No Surprise, Mississippi State Loading Up on Offensive Players in 2021 Recruiting Class
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After producing some of the most prolific offenses in the nation at Texas Tech and Washington State, there are no questions about Mike Leach’s ability to put together a relentless passing attack. But while executing those dynamic attacks and posting a Cougar’s all-time single season best 11 wins during the 2018 season, a little bit of defense might have taken his teams a couple of steps further down the proverbial road. It appears Leach’s 2021 recruiting will continue the focus on scoring the ball with less attention to stopping SEC defenses.
For a hot minute starting the 2020 season, Leach was the talk of the country. The Bulldogs (4-7, 3-7 SEC) rolled into Tiger Stadium taking down the defending national champions, the No. 6 LSU Tigers (44-34). But then adjustments in the SEC happened. MSU went on a four-game skid started by a 21-14 home loss to Arkansas ending with a 41-0 throttling by eventual national champs Alabama.
But after taking the loss in Tuscaloosa something happened in Starkville, the Bulldogs found their footing. After taking down Vanderbilt, MSU hit a three-game skid but losses to No. 13 Georgia and Ole Miss were by a touchdown (31-24) and gave Auburn chase before falling 24-10. The squad finished on a two-game win streak claiming victories over Missouri and No. 24 Tulsa.
The 44-point outing against LSU and the 51-point outburst against Missouri are Leach’s kind of games. In the seven losses, the Bulldogs averaged 12.5 points per game. The 2021 recruiting class is reflective of The Pirate’s ideology. Of the 20 players committed, 12 are slatted to the offensive side with just seven ready to defend the goal line.
Adding to the focus, there will be five new quarterbacks slinging the ball around on the team when preseason practices begin. The team has a signed letter of intent from four-star Texas QB Sawyer Robertson and already has three-star Daniel Greek out of Liberty Christian in Argyle (TX) on campus. Seeking immediate collegiate experience, MSU has welcomed three transfers; Chance Lovertich from South Alabama, Jack Abraham from Southern Miss, and Jack Kirstofek from Sam Houston State. The offense is also getting a transfer boost from former three-star Cal Bears receiver Makai Polk.
What could pay off once the season begins, six players have enrolled early. Three of those already on campus include three-star offensive linemen Albert Reese and Gabe Cavazos with Carson Williams transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Two other high-profile offensive signees from the early signing period includes four-star receivers Theodore Knox and Antonio Harmon.
On a positive note, MSU has added quality talent to their linebacker corps with four-star John Lewis and early enrollee DeShawn Page, a JUCO transfer from East Mississippi. What should prove problematic, only two defensive linemen have been added, both defensive ends; Deonte Anderson and Tre’von Marshall.
There is a commonality at the top of the SEC, scoring the ball. Alabama led the conference posting an average of 48.5 points a game followed by Florida reaching 39.8 points. But there is a cautionary tale in the midst – Ole Miss. The Rebels were third in the SEC lighting up the board with 39.2 per but had the worst statistical defense among the 14 teams allowing 519 yards an outing along with 38.3 points. The Rebels finished their season 5-5, 4-5 in the SEC. Transversely, Alabama led the conference holding the opposition to 19.4 per game.
Mississippi State’s 2021 recruiting class is currently ranked 33rd nationally with four four-stars and 15 three-star recruits. Among their peers, that ranks 10th in the SEC.
Photo credit: The Spun; MSU head coach Mike Leach