Chris Jones was a big guy in Houston, Miss., but he was little known in the Mississippi recruiting ranks. Until Dan Mullen offered him. Then, the recruiting services and state media took notice.

Now Jones is in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs after going in the second round of the NFL Draft.

Jones isn’t the first guy Mullen and his staff have seen something special in before others did. The same can be said for former WR Jameon Lewis and QB Dak Prescott. Until DE Jeffery Simmons in the 2016 class, Jones had been the only five-star. Mullen has proved he makes stars out of players with less than four or five when they arrive in Starkville.

Who are the next underappreciated players to come out of Mullen’s football factory? A list of possibilities follows.

 GABE MYLES, JR., WR

From nearby Starkville High, Myles caught 10 fewer passes as a sophomore than he did as a redshirt freshman but can be a perfect safety blanket for whomever of the four wins the 2016 quarterback battle.

Myles caught 12 passes last season for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He had seven carries, one for a touchdown.

His fourth year in the program should be his best.

KIVON COMAN, SR., DB

Coman ranked third on the team with 76 tackles last season and an interception, 7 pass breakups and 8 deflections.

He played all 13 games as a true freshman, and his numbers have risen since. Injuries to teammates may have rushed him along in the 2015 spring, but it also put him in a position to be a star, which he may become this season.

BRANDON BRYANT, SO., DB

Bryant was a three-star prospect out of Rosa Fort High. After redshirting, he had a team-high three interceptions last season (one returned for a touchdown) to go with 63 tackles.

Bryant has a nose for the football and a mind trained on offense, rushing for 896 yards as a senior in high school.

J.T. GRAY, JR., LB

As a sophomore, Gray had 65 tackles (fourth on the team) along with 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Like Bryant, an injury helped get Gray on the field as a freshman and despite playing in only five games, he was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

DONTAVIAN LEE, SO., RB

Lee only carried the ball 22 times as a freshman, but that came with a team-high 6.2 yards per carry.

Lee rushed for 1,590 yards as a senior on Forrest County AHS’ championship team, but Mississippi State was the only school to extend an offer.

He’s in a crowded field at running back, but Lee has star potential to speed through.

JOHNATHAN CALVIN, SR., DL

Calvin was a three-star prospect out of Copiah-Lincoln Junior College. He was on and off last season but was completely on in the spring game with four sacks.

He can play inside and out, and if the spring game is any indication, he could make a big impact when it counts.

MARK MCLAURIN, SO., S

McLaurin had 20 tackles as a true freshman, three pass breakups and three deflections. He was on the field because of his tremendous potential.

McLaurin was a three-star prospect out of Collins High but was arguably under-starred. You won’t get any argument about that from Mullen.

CHRISTIAN ROBERSON, FR., TE

The pass-catching tight end position has caught on, and Mullen may have just landed one. Roberson was a three-star prospect and ranked as Georgia’s 66th-best player.

Mississippi State wasn’t the only school out for Roberson, but he also doesn’t come in with the hype his size and play-making ability deserves at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds.