'09 FB Class Review: QB

Tyler Russell
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 205
Scout	**** #13 QB, #125 overall
Rivals	**** #12 pro-style QB, #8 in MS, #217 overall
ESPN	77 #38 QB

Ah yes, Mr. Russell. Even the most casual of recruiting followers have heard of Tyler by now. He comes in at a position that is by far the worst in the SEC. Not only does Mississippi State need bodies, there are a total of two QBs on the roster outside Tyler, they need talent, neither Tyson Lee or Chris Relf would start for another SEC team. Tyler Russell takes care of both of those problems.

The expectations are sky high for Tyler. The entire MSU fanbase is looking at him as the savior of the program. I don't personally see him as the the savior of Mississippi State football and I find it unfortunate that the majority of fans are putting that kind of pressure and expectation on him before he even takes a snap. They are setting it up where people will call him a bust if he isn't starting by the end of the year, or if he isn't All-SEC by the time he leaves. That is ridiculous and frankly idiotic. Though I do understand where people are coming from. Russell is the highest rated QB in years and probably one of the top QB prospects to ever come to MSU. He plays a position that has been historically horrible for MSU and which amazingly got worse during the last 5 years. Only Croom could produce that feat. After 5 straight years of having the worst QBs in the SEC and possibly of any BCS team, people are hungry for a change. Tyler has the talent and upside to be one of the best to come through MSU, but as we all know recruiting is a crap shoot and nothing is ever guarenteed.

Tyler Russell had offers from South Carolina and Alabama. As a junior Russell led Meridian to the state semifinals, completing 146-274 (53.3%) for 2,481 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. He also ran for 514 yards and 5 TDs. Although that is a very good and maybe even great year, it was his senior year that the legend of Tyler Russell (among MSU fans at least) really began to grow. He led Meridian to the state title game in which they defeated powerhouse South Panola 26-20, ending South Panola's 89-game win streak and taking home the state title. Russell completed 206-314 passes (65.6%) for 3,284 yards, 40 TDs and only 5 interceptions. He was named Mississippi's Mr. Football and the Gatorade Player of the Year.

The only downside is that Russell is a pocket quarterback. He isn't a statue by any means but he isn't a dual threat either. Traditionally Mullen has used mobile QBs so we'll see how he adjusts the offense to fit Russell's talents, because there is no doubt Russell will be the most talented QB on the roster next year and maybe for the next 4/5 years as well. Mullen has to find a way to use him effectively.

Overall Grade: A

The only thing keeping this from being an A+ is the lack of a second QB. Despite what Croom has led you to believe over the last 5 years, you need more than 3 QBs on the team. In any case, the one QB that is coming is top notch and thankfully Croom was kicked out before he could ruin him. With a real QB coach to work with, Russell will have a chance to maximize his talents. I think ideally Mullen will want to redshirt Russell. Unfortunately thanks to 5 years of Croom the QB situation is far from ideal and Mullen might not be able to. Whether its due to Russell being that impressive and passing up Lee and Relf, or Lee and Relf are so bad that Mullen has to play Russell by default, or maybe some combination of the two. I see Russell sitting the first part of the year but I think he'll be getting some meaningful snaps in the last 6 games with a slim chance at taking away the starting job midseason.

'09 FB Class Review: DL

Fletcher Cox
Ht: 6'4" Wt: 238
Scout	**** #17 DE, #154 overall
Rivals	**** #5 Weakside DE, #2 in Mississippi, #94 overall
ESPN	78 #36 DE

Fletcher Cox had offers from pretty much everywhere including Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Colorado, Auburn, Alabama, and LSU. Cox's strength is his speed and quickness which hopefully will bring some bite to a DL that has had no pass rush ability outside Titus Brown this decade. He is credited with running a ridiculous 4.47, undoubtedly fake but even so (he does run track though so who knows?), tack on a couple of tenths and you still get a 4.67 at DE. I'll take it. Rivals did these skill rankings for each position group. One for DE was "quickest first step". Cox ranked #4 on that list. His junior year, Cox had 103 tackles, 11 sacks, and 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He followed up that stellar season with 104 tackles, 14 for loss, 10 sacks, an interception and 3 forced fumbles. Cox might not get much playing time this year because of all the DEs on the roster. He may even redshirt, but if things go well he will finally give MSU a legitimate pass rushing threat at DE in a couple of years.

