SEC Recruiting Grades After National Signing Day: Alabama, Tennessee on Top

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen looks on during a timeout against the against the Georgia Tech Bulldogs in the fourth quarter in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won 49-34. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Rivals Class Rank: No. 16

Dan Mullen went for quantity a little bit over quality with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and this year’s recruiting class, which is why it made it into the Top 20, but to be fair, the Urban Meyer-style spread offense he runs has players perfect for what he needs.

And he also did a heck of a job shoring up some of the weaknesses his Bulldogs had this past year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive end Fletcher Adams and 4-star linebackers Leo Lewis and Jamal Peters were all great pick ups and should help in improving that defense as the offense should get better this year anyway. Nick Gibson and Donald Gray are your prototypical speed players that fit perfect into Mullen’s spread, or in Gray’s case to help out on defense, and Martinas Rankin on the offensive line is a position you could always use some help.

The rest of the class was made up of 3-stars overwhelmingly on the defensive side of the ball along with skill players on offense. That’s exactly what Mullen needed with this class, and he got it. To win the state of Mississippi and finish ahead of Ole Miss is something else to be proud of.

Grade: B+

Next: No. 6 Ranked SEC Recruiting Class