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Mississippi State’s burgeoning recruiting class presents a nice problem: there aren’t enough scholarships available to sign every commitment.
The picture got a little clearer Friday, though, when three-star QB Chason Virgil decommitted. Several media outlets, including the Clarion-Ledger, reported that coach Dan Mullen wanted Virgil, expected to graduate high school early in December, to grayshirt. That would prevent him from enrolling at Mississippi State on scholarship until the spring of 2016.
Virgil said no thanks, according to Scout.com. He also holds offers from Clemson, Auburn and Arizona State and apparently will pursue them.
But West Mesquite (Texas) High School coach Jeff Neill was none too pleased.
https://twitter.com/neill_jeff/status/535622392195055616
https://twitter.com/neill_jeff/status/535636184111009792
The Mississippi State class shrinks to 30 with the news, including three-star QB Nick Tiano.
Neill also retweeted this.
Guessing #HailState won't be recruiting any West Mesquite kids anytime soon #txhsfb
— Matt Stepp (@Matt_Stepp817) November 21, 2014
Mesquite, Texas, is a suburb of Dallas, though the football team isn’t currently ranked, according to TexasFootball.com. Mississippi State’s roster includes just three Texas players currently, so it’s not as if getting barred from the school is any big blow to the Bulldogs’ future recruiting efforts under Mullen.
After a successful season, the coach is getting a taste of what programs like Alabama go through every year, as someone is constantly chastising Nick Saban for grayshirting and other similar measures.
Either way, it’s going to be difficult to replace Dak Prescott if he leaves for the NFL.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
