Mississippi State Football

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald suffered a leg injury in the first quarter of Thursday's game against the Ole Miss Rebels, Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported.

Trainers placed an air cast on Fitzgerald's right leg and carted him back to the locker room. Fitzgerald received an ovation from both teams and the fans inside Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, as SEC Network shared:

Before exiting, the junior passer was 1-of-5 for 12 yards with an interception. During the second quarter of the game, Fitzgerald sent out a tweet: 

After the game, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen told reporters Fitzgerald had suffered a dislocated ankle, but he didn't have more information than that. 

Fitzgerald's father said the quarterback's injury had a six-to-eight week recovery time and that he will be ready for spring practice, per Will Sammon of the Clarion-Ledger.

Fitzgerald's injury will almost certainly rule him out for Mississippi State's bowl game, and the big question is whether his preparations for the 2018 season will be impacted.

Freshman quarterback Keytaon Thompson replaced Fitzgerald against Ole Miss and showed off his athleticism by breaking free for a 32-yard run.

Thompson entered Thursday having thrown for 66 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty for Fitzgerald throughout the season.

The New Orleans native was the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The fact Thompson will see meaningful action as a true freshman supplies Mississippi State with a silver lining from what is otherwise a major blow to the offense.

Myles Mason broke out as one of the best safeties in the nation at Pleasant Grove High School in Alabama, and the 4-star prospect announced Thursday that he intends to play his college ball at Mississippi State. 

Mason announced his commitment to the Bulldogs in a video on 247Sports. He said (via Steve Robertson of 247Sports): 

"I called them about a week ago. I called Coach (Dan) Mullen and I had a great talk with him. Me, my mom and my dad sat down and talked with him and told him that (Mississippi State) was the best fit for me and my family also.

"(Mullen) was a little surprised, but he was real excited. All of the coaching staff was very excited. His message to me was just stay focused and keep doing what I am doing."

According to 247Sports, Mason is the 522nd-ranked player among all 2018 recruits. Among all safeties in his class, Mason grades out 40th overall and 15th in the state of Alabama. 

At 6'2'' and 205 pounds, Mason evolved into a two-way force during his time in high school. A machine on both sides of the ball, Mason suited up at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, according to Scout's official analysis. 

However, Mason's long-term position has always appeared to be safety, thanks to his hard-hitting nature and impressive closing speed. 

After a disappointing 6-7 record in 2016, Mississippi State has bounced back with a 5-2 start this season. The Bulldogs had a solid recruiting effort in 2017, ranking 24th overall in 247Sports' class rankings. 

Mullen is fighting an uphill battle recruiting against SEC competition like Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Auburn and Florida. His staff may not land as many elite recruits as those programs get every year, but it has the ability to hit big on the best prospects it does land. 

Mason has the potential to be an enforcer in the secondary with his size and speed. He has all the tools to be a leader on Mississippi State's defense in the near future. n

4-star athlete prospect Diwun Black announced his commitment to Mississippi State in a tweet Wednesday:

Black, who stars at Forest High School in Mississippi, is the No. 182 overall prospect and 12th-ranked athlete in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2019 class. He is the seventh-best prospect in the state of Mississippi.

Listed at 6'3" and 190 pounds, Black recorded 76 tackles (seven for loss) during his sophomore season. He also attempted four passes and made five receptions for 55 yards.

Black is the fourth player in the 2019 class to commit to Mississippi State, the second of 4-star distinction or higher. Five-star defensive end Charles Moore has already committed to the Bulldogs, as has 3-star quarterback Jalon Jones and 3-star defensive end Drelan Porter.

While very early in the process, Mississippi State currently ranks ninth in 247Sports' class rankings.

Coveted JUCO wide receiver Stephen Guidry announced Friday morning he's planning to play his final two years of college football at Mississippi State.

The high-upside playmaker confirmed his choice of the Bulldogs on social media:

Guidry is a 4-star prospect rated as the top overall recruit at the JUCO level for 2018 by Scout, which said he's the "type of player that you can really center your offense around" as part of its evaluation.

