Mississippi
Mississippi State Football UDFA Tracker: Which former Bulldogs have signed deals?
The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and three Mississippi State football players had their names called. Cornerback Decamerion Richardson went in the 4th Round to the Las Vegas Raiders. Defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy went in the 6th Round to the Carolina Panthers. And linebacker Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson went in the 6th Round to the Cleveland Browns.
Though State didn’t have any early round selections, it was a successful draft for MSU. Their three selections were their most since having five players drafted in 2020.
Now that the draft has come to a close, NFL teams are beginning to sign undrafted free agents, and Mississippi State football has several players who could end up signing UDFA deals.
Last season, four former undrafted Bulldogs played in the NFL, headlined by DL Denico Autry and Safey/Special Teamer JT Gray, both of whom have put together great careers in the league.
Which Bulldogs have signed UDFA deals in 2024?
Bulldog defensive back Marcus Banks became the first Mississippi State player to sign a UDFA deal, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs are signing Mississippi State defensive back Marcus Banks as an undrafted free agent, per source.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) April 27, 2024
Banks played multiple spots in the secondary during his Mississippi State career. The former Alabama-transfer came to MSU as a corner before moving to safety for his final season, though in MSU’s scheme, he was often playing nickel.
Banks’ biggest highlight of his career by far came in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl when he ran a fumble back for a TD as the clock expired to secure a 19-10 win over Illinois as State honored the late Mike Leach.
Many expected WR and kick returner Tulu Griffin to be taken in the draft. Instead, he’s signing a UDFA deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Former Mississippi State WR Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin is signing with the #Raiders, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2024
Griffin was an electrifying player during his Bulldog career. An explosive play-maker, he was great at taking quick passes long distances. Over his final two seasons, he caught 90 passes for 1160 yards and eight TDs. He was even better as a kick returner, with a pair of KR TDs at State.
Tulu gets to remain teammates with former Bulldog CB Decamerion Richardson in Vegas, and he has a great chance to make it in the league as special teams superstar.
MSU safety Shawn Preston is getting a NFL opportunity as well. The hard-hitting DB has been invited to the New Orleans Saints’ rookie minicamp.
Cam Wire from Tulane and Shawn Preston from Miss State have been invited to Saints rookie minicamp, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 28, 2024
It doesn’t appear that Preston is officially signing a deal yet with the Saints, but he will get the opportunity to earn a deal at the minicamp.
The SEC regular season champion Georgia Bulldogs (43-12, 23-7 SEC) begin the SEC Tournament against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. Mississippi State is 40-16 (16-14 SEC) entering their matchup with Georgia. Mississippi State is coming off a 12-2 run-rule win in seven innings over Missouri.
The Bulldogs enters the SEC Tournament having won 11 of their last 12 games. Georgia leads the nation in home runs. Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson was recently named as the SEC player of the year.
“We’re planning on going with our regular routine,” Georgia baseball manager Wes Johnson said ahead of the SEC Tournament. “From a pitching standpoint on Thursday, we have a lot of guys who will be ready to throw. I’ll see who wins the first few games before we announce exactly what we’re planning to do, but we’re staying with it. We’ve got guys on bullpen schedules, as if we’re playing a Thursday, Friday, Saturday series.”
No. 1 seed Georgia and No. 8 seed Mississippi State met three times during the regular season with Georgia earning a road sweep at Mississippi State.
Watch Georgia vs Mississippi State live on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s how to watch the Georgia vs Mississippi State game today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information:
What channel is Georgia vs Mississippi State on today?
TV Channel: SEC Network
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
Georgia vs Mississippi State will broadcast nationally on SEC Network in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. Tom Hart and Dave Neal are alternating play-by-play duties throughout the SEC Tournament alongside analysts Todd Walker, Lance Cormier, Chris Burke and Kyle Peterson, who will be calling games from the booth at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Georgia vs Mississippi State time today
- Date: Thursday, May 21
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
The Georgia vs Mississippi State game starts at 4 p.m. from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.
Georgia vs Mississippi State prediction, College World Series odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, May 20
We predict Georgia will defeat Mississippi State to advance in the SEC Tournament. Georgia swept Mississippi State during the regular season and has been elite against SEC opponents this season, so we can’t pick against UGA.
