'09 FB Class Review: WR

Mardrecas Hood
Ht: 6'3" Wt: 180
Scout	** #159 WR
Rivals	*** #65 ATH, #32 in Alabama
ESPN	76 #107 WR

Hood also had offers from South Alabama, Troy, and Alabama. As a junior Hood had 16 catches for 505 yards (31.5 ypc!) and 6 TDs. Last year Hood recorded 39 catches for 1057 yards (a measly 27.1 ypc. Pffft) and 19 TDs.

Unfortunately for Mississippi State he didn't have the grades. Mardrecas Hood is headed to junior college.

Billy Hamilton
Ht: 5'11" Wt: 170
Scout	** CB
Rivals	** WR
ESPN	73 #159 WR

Hamilton was a two sport star and was probably better in baseball. Cohen would have loved to have him. Offered by Jackson State, Jacksonville State, South Alabama, and Southern Miss. Offered by everyone in baseball. Had 49 receptions for 742 yards and 18 TD catches.

Hamilton got drafted high in the MLB draft though and chose to go that route. Can't say I blame him. Would have been cool to have a two sport athlete in two of the big 3 though.

Brandon Heavens
Ht: 5'10" Wt: 170
Scout	*** #105 WR
Rivals	*** #33 ATH, #15 in Alabama
ESPN	80 #25 WR

Heavens had offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn. He was committed to Auburn but switched to Mississippi State after Mullen was hired. His junior year, Heaven ran for 731 yards and 7 TDs along with 41 catches, 1236 yards and 11 TDs. He was injured during his senior year and only got to play in 6 games. Still had 21 runs for 143 yards and 14 catches for 331 yards and 5 TDs.

Heavens is your prototypical slot WR in the spread. Smaller guy that is quick and can juke you out of your shoes. He'll be moved around, in the slot, in the backfield, direct snaps, etc. The ESPN evaluation has some great video of him. Check it out. They also end their evaluation with this:

Overall, Heavens is an unknown steal for someone and could become a household name in time. He isn't very big, but he's tough and would be a nightmare in the spread.

Bolding is mine. Yep I like it. He'll be playing right off the bat and playing alot. If it weren't for Bumphis (I'll get to him in a second) being in the same class, there is no doubt Heavens would be starting this year.

Leon Berry
Ht: 6'0" Wt: 185
Scout	***
Rivals	*** #58 JUCO
ESPN	Doesn't rank JUCOs

Berry had offers from Arkansas State, North Texas, UAB, Memphis, Marshall, and Southern Miss, whom he was committed to before switching over to MSU. Caught 20 passes for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns his 1st year followed by 39 catches for 661 yards and 5 touchdowns. On top of that Berry returned 2 kickoffs and 1 punt for touchdowns his two years in junior college.

Berry graduated Juco in December and quickly locked down a starting WR position. He is currently battling Brandon McRae for that job. Win or lose he'll be counted on as a major contributor at one of the outside receiver positions. He has good speed but isn't a burner or a shifty guy. Probably closer to the possession receiver end of the spectrum. He may also win the return man job. With the departure of Pegues and the fact Croom could never manage to find a kickoff return man, both jobs are wide open for the taking.

Ricco Sanders
Ht: 5'11" Wt: 175
Scout	*** #89 WR
Rivals	*** #51 WR, #19 in South Carolina
ESPN	80 #26 WR

Video!!


Sanders chose Mississippi State over offers from Kansas, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, and Florida. Caught 58 passes for 908 yards and 13 TDs his junior year and 42 passes for 765 yards and 6 TDs.

Sanders is another one of those small, shift slot WRs in the same mold as Brandon Heavens. I don't like the drop in production from his junior to senior year but there may be injury issues I don't know about. Besides the offer list says the guy is pretty good. More video can be viewed in his ESPN evaluation if you are so inclined.

The unfortunate thing is the NCAA clearing house took forever to get around to clearing Sanders to play so he couldn't begin practicing last week. Even though he is clearly talented and MSU could desperately use all the help they can get at WR, Sanders is probably destined for a redshirt now. Just too far behind.

Chris Smith
Ht: 6'1" Wt: 195
Scout	*** #65 WR
Rivals	**** #31 WR, #204 overall, #7 in Mississippi
ESPN	77 #63 WR

Smith didn't have any other major offers that I can see, which is a real head scratcher when you look at how highly rated he was and the stats I'm about to give you. Smith was Tyler Russell's teammate and his favorite target at Meridian. He had 54 catches for 876 yards and 7 TDs his junior year and 70 receptions for 1076 yards and 10 TDs and the state title team. And this guy doesn't have any offers? I don't get it. Sure he committed back in April of his junior year but come on.

Smith is a contrast to most of the receivers in this class as he is a big, physical possession receiver. He doesn't have the quickness or speed of some of these other guys but he has the size, the hands, and the willingness to go over the middle. The complete lack of offers is disconcerting but I just have to think this guy is going to be a player. Maybe not this year but at some point down the road.

Chad Bumphis
Ht: 5'10" Wt: 185
Scout	**** #33 WR, #263 overall
Rivals	**** #16 WR, #109 overall, #3 in Mississippi
ESPN	81 #10 ATH, #119 overall

Video at his ESPN evaluation.

Bumphis is the gold standard of this incoming WR group. He had offers from pretty much everywhere: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Michigan, Auburn, Texas Tech, etc. His senior year he threw for 348 yards and 6 TDs, ran for 552 yards and 6 TDs on 48 carries, and caught 39 passes for 617 yards and 7 TDs.

He is yet another one of those prototypical slot receiver and clearly the one with the most potential of the bunch. Its clear that Mullen is going to use him in the Percy Harvin role. Not saying he will be as good as Harvin but that will be the hope. He'll be split out in the slot, lined up beside the QB, run out of direct snaps, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him throw a pass or two. Long story short, Bumphis is an electrifying athlete that Mullen will be looking for ways to get the ball to from day one. He is the type of offensive weapon that has rarely been seen in Starkville over the years and the kind of athlete Mullen needs to make this spread offense go.


Overall Grade: A+

MSU was barren at the WR position in both quantity and quality and this great group of receivers will be counted on to save the day. Most if not all of these guys will have to grow up quick as they'll be playing right away. There just isn't any other joice. Fortunately this group coming in is loaded with talent.