The Hinds Community College standout made 30 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns across eight games during the 2016 season with the Eagles.

Scout listed Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Oregon and Miami among the other programs that made a scholarship offer to Guidry before he chose Mississippi State.

The wideout explained his mindset to Ryan Green of Gridiron Now back in December.

"I'm not coming to college to play around," Guidry said. "I'm coming to try and make a name for myself. When I get on the field, I want everybody to know who I am."

He should be in line to make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs next season. Two of the team's top weapons, Donald Gray and Gabe Myles, are seniors, and that should leave plenty of targets available for other receivers, including Guidry, heading into the 2018 campaign.

Highly touted class of 2019 defensive end recruit Charles Moore announced Saturday that he has committed to play at Mississippi State.

According to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports, Moore said the following regarding his decision: "It actually is like family to me and I'm at home. After I got hurt they let my coaches know they they were there for me and that I still had a home that's loyalty. I'm very big on loyalty."

Per Scout.com, Moore is a 4-star recruit who ranks as the No. 23 overall player, No. 3 strong-side defensive end and No. 1 player at his position from the state of Mississippi in his class.

Moore also tweeted about his commitment:

Moore is a native of Louisville, Mississippi, and Scout lists him at 6'4" and 240 lbs. Although that may be considered somewhat light for a defensive end, he makes up for it with his speed and explosiveness off the edge.

His skill set was attractive to many top schools, but he chose Mississippi State over Georgia, Ole Miss and several other Southern-based programs.

Mississippi State finished below .500 for the first time since 2009 last year, as they went just 6-7. The Bulldogs have made a bowl game in seven consecutive seasons under head coach Dan Mullen, however.

The Bulldogs struggled mightily on defense in 2016 and ranked 93rd out of 128 teams in the nation in points allowed per game at 31.8.

While Moore won't provide help until the 2019 campaign, securing him and keeping him in the state of Mississippi is a positive sign for the Bulldogs in terms of turning things around on that side of the ball.

Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill was arrested and charged with reckless driving after being stopped by Mississippi Highway Patrol. 

Logan Lowery of the Daily Journal reported Hill's arrest and charges against him. Per Joel Coleman of the Starkville Daily News, Hill was arrested on Highway 82. 

Hill is expected to compete for carries at Mississippi State this season, though the Bulldogs are stacked with talent in the backfield. 

Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald led the team with 1,375 rushing yards in 2016. Junior Aeris Williams ran for 720 yards and will likely be given the bulk of carries among Mississippi State running backs.

Hill was an early commit to Mississippi State's 2017 recruiting class. He originally gave a verbal pledge to the Bulldogs in May 2016 and is a highly touted running back who was rated as a 4-star prospect and No. 9 player at the position in the nation, per Scout. 

The Mississippi State Bulldogs added their quarterback of the future Tuesday, securing the commitment of 4-star Jalen Mayden.

Mayden announced his intention to join the SEC program on his Twitter page:

The Sachse High School star is the No. 11 quarterback and No. 100 player overall in the 2018 recruiting class, according to Scout.

Over the past two years, the southpaw established himself as a dynamic dual-threat QB. He threw for 5,336 yards and 59 touchdowns while running for another 1,145 yards and 15 touchdowns, per 247Sports.

While Mayden's numbers speak for themselves, he has been aggressively drawing attention to his abilities. During a 14-day period last June, Mayden attended a combination of 12 satellite camps and college campuses, according to ESPN.com's Max Olson.

"We save all year to make sure that during this time we can do this and it doesn’t hurt the household," said Mayden's mother, Katrina Mayden-Salles. 

The Mayden family is well-versed in the demands of the recruiting process, as two of Mayden's brothers are currently on FBS rosters. Wide receiver James Mayden caught 16 passes for 232 yards in nine games for the Rice Owls in 2016, while cornerback Jared Mayden appeared in four games as a true freshman for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Mayden's work ethic and family connections further bolster his standing as one of the top QBs in 2018.