Georgia (plus-1000) and Mississippi State (plus-1000) both have top-five best odds to win the College World Series. Georgia and Mississippi State are only behind Texas (plus-900), Georgia Tech (plus-600) and UCLA (plus-550).
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Mississippi
Death investigation underway after Columbia Academy graduate taken off life support in Florida
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WDAM) – A death investigation has been opened after deputies in Florida responded to a life-threatening call involving a recent Columbia Academy graduate.
WDAM’s sister station, WJHG, reported that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said Shannon Thomas Tanner, 19, was expected to be taken off of life support Wednesday after being declared brain dead.
According to the incident report obtained by WJHG, on Sunday, May 18, deputies arrived at a home in Panama City Beach and were told that Tanner had been drinking alcohol.
The report says an investigator asked someone at the home what happened, with the person telling the investigator that Tanner was “drinking too much.” EMS reportedly treated Tanner on scene.
BCSO is investigating the death of a 19-year-old from Mississippi
The cause of the medical emergency has not been confirmed, and the investigation is ongoing.
According to a GoFundMe set up to help with funeral expenses, Tanner was on his senior trip after graduating from Columbia Academy.
Columbia Academy made a Facebook post expressing its condolences for the family, saying the recent graduate was “the kind of person who can make anyone laugh, light up a room with his personality and dance moves, and make others feel valued simply by being himself.”
Return to WDAM 7 for updates on this developing story.
Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved.
Mississippi State softball is one step away from reaching the program’s first Women’s College World Series.
But to get there, the Bulldogs (41-18) will have to get through one of the top programs in the sport.
MSU is facing Oklahoma (51-8), the No. 3 national seed, in the NCAA Tournament super regional. The best-of-three series begins May 22 (noon, ESPN2) at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma.
Here is a scouting report and prediction for the super regional.
Oklahoma easily won its regional
The Sooners breezed through the Norman Regional, outscoring Binghamton, Kansas and Michigan 28-1 in three games.
That wasn’t much of a surprise for a team that’s made nine consecutive Women’s College World Series and hasn’t missed a super regional since 2009. Oklahoma has won eight national championships, seven of them since 2013.
Oklahoma is 27-1 at home this season, with the only loss to Arkansas on April 18.
Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts played at Oklahoma from 2006-09 and then was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma from 2009-11.
MSU is 0-11 all time against Oklahoma.
Oklahoma led by Kendall Wells’ 37 home runs
The offense has been Oklahoma’s strength, especially from a power standpoint. The Sooners have hit 182 home runs in 2026, the second most in the country behind UCLA and 80 more than the next best SEC team.
Freshman Kendall Wells has 37 home runs, the most in program and SEC history. Four other players have at least 19 home runs.
The Sooners also rank first in the SEC in batting average and runs scored.
Oklahoma’s pitching staff ranks eighth in the SEC with a 3.02 ERA.
Can Alyssa Faircloth continue dominance vs Oklahoma?
A big part of Mississippi State winning the Eugene Regional was Alyssa Faircloth’s dominant pitching. She threw 15⅔ shutout innings in the regional. That included a no-hitter against host Oregon and then another complete-game shutout against Saint Mary’s in the regional final.
The Troy transfer and SEC Newcomer of the Year has a 2.28 ERA and 16-7 record. Her 261 strikeouts are a single-season program record.
The Bulldogs, who rank third in the SEC in team ERA at 2.15, also have Peja Goold, who started the first game of the Eugene Regional. She has a 2.12 ERA and 15-10 record.
Mississippi State vs OU softball super regional prediction
Oklahoma wins super regional 2-0: The Sooners are a big step up in competition. Faircloth and Goold give MSU a chance, but the offense will need to keep up.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour ago2 red-tailed hawk nestlings rescued after 63-foot fall in Santa Clarita
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoFormer Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan drops out of Michigan governor race
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco Sheriff discusses security at houses of worship, pickpocket arrests
-
Dallas, TX2 hours ago3 Dallas Cowboys UDFAs Who Could Steal a Spot on 53-Man Roster
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMan accused of following woman in his Tesla, exposing himself to her in South Miami
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoWhat’s happening in and around Boston during the World Cup
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver weather: More sunshine, high plains storms
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoThe Status of Fare Evasion in Washington State
