Mississippi State Bulldogs NFL Draft Prospects

2026 Season Preview Read full preview »

Kamario Taylor and Arnett's return fuel Bulldog optimism

Mississippi State finished 5-8 (1-7 SEC) in 2025, more than doubling its win total from a two-win 2024 but still stuck near the bottom of the league standings. The defining move of the offseason was Jeff Lebby handing the defense back to Zach Arnett, the former State head coach who ran the coordinator's chair in Starkville from 2020 through 2022 and produced three straight top-five SEC defenses.

Pair that hire with a full season of a dynamic young quarterback and Lebby, entering year three at 7-18, is calling this the most talented roster of his tenure. The pieces are in place; the question is whether they add up to results in the country's toughest schedule.

Read the full 2026 Mississippi State Bulldogs preview »

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
25	Kelley Jones	CB	205lbs	6-4	4.42	7	31.5	86.7 MORE>>	Kelley Jones played quarterback and defensive back at Clarksdale High School in Mississippi, throwing for 558 yards and 10 touchdo...
134	Anthony Evans III	WR	190lbs	5-11	4.28	27	178	83.4 MORE>>	Anthony Evans III played football and ran track at Judson High School in Converse, Texas, setting school records with a 24-foot-2....
251	Fluff Bothwell	RB	230lbs	5-10	4.56	18	243	79.8 MORE>>	Da'Marion 'Fluff' Bothwell ran for 3,112 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior at Oneonta High School in Alabama, where he also made...
303	Isaac Smith	S	220lbs	6-0	4.60	58	277	77.0 MORE>>	Isaac Smith grew up watching his father Reggie suit up for Ole Miss in the 1990s, but the younger Smith would forge his own legacy...
321	Jaray Bledsoe	DE	315lbs	6-4	4.84	52	307.5	76.0 MORE>>	Jaray Bledsoe was a four-star recruit and Under Armour All-American out of Texas, rushing for 1,259 yards and 21 touchdowns and ma...
392	Marquis Johnson	WR	190lbs	5-11	4.29	51	392	73.0 MORE>>	Averaging 29.5 yards per catch as a true freshman, Johnson debuted at Missouri in 2023 with 13 receptions for 383 yards and three ...
558	Dealyn Evans	DL	310lbs	6-5	4.94	93	530.5	62.8 MORE>>	Dealyn Evans totaled 58 tackles, including eight behind the line, plus four sacks during 2023 at Pine Tree High School in Longview...
583	Jaden Rashada	QB	195lbs	6-4	4.70	49	675.5	61.7 MORE>>	Jaden Rashada's recruitment became one of the most publicized in recent memory: the four-star from Pittsburg High School in Califo...
611	Riley Williams	TE	270lbs	6-5	4.80	48	708	60.2 MORE>>	The No. 4 tight end in the 2023 class per the On3 Industry Ranking, Williams finished his prep career at IMG Academy after beginni...

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
99	Brenen Thompson	WR	164lbs	5-9	4.26	25	119	84.7 MORE>>	Spearman, Texas, sits in the northern Panhandle with a population under 3,500, but it produced one of the fastest football players...
363	Ayden Williams	WR	205lbs	6-3	4.65	70	439.5	74.4 MORE>>	Ayden Williams from Ridgeland High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After high ...
421	Blake Shapen	QB	210lbs	6-1	4.83	40	409	72.2 MORE>>	Blake Shapen from Evangel Christian Academy High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sport...

RANK	Player	Pos	Weight	Height	40YD	AVG POS RANK	AVG OVR RANK	Rating	Summary
169	Decamerion Richardson	CB	188lbs	6-2	4.34	44	154	80.9 MORE>>	Decamerion Richardson, originally from Cullen, Louisiana, transitioned from a high school where he was a multi-sport athlete to a ...
200	Nathaniel Watson	LB	233lbs	6-2	4.63	22	188.4	79.1 MORE>>	Nathaniel Watson from Maplesville High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After h...
202	Jaden Crumedy	DT	301lbs	6-4	4.97	49	203.2	79.0 MORE>>	Jaden Crumedy from Oak Grove High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After high s...
234	Lideatrick Griffin	WR	181lbs	5-10	4.43	44	238.5	78.0 MORE>>	Lideatrick Griffin from Philadelphia High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. Afte...
348	Jordan Davis	DE	275lbs	6-4	4.78	74	396.5	74.0 MORE>>	Jordan Davis from Southwind High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After high ...
353	Jaden Walley	WR	195lbs	6-0	4.45	55	403	74.0 MORE>>	Jaden Walley from D'Iberville High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After high ...
354	Nathan Pickering	DT	300lbs	6-2	5.00	77	405	74.0 MORE>>	Nathan Pickering from Seminary Attendance Center High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 ...
359	Marcus Banks	CB	190lbs	6-0	4.45	100	411.5	73.4 MORE>>	Marcus Banks from Dekaney High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. Following high ...
425	Branden Jennings	LB	226lbs	6-3	4.80	51	425	66.8 MORE>>	Branden Jennings from Sandalwood High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After hi...