The No. 3 Bulldogs have the national spotlight in Week 7 for a home game against No. 2 Auburn. Here's what they've built and how they can keep building it.
Last weekend, Mississippi State knocked off then-No. 6 Texas A&M. And yet, the Bulldogs were upstaged by their neighbor to the north, Ole Miss, which beat third-ranked Alabama. This weekend, the No. 3 Bulldogs have a chance to turn the tables, potentially collecting their third SEC win in as many games. If State manages to beat No. 2 Auburn, it will have a great shot to win the SEC West.
Everyone is doubting MSU once again, with Auburn being favored in Starkville. But Mississippi State is used to playing the underdog role, both on the field and on the recruiting trail.
In the SEC West, the Bulldogs have brought in a lower percentage of blue-chip prospects (17.5 percent of MSU's signees were rated four- or five-stars on the 247Sports Composite) than any other team, just below Arkansas (18.3) over the last four classes. Alabama (73 percent), LSU (62), Auburn (53), Texas A&M (46), and even Ole Miss (25) bring in considerably more highly rated recruits.
Normally, that ends up with Mississippi State winning a lot of games against a cupcake non-conference schedule, finishing with a losing record in conference play, and going to a bowl game. But Mississippi State fans want more. They want wins over big programs, something that has rarely happened, as the Bulldogs do not have an all-time winning record against any SEC opponent aside from Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
This year is different
Teams that get out-recruited consistently lose to teams with more talent. That's a fact. But Mississippi State is bucking the trend.
The Bulldogs already blasted LSU in Death Valley and Texas A&M at home. And they've done it with excellent scouting, player development, experience, and a commitment to scheme.
Mississippi State pitches family and a small-town feel on the recruiting trail. Starkville is a town of 24,000, and not every major recruit is going to go for that. The Bulldogs know that, however, and they don't waste their time trying to lure in every four- and five-star that pops up on the recruiting services. They try to identify players the services may have underrated.
One important tool in doing so is scouting your own backyard, as Mullen explained to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated.
Mullen embraced Starkville's rural vibe by focusing on local kids who hunt, fish and would embrace the program's culture and location. In Mullen's first class he signed lineman Gabe Jackson of Liberty, who lives 23 miles from the nearest McDonald's. Star corner Johnthan Banks came from East Webster High, which had a graduating class of 30 and didn't show up on a GPS. Banks developed into an All-America and Jim Thorpe Award recipient, the school's first national award winner and a second-round pick in 2013. "There's a lot of talent in this state," Mullen says. "You just have to go find it."
One element of finding that talent is in identifying players who have the frame to hold a lot more muscle than they're carrying in high school, if they're willing to put in the work.
Four- and five-star recruits are typically more developed and ready to play right away. They bust less often and are a surer bet to make a positive contribution to a program than their two- and three- star counterparts. But some two- and three-star prospects do put on a ton of muscle and become elite players.
Mississippi State's approach takes time. And the Bulldogs have put in that time.
Thirteen of Mississippi State's 22 starters are seniors. Another six are juniors. Only three are sophomores. Only one of the 49 players Mississippi State lists on its depth chart is a freshman. This is an extremely veteran team. It's had multiple years in the weight room, and that shows up with the physical bludgeoning State has given to opponents.
These are men aged 22 and 23, squaring off frequently against boys who are not yet old enough to drink. No player listed on the two-deep on the defensive line checks in at under 260 pounds. Mississippi State uses that strength to take on and play blocks very well, especially on early downs, forcing teams to try and substitute a short passing game for a running game -- something many college quarterbacks cannot do against this level of experience.
Competing for a higher rated player
And this is a fantastic time to be recruiting for Mississippi State. College GameDay, after being in Oxford last weekend, now makes its way down to Starkville.
Mississippi State has an incredible 29 commitments, and only six are blue-chips -- slightly more than its usual ratio. Of those 29, 15 are from Mississippi, including star safety Jamal Peters of Bassfield, who is considered one of the five best nationally, and Malik Dear of Jackson, a 5'9 athlete with great strength and burst.
But the Bulldogs aren't done. With all the seniors set to graduate, and some juniors who could potentially turn pro, Mississippi State is due to take a really large class.
MSU is battling Oklahoma and Ole Miss, among others, for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (JUCO recruiting is really important for the Mississippi schools, with so many junior colleges located in the state) offensive lineman Martinas Rankin.
And they are still pursuing linebacker Leo Lewis of Brookhaven, who is considered one of the top players at his position nationally. Lewis was once committed to Alabama and is now committed to Ole Miss, but his recruitment is anything but over as he continues to take trips to see schools, including the Bulldogs.
State is still in the ear of guard Javon Patterson, a four-star from Petal. Patterson seems to be favoring Ole Miss and Auburn, but anything can happen. The Bulldogs have not given up.
Star defensive end Gabriel Campbell of Yazoo City is in a battle between the Bulldogs, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Ole Miss. Mississippi State has a great shot.
And athlete Torrance Gibson, of Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage, also wants to check out the Bulldogs. Gibson is a four-star prospect and one of the finest athletes in the country. Some coaches, like Mullen's mentor, Ohio State's Urban Meyer, want Gibson to play quarterback in their spread offenses. The Bulldogs certainly aren't the favorite to land Gibson, but Mullen's success with Dak Prescott, who was thought of more as a runner during much of his recruitment, is a major selling point for the Bulldogs.
But recruiting more highly ranked players doesn't mean abandoning the formula. It could just mean that more talented players, players who could make an earlier impact than the players State has traditionally signed under Mullen, are interested.
Due to its location, Mississippi State will probably never be a recruiting power. And it isn't about to drop a bunch of its three-star prospects due to its newfound success on the field. It will add a few more highly rated players to this class.
But if Mississippi State manages to beat Auburn and continues to roll, the results could really start to show in the 2016 class, as kids who are 15 months out from signing a letter of intent start to consider the Bulldogs earlier and earlier in the process.