Joe Moorhead is looking to improve a Mississippi State team that has experienced solid success in recent history, and his first early signing day has provided a strong group to build around moving forward.

Moorhead and the Bulldogs were able to land 15 signees Wednesday, and he laid out that the staff at MSU definitely had a criteria they were looking for when recruiting players. Elite ability is certainly one criteria he was searching for, but Moorhead also has a list of intangibles that he wants out of players:

“We wanted players with football ability to bring in an SEC Championship and compete for a national championship,” Moorhead explained. “From an intangibles perspective, we wanted guys who were smart, tough, disciplined, have a great work ethic, and care more about team success than individual recognition.”

The biggest boost to the Bulldogs from Wednesday’s signings looks to be at the WR position. Three of the top four signees for Moorhead were tall, athletic receivers, and he felt the passing game is one area that could be improved in this recruiting class:

“I think it’s huge,” Moorhead said in regards to signing three 4-star receivers. “If you’ve seen what we did offensively at Penn State and even before that, we’re a three-WR team…we certainly had a lot of success running the ball here, and I think one area we’re able to improve a bit is the passing game. Certainly with three playmakers, that’s certainly going to help us.”

Here is the list of every MSU signee from Wednesday:

  • Devonta Jason, 4-star WR, New Orleans, LA
  • Malik Heath, 4-star WR, Jackson, MS
  • Stephen Guidry, 4-star JUCO WR, Raymond, MS
  • Jaden Crumedy, 4-star WDE, Hattiesburg, MS
  • Marcus Murphy, 3-star ATH, West Point, MS
  • Jalen Mayden, 3-star dual-threat QB, Sachse, TX
  • Kwatrivous Johnson, 3-star OT, Greenwood, MS
  • Geor’quarius Spivey, 3-star TE, Monroe, LA
  • La’damian Webb, 3-star RB, Opelika, AL
  • Shawn Preston, 3-star S, Saint James, LA
  • Jett Johnson, 3-star ILB, Tupelo, MS
  • Sh’mar Kilby-Lane, JUCO 3-star ILB, Wesson, MS
  • Brad Cumbest, 3-star TE, Kiln, MS
  • Cameron Gardner, 3-star WR, Starkville, MS
  • Devon Robinson, 3-star DT, Memphis, TN

You can hear Moorhead’s entire press conference on the recruiting class here.