In general, Mayden is everything schools look for in a mobile signal-caller. He has the speed to buy himself time in the pocket or take advantage of gaps in the defense. He has also completed 66.4 percent of his passes and thrown only 13 interceptions, so his passing skills aren't in question, either.

Mississippi State fans might begin making the comparisons to Dak Prescott, but it's way too early to put Mayden in the same discussion with the best quarterback in Bulldogs history. Granted, Prescott was only the No. 70 quarterback in 2011, per Scout.

Nick Fitzgerald still has two more years of eligibility. By the time he graduates, Mayden will have been on campus for a full year. With that experience, he could potentially be the Bulldogs' starting quarterback in 2019. 

Even after a disappointing 2016 season, Dan Mullen will remain with Mississippi State for a long time.

The school announced a four-year extension for the head coach that will keep him on campus through at least the 2021 season. He is set to make $4.5 million next season.

While the Bulldogs finished just 6-7 this past year, they are 61-42 in eight years under Mullen, including 5-2 in bowl games.

"Dan has brought unprecedented success to Bulldog football and is one of the elite coaches in the country," Mississippi State director of athletics John Cohen said in the release. "From a school-record seven straight bowl games to our performance in the classroom, he continues to raise the standard of excellence."

The success on the field has been outstanding considering what was done prior to Mullen's arrival.

Mississippi State has eight winning seasons in the past eight years, a feat accomplished just once in the previous eight years. In 2014, the Bulldogs reached No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for the first time in school history after three straight wins over top-10 opponents.

He was named SEC Coach of the Year that season while leading his team to 10 wins and an appearance in the Orange Bowl.

The 44-year-old would likely be a hot commodity in the coaching carousel if he wanted to leave the Bulldogs, but the latest contract seemingly will ensure he stays with the program.

Mississippi State Bulldogs junior defensive back Jamoral Graham was arrested on New Year's Eve on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, Joel Coleman of the Starkville Daily News reported Thursday.

Coleman cited court officials with the Neshoba County Justice Court in Mississippi who said the defensive back will appear in court Feb. 27.

A school spokesperson said head football coach Dan Mullen handled discipline internally.

Graham started his collegiate career in 2014 as a wide receiver, tallying five catches for 78 yards and one touchdown. He switched to defensive back and became a significant part of the team's rotation as a junior.

He finished the 2016 season with 28 tackles and three interceptions, running one of the picks back for a touchdown in Mississippi State's 47-35 win over Massachusetts. He also had an interception in the Bulldogs' St. Petersburg Bowl victory over Miami (Ohio).

Mississippi State received a huge boost on the defensive line with prized 2017 recruit Noah Elliss committing to the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State announced the news on Twitter: 

Elliss is only coming out of high school, but he's built like a 10-year NFL veteran. The Colorado native is 6'4", 330 pounds and is a run-stopping machine because it's virtually impossible to move him off the line of scrimmage. 

Per Scout.com, Elliss is a 4-star prospect who is the No. 1 defensive tackle from his home state and the No. 25 defensive tackle in the country. 

Blair Angulo of Scout.com offered this report last November about Elliss' skills:

It might be difficult to find a defensive tackle prospect in the West region with the size of Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Valor Christian four-star Noah Elliss. He has the strength to overpower blockers and, given his girth, makes it nearly impossible for linemen to move him around along the interior -- at least that seemed to be the case against a helpless Fountain (Colo.) Fort-Carson team in early November.

This is an important recruiting season for Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs went just 6-7 last season, which was not an unexpected result considering they lost quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive players Chris Jones and Will Redmond. 

However, Mullen changed the culture at Mississippi State with 10 wins in 2014 and nine wins in 2015. There are higher expectations that bring more intense pressure and scrutiny, so finding elite talents to challenge those top-tier SEC programs is essential. 

Elliss gives the Bulldogs the defensive anchor they need to overpower big offensive lines at Alabama and LSU. He's the intimidating presence the Bulldogs can build their entire identity around, and they can do so right away because it won't take long for him to enter the starting lineup.