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Recruiting Rundown: Top Mississippi Prospects Converge at Mississippi State

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Recruiting Rundown: Top Mississippi Prospects Converge at Mississippi State


STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State has picked up nine commits since last week and could land more. The Bulldogs hosted several official visitors last week but mainly focused on out-of-state prospects.

Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby has said that he will focus on recruiting the best players in Mississippi. This weekend, he could have several of the top players. Can MSU continue its recruiting momentum?

4-star defensive lineman Kevin Oatis Jr. will be on campus this weekend. The Hattiesburg, Miss. native is a top priority for the MSU coaching staff, and he is a must-get after the Bulldogs failed to get some of the top defensive linemen in the Magnolia state last year.

State landed Terrance Hibbler but missed on several other top guys. The 6-2 285-pounder has an explosive first step and plays with good pad level.

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Oatis visited Arkansas earlier this month and was set to visit USC last week but decided to cancel that visit. State will try to land Oatis this weekend, and if he makes the call, he will be the second 4-star defensive lineman in the 2025 class (Tyshun Willis.)

Coaches will tell you the most essential part of building a recruiting class is getting a quarterback in the boat early. Last season, Lebby added Michael Van Buren late in the process, but he has his guy early this year.

Taylor committed to the Bulldogs under Zach Arnett and has never wavered. This is high praise for a prospect who has not played his senior season of high school football, but the 4-star from Macon, Miss., is arguably the most physically gifted quarterback State has had in a recruiting class.

He is listed at 6-4 205 pounds and recently showed off his skills at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp. Taylor is a special player and could be a 5-star by signing day.

Either way, the Noxubee County product will likely be the highest-rated quarterback recruit in MSU history, and that is an excellent statement for Lebby in his first class.

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Another 4-star will be on campus this weekend, and it is at a position that Lebby heavily emphasizes. The De Kalb, Miss. native has been busy this month, making official visits to LSU and Ole Miss.

Nash is listed at 6-4 280 pounds, and he camped at MSU last year before he became so heavily recruited. He was impressive with his footwork and good strength despite this frame.

However, Nash seems to have put on more weight, which has paid off, as he now looks like an SEC offensive lineman. MSU will likely push for a commitment like most other in-state recruits, but Mississippi State offensive line coach Cody Kennedy has proven to be an excellent recruiter during his short time in Starkville.

State has arguably its best recruiter on one of their top prospects.

It was a bit of a surprise when Lockhart committed to Auburn on May 6th due to the strong relationships MSU had built at Winona High School. The Bulldogs even signed his older brother, TJ Lockhart, an offensive lineman, in their 2024 class.

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However, it still was not enough to land the younger brother. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze spent five seasons as the head coach at Ole Miss, and he understands the rich talent that comes out of the Magnolia State.

The recruitment for Lockhart is far from over, and MSU coaches will stay on the 6-3 200-pound linebackers all the way to signing day. He made 100 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks last season.

This is a massive prospect for State, and flipping him from a fellow SEC school would be a loud statement.

Like Lockhart, MSU has strong ties with Holmes County Central High School, where Thomas is from. However, the four-star cornerback has not committed elsewhere and will be on campus this weekend.

The Bulldogs have already added many defensive back prospects after picking up four commitments last weekend. However, all of them were from out of state.  

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The 6-0.5 180-pound cornerback could be the next and perhaps the last secondary commitment.  



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14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi

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14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi


WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Deputies in Warren County, Mississippi, arrested a 14-year-old girl for allegedly shooting an 8-year-old.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the shooting happened on Abraham Drive just before 4:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026.

According to the sheriff, the female victim was transported to a Jackson hospital for treatment. He said deputies recovered a handgun at the scene.

There’s no motive for the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.

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A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

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A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi


A follow-up on high car tag costs in Mississippi shows major differences in what drivers pay depending on where they live, even across the street, according to new data from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office.The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said. Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.

A follow-up on high car tag costs in Mississippi shows major differences in what drivers pay depending on where they live, even across the street, according to new data from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office.

The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.

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The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.

The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.

Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.

“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said.

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Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.

Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”

State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.

Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”

He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.

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Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”

Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”

Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.

In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.

We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”

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Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.



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IRS owes Mississippi residents $9.9 million. Are you missing free money?

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IRS owes Mississippi residents .9 million. Are you missing free money?


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Are you missing out on free money? The IRS estimates that 1.3 million Americans are missing out on their 2022 income tax refunds because they haven’t filed their taxes. That totals about $1.2 billion in unclaimed money.

Many taxpayers are missing out on income tax returns because they haven’t filed. Some are years late.

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The final deadline to be eligible is April 15. If people miss it, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

How many people in Mississippi could get a check?

According to the IRS, Mississippi taxpayers are owed about $9.9 million.

Approximately 11,800 people who haven’t filed their 2022 taxes could get a refund. The median amount is $635, so half of refunds could be more than that.

What if I didn’t file my 2022 taxes? When is the deadline?

You have until April 15, 2026, to file back-year returns.

The IRS said you might still be eligible for the check, but only people who have filed their taxes will get one.

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If you owe money or haven’t filed for 2023 or 2024 tax years, your check could be held. The money could also be garnished for unpaid child support or federal student loans.

People also have to file their 2025 taxes to get any refunds that might be owed.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY NETWORK. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.



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