National Signing Day 2014: Grades and Analysis for Mississippi State

The 2014 recruiting class for Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs didn’t feature the same signing day drama as last year when No. 2 recruit Chris Jones was flirting with rival Ole Miss in the days and weeks leading up to national signing day, but there is still some nice talent in this year’s class.

Mississippi State finished with the nation’s No. 38 class which ranked as the No. 12 class in the Southeastern Conference according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. You can view the entire Mississippi State class here.

The headliners for this year’s class are a trio of in-state offensive playmakers in running back Aeris Williams, athlete Jamoral Graham and the vastly underrated Jesse Jackson at receiver.

Williams should form a nice tandem with one of last year’s top recruits Ashton Shumpert with his size at 6-1, 205-pounds, the West Point native has 1,000-yard potential when he gets his opportunity.

Jackson isn’t going to be a speed merchant on the perimeter but I love his savvy and ball skills and think he will emerge in a talented young group of receivers in Starkville.

Graham may have the most upside of any recruit in this year’s class, but it’s a question where he will line up. He could conceivably play running back, wide receiver, safety or corner. It may be wise to redshirt him as a freshman and determine where his future lies.

Quarterback recruit Elijah Staley has some intriguing size for the position and the skill-set of a basketball player, so he should benefit from sitting behind Dak Prescott for the next two years and refine his mechanics and develop his football acumen.

The most intriguing defensive recruit–and it’s not even close– is 6-5, 230-pound outside linebacker/defensive end Gerri Green. He is listed as an athlete by 247Sports and a LB by Rivals, but I think his future is at the weakside defensive end spot if he can get his weight up to the 255-pound range.

He’s an athletic and versatile football player with great intangibles so you basically put him out on the football field and let him get to the quarterback and find the ball. In some respects he reminds me of Benardrick McKinney as an athletic marvel who can do special things when he learns the nuances of the position.

Grade: C+