Mississippi State Football

Defensive end Aaron Odom's strange journey to find a college finally came to an end when he flipped his commitment again, this time going from Louisville to Mississippi State.  

According to Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger, Odom announced Wednesday his pledge to play at Mississippi State.

Mississippi State had to sweat out a drawn-out process with Odom, but the wait will be well worth it for head coach Dan Mullen. 

Coming out of Callaway Senior High School in Jackson, Mississippi, Odom is rated as a 4-star prospect who is the No. 1 defensive end from his home state, the No. 22 defensive end in the nation and the No. 251 player overall, per Scout.com.

Odom's Scout.com evaluation highlights his versatility as a pass-rusher as one reason he has such a high ceiling.

"Likely to play with his hand in the dirt at defensive end, but he could project as a stand-up linebacker in a 3-4 scheme," the report said. "Loves to get after the quarterback and he plays with a lot of energy. Can play high and he needs to improve shedding blockers, but he knows how to get up the field and close on the quarterback. Can set the edge and redirects well."

Odom had a long journey to reach the moment when he finally determined staying close to home was what he wanted to do. 

He had originally committed to Mississippi State in April 2016 before flipping to Louisville two weeks ago after the Cardinals hired Peter Sirmon as their defensive coordinator. Sirmon spent last season in the same job with the Bulldogs. 

As recently as last Thursday, Odom told Jody Demling of Scout.com he was "100 percent committed" and would be "signing with Louisville."

The nature of national signing day means nothing is official until the paperwork has been submitted. Odom had more time to think of his life-changing decision and landed on Mississippi State as the best spot for him to play football. 

Mullen and Mississippi State's entire defensive staff won't mind going through this process since it means Odom will line up on the Bulldogs defensive front for possibly the next four years.

Mississippi State picked up another key addition for its 2017 recruiting class Wednesday in the form of talented outside linebacker Willie Gay. 

Will Sammon of the Clarion-Ledger provided Gay's announcement and the crowd's reaction:

some video and reaction of Willie Gay's announced commitment to Mississippi State pic.twitter.com/Aj40TYNozc

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) February 1, 2017

Gay is a 4-star prospect who ranks as the No. 51 recruit among the group of incoming freshmen, according to Scout.com. The outlet also rates him as the third-best outside linebacker and the top outside linebacker from the state of Mississippi in the 2017 class.

The Starkville High School star has all the tools to become a prototypical edge player in today's game. He's capable of rushing the passer and dropping into coverage. While he's athletic enough to make plays against the run, he must become a more consistent tackler during his time at the collegiate level.

It's a skill set that, when combined with his 6'1 ½", 215-pound frame and high-end athleticism, puts him on track to become a well-rounded defensive force. That's why top programs showed interest, even though he's rough around the edges from a technique standpoint.

Gay originally chose Ole Miss before deciding to reopen the recruitment process in October. The linebacker told Sammon he wanted to make sure his final decision kept him on course toward a potential NFL career.

"I'm just trying to see what is best for me to one day get drafted," Gay said. "I think about it every night, and I think about the history teams have at linebacker. I'm always doing my homework on it to be sure that I am making the best decision."

Although that's a realistic goal based on his raw talent and potential, he has a lot of work to do to reach that level, so it's hard to fault him for reconsidering his options one last time.

Landing Gay is a massive recruiting victory for Mississippi State. Not only did the Bulldogs wrestle him away from in-state rival Ole Miss following his initial commitment, but they also beat out high-profile programs like Michigan and LSU to bolster their class.

It's a nice fit for Gay, too. The Bulldogs are slated to have several openings at linebacker over the next few years, which should give him an opportunity to make a quick impact if he makes a strong first impression upon arriving on campus. 

A versatile outside linebacker who's capable of helping the defense in a multitude of ways is among the most valuable pieces on a roster. Gay is on the path to filling that role in college and, if his development continues on its current trajectory, possibly the NFL as well.

Mississippi State Bulldogs safety Brandon Bryant was arrested on New Year's Day on misdemeanor charges including suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the Starkville Daily News' Joel Coleman reported Monday.

Head coach Dan Mullen said Monday he and his staff were aware of Bryant's arrest shortly after it occurred and disciplined the sophomore internally.

According to Coleman, Georgia's Cobb County Sheriff's Office also charged Bryant with failure to maintain lane and possession of an open container. He was released after posting a $1,600 bond.

A two-year starter at Mississippi State, Bryant finished with 62 total tackles in 2016, which were fourth-most on the team. He also intercepted a pass in the Bulldogs' 56-41 win over Samford last October.

With free safety Kivon Coman graduating, Mullen will likely expect Bryant to play an even bigger role in the secondary in 2017.

Former Mississippi State safety John Michael Hankerson was dismissed from the university after his arrest Wednesday on five counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping, according to Michael Bonner of the Clarion-Ledger.

It was Hankerson's third arrest in the past month.   

Hankerson had previously been suspended indefinitely from the football team on Nov. 30 following his first arrest for simple assault and trespassing. A week later, he was charged with false pretense.

The latest incident occurred Dec. 17, when Hankerson and two unidentified co-conspirators allegedly pistol-whipped three men and robbed them at the Campus Trails apartment complex, according to the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office.

