-Sun Belt Third Team selection as a freshman this season. MSU is also expecting Seth Davis to be healthy after he missed the entire season with a knee injury. In 2023, Davis was second on the team in rushing and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Xavier Gayten, a former four-star recruit, also flashed potential in a limited role this season as a freshman.

What’s most encouraging about Booth is how he finished the season. He didn’t arrive at Mississippi State until after the spring semester and didn’t run efficiently in the first half of the season. However, Booth had a five-game stretch in the second half of the season with at least 90 scrimmage yards in each game. That includes 100-yard rushing games against Tennessee and Missouri.

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



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Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions

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Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions


Mississippi State basketball is projected for its highest NCAA tournament seed in 20 years.

The Bulldogs (13-1, 1-0 SEC) are off to a strong start to the season with only one loss − to Butler on a neutral court. They play at Vanderbilt (13-1, 1-0) on Tuesday (8 p.m., ESPNU).

Here is where MSU stands in the latest NCAA tournament projections.

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Mississippi State basketball is as high as a No. 3 seed

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm has Mississippi State as a No. 3 seed in the South Region. The Bulldogs would be matched up with No. 14 South Dakota State in Milwaukee. The winner would play either No. 6 seed Purdue or No. 11 seeds Vanderbilt or New Mexico, who are projected to play in the First Four.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi lists MSU as a No. 4 seed in the West Region, matching up with No. 13 Grand Canyon. The second-round game would be against either No. 5 UCLA or No. 12 UC San Diego. Both rounds would be played in Denver.

Mississippi State basketball’s NCAA tournament resume

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 13 in the NCAA NET rankings as of Tuesday. They are 3-0 in Quad 1 games, beating Memphis, Pittsburgh and SMU. The loss to Butler is Quad 2, but MSU has wins in that quadrant against McNeese and Utah.

MSU’s 85-50 win against South Carolina on Saturday in the SEC opener is Quad 3.

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Mississippi State is slated to play five straight Quad 1 games until it visits South Carolina on Jan. 25.

Mississippi State basketball’s NCAA tournament history under Chris Jans

The Bulldogs have made the NCAA tournament twice in coach Chris Jans’ two seasons but haven’t won a game.

In 2023, they were in the First Four and loss to Pitt by one point. Last season, No. 8 seed MSU lost by 18 to No. 9 Michigan State in the first round.

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Mississippi State last won an NCAA tournament game in 2008, a first-round win against Oregon. It has not advanced past the round of 32 since 1996.

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



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Mississippi Gulf Coast preps for cold; experts urge to protect four P’s

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Mississippi Gulf Coast preps for cold; experts urge to protect four P’s


BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – With temperatures forecast to drop below freezing overnight, residents took action to combat the cold on Monday.

With the big chill setting in until midweek, both the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Mississippi Power posted reminders on social media about the importance of protecting the “Four P’s” – people, pets, plants, and pipes.

The following tips are recommended to keep everyone safe and warm:

  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially those with special needs and the elderly.
  • Bring pets indoors. Remember, it’s a Mississippi law for pet owners to provide adequate shelter.
  • Insulate or wrap exposed water pipes. Keep water dripping to avoid freezing.
  • Cover any outdoor plants or bring them inside.

Pine Hills Nursery Manager Rachel Bond told WLOX that it’s not too late to bring plants inside.

“Yes, if you can bring the plant indoors, we do recommend that because you can control the environment and it is much warmer,” Bond said. “If it is something permanent that you can’t bring in, then we recommend covering it with a soft layer like a blanket or sheet and then plastic or tarp over that.”

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“Then once temperatures are above freezing the next day you can go ahead and remove that,” she continued. “You don’t want to leave it covered for several days in a row. You want to uncover it and cover it again if you have to.”

The EMA also stressed the importance of preparing a “go-kit” for the vehicle, containing the following items:

  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Battery Radio
  • Jumper Cables
  • Blanket
  • Water & Non-perishable Food
  • Playing Cards
  • Extra Fuel
  • Power Bank
  • Ice Scraper

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.



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