Pernell McPhee
Ht: 6'4" Wt: 265
Scout	**** DE, #21 JUCO
Rivals	**** #3 JUCO
ESPN	Doesn't rank JUCOs

The defensive line is getting immediate help in Pernell McPhee. McPhee graduated early from junior college and participated in spring practice. Almost immediately he nailed down a starting spot, although at DT instead of DE where he played in high school and junior college. For some reason David Turner moves DEs to DT as soon as they hit about 260 lbs. I don't know why, maybe nobody ever told him that a good DE weight is anywhere from 240-270 or so. Anyway, McPhee will probably get moved around ala McCraney last year, lining up at DE or DT depending on the situation. McPhee immediately becomes our biggest pass rushing threat. He is a sack specialist, no two ways about it.

His senior year of high school, McPhee had 75 tackles, 35 for loss, and 19 sacks. He had offers from Central Florida, South Florida, and Southern Miss, whom he signed with out of high school before going the JUCO route. In junior college McPhee exploded onto the scene leading the junior college ranks in sacks in both 2007 and 2008. He had 67 tackles, 37 for loss, and 19.5 sacks his freshman year. The following season McPhee had 57 tackles, 23.5 for loss, and 13.5 sacks. I suspect he got doubled team more than a few times that year. Coming out of junior college McPhee had offers from Kansas St., Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan.

Johnathan McKenzie
Ht: 6'4" Wt: 235
Scout	**
Rivals	**
ESPN	73 #134 DE

Project. Big time project. McKenzie would be another member of the Croom all-character team. Given the caliber of the rest of the recruits coming in at DL I can accept that. Mississippi State was McKenzie's only signifigant (i.e I-A) scholarship offer. He could wind up at TE or DE but Mullen is going to start him out at DE. As a TE his senior year he had 27 receptions for 473 yards and 6 TDs. As a DE Mckenzie had 91 tackles and 13 sacks. His stats are fairly impressive but the problem is Mckenzie played for Starkville Academy. Academy ball isn't exactly the stiffest competition so Mckenzie's biggest hurdle will be adjusting to the monumental jump in competition. Don't expect anything from him for a couple of years at least.

Josh Boyd
Ht: 6'3" Wt: 275
Scout	**** #12 DT, #102 overall
Rivals	**** #15 DT, #6 in Mississippi, #180 overall
ESPN	78 #37 DT

Josh Boyd passes the offer test, with Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Tennesse, Alabama, LSU, and Michigan all extending scholarship offers.

Boyd racked up 154 tackles, 27 for loss, and eight sacks his junior year. Last year Boyd had 112 tackles, 10 for loss, and 7 sacks. The severe drop in production is concerning although that junior year is so ridiculous that somewhat of a drop is understandable. He also plays in a lower division so the effect that the dramatic jump in competition has will be something to watch for.

Rivals also rated him as the 4th best athlete and 4th best pass rusher at DT. Their is that pass rushing theme again. Its about time this need was addressed. Boyd would make a good DE in a 3-4 scheme so we might see some moving around from him in specialty situations, the bulk of the work will be at DT though.

He'll probably redshirt just because DTs are rarely ready as freshmen, similar to OL in that respect. He has a better than average shot at playing time though because the talent at DT is so lacking.

Overall Grade: A

Finally we get some pass rushing ability on the DL. McPhee will be starting right off the bat and will probably be the best DL on the team the next two years. Cox isn't ready yet but his athleticism is outstanding, just polish up the techniques and he should be a good one. McKenzie might have been a reach but you can afford a project type here and there. Finally Boyd brings some much needed help at a talent depleted DT position, and hopefully some ability to pressure the QB. Currently there is zero pass rush threat at DT (outside McPhee), even though David Turner moves about half of all the DE's that come in here to DT. I think he'd move every single one to DT if he could. The only thing keeping this from being an A+ is the lack of a second DT (I'm not counting McPhee, he is a hybrid and would be a DE anywhere else in the country).