His alleged co-conspirers remain at large, while Hankerson remains in police custody on $420,000 bond.

Hankerson, who was a redshirt freshman, didn't appear in any games for Mississippi State.

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Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald connects with Fred Ross for a 60-yard touchdown in the first half against Texas A&M.

Thanks to Nick Fitzgerald, the Mississippi State Bulldogs upset the Texas A&M Aggies.

Less than three minutes into Week 10's SEC showdown Saturday, the Bulldogs quarterback took a 74-yard run to the house without a single Aggies defender touching him.

He finished with 209 passing yards, 182 rushing yards and two scores each from the air and ground. After guiding them to an early lead, his Bulldogs pulled off a 35-28 victory at home.

On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff selection committee released its first set of rankings, with the Aggies at No. 4. Their playoff contention took a major hit following Saturday's loss.    

South Carolina holds the upper hand in the recent rivalry with Mississippi State, winning the last seven meetings in a row and going 6-1 against the spread in the process. However, some of that streak stretches back into irrelevance, as these SEC foes don't meet on a yearly basis.

The Bulldogs get their chance to snap that streak when they host the Gamecocks on Saturday night down in Starkville, Mississippi.

Point spread: Bulldogs opened as 9.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 33.6-22.9 Bulldogs (College football picks on every game)

   

Why the South Carolina Gamecocks can cover the spread

The Will Muschamp era is off to a solid start, in the form of a 13-10 victory at Vanderbilt last Thursday. The Gamecocks trailed the Commodores 10-0 well into the third quarter, but they tied the game with a 48-yard field goal by senior Elliott Fry and an eight-yard end-around scoring run by wide receiver Deebo Samuel. South Carolina then got the ball back late, drove 36 yards and won it on a 55-yarder from Fry.

On the night, the Gamecocks only managed 308 yards of total offense, but the South Carolina defense only allowed 242.

South Carolina only returned nine starters from a 3-9 team, but perhaps Coach Muschamp can infuse some renewed enthusiasm into this program.

   

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs can cover the spread

MSU opened the post-Dak Prescott era in inglorious fashion, blowing a big early lead and falling at home to South Alabama 21-20 last Saturday. The Bulldogs led the Jaguars 17-0 at the half and 20-7 with 20 minutes to go, but they gave up a 99-yard touchdown drive and later allowed a fourth-down score with a minute left to fall behind. Mississippi State then drove into field-goal range, but kicker Westin Graves clanked a chip shot off an upright in the final seconds.

The Bulldogs outrushed South Alabama 239-94, with quarterback Damian Williams leading the way with 93 yards on 12 carries. The junior also completed 20 of 28 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions).

Mississippi State returned 10 starters from last season, and while that's not many, the Bulldogs only returned seven starters for last season and still won nine games.

   

Smart pick

College football can be a tumultuous place, where what's up one week is down the next—and vice versa. South Carolina pulled a minor upset last week, while Mississippi State got shocked. But that's why the smart money in this spot backs the Bulldogs on a bounce-back play.

   

Betting trends

South Carolina is 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS in its last seven games against Mississippi State.

Mississippi State is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games against its conference.

South Carolina is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games against its conference.

   

All college football betting lines and point-spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds-tracker app.

Mississippi State senior defensive lineman Nick James will not be charged after he was arrested Aug. 28 on charges of driving under the influence and disturbing the peace, per Joel Coleman of the Starkville Daily News on Friday.

However, he will be suspended for the team's season opener against South Alabama, with David Brandt of the Associated Press reporting the news prior to kickoff.

James is coming off his best season, as he set career highs with 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble in 2015.

The Long Beach, Mississippi, native is penciled in to receive plenty of playing time this season at defensive tackle along with fellow senior Nelson Adams.

While being without James for any period of time due to suspension would be a major hit to the Bulldogs' depth along the defensive line, it isn't likely that the SEC team will need him in order to beat South Alabama handily during the opening weekend.

      

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Mississippi State cornerback Tolando Cleveland will miss the entire 2016 season due to a torn ACL, according to Ben Wait of the Commercial Dispatch.

Continue for updates.

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Bulldogs Lose Veteran in Secondary

Wednesday, Aug. 24

After losing Taveze Calhoun and Will Redmond to graduation, Mississippi State was counting on Cleveland to take on a major role during his senior season. The 6'0", 190-pound cornerback became a starter toward the end of the 2015 season and has played in 38 of 39 games in his three-year career. 

Unfortunately, he won't get a chance to play a down in 2016 after tearing his ACL before Week 1.

Cedric Jiles will also miss the start of the year after breaking his arm. The fellow senior explained earlier in the month that he and Cleveland were projected to be starters, per Wait.

Cleveland is coming off a solid junior season, finishing with 42 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, and three passes defended. He has two career interceptions with the Bulldogs.

With the senior out of the picture, Mississippi State will have to rely upon younger players such as junior Lashard Durr and sophomore Chris Rayford.

Bob Carskadon of HailState.com noted Jamal Peters and Maurice Smitherman could also change positions from safety to add some depth at cornerback.

No matter what the team decides, there won't be a lot of time to prepare before the Sept. 3 season opener against South Alabama. 

   

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.