Mississippi State has already made a habit of dipping into Arkansas talent, and the Bulldogs are back in the Natural State again with three 2028 prospects on their radar.
Each of the three offers something a little different, but they all fit the same basic mold: they make plays. From a polished wideout to a big-bodied tight end to a versatile two-way threat, Mississippi State has extended offers to players who are already standing out for their high schools.
Chase Hancock of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock is one of the more polished receivers in Arkansas. He can work from the slot or line up outside, giving him flexibility in how he’s used.
Hancock has been clocked at 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, and that speed shows up in the way he creates separation and threatens defenses vertically. He’s drawn interest from Kansas State, Florida State, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, among others.
Hancock visited Mississippi State over the weekend and said he had a “great game day experience.”
At tight end, Orion Leautu of Springdale High School is making a fast impression this season. At 6’6”, he uses his frame to win above the rim and has shown he can finish difficult catches.
He’s also done the dirty work as a blocker, helping create rushing lanes for the ball carrier. Between his red-zone value and his ability to help extend drives, Leautu has plenty of room to keep rising as a recruit.
The third name to know is Braylyn Brown of Joe T. Robinson.
Brown has played on both sides of the ball for the Senators, and that versatility is part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect. He’s a threat at receiver who can stretch the defense, and he’s also shown pride in his blocking.
On defense, Brown has lined up at safety and shown he can knock the ball loose from the ball carrier. He fits the wide receiver spot well for the Bulldogs.
As Mississippi State continues to build relationships in Arkansas, these three 2028 prospects are clearly worth keeping on the list.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Suddenly Faces A Brutal Kamario Taylor Problem
Mississippi States season has taken a sharp turn in a matter of weeks, and Kamario Taylor sits at the center of it. Across college football, injuries to starting quarterbacks have already altered the path for playoff hopefuls, with Oregon and Ohio State among the teams forced to adjust on the fly. For the Bulldogs, Taylors situation has been especially disruptive because his absence changes not just the depth chart, but the ceiling for what this team can still chase in the stretch run.
The bigger issue is how quickly the situation spiraled. Taylor has been dealing with a toe injury that has hung over multiple games and left Mississippi State trying to manage a quarterback room under constant pressure. Even before the rest of the sports injury chaos reshaped the playoff race, the Bulldogs were already facing the kind of uncertainty that can derail momentum, force schematic changes and make every series feel more fragile than the last. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Faces A Huge Question Before Texas Showdown
Mississippi State heads into its trip to Texas with a major quarterback question hanging over the matchup, and the timing could hardly be worse for Jeff Lebbys offense. Kamario Taylors availability is up in the air as the Bulldogs get ready for a game against a Texas team coming off a stretch of uneven play and penalties, with Steve Sarkisian also noting his groups need to clean things up as the Longhorns prepare for their final home game before a tough road run.
The uncertainty at quarterback leaves Mississippi State in evaluation mode late in the week, and the decision matters because the Bulldogs will need steadiness against a Texas defense that will have plenty of incentive to set the tone early in Austin. If Taylor cannot go, Lebby has options to sort through, but the bigger issue is how much the offense can adjust on short notice in a game that already carries plenty of stakes for both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Heads To Texas With A QB Decision Still Looming
Mississippi State heads into its road trip to Texas still sorting out the most important spot on the field. With Kamario Taylor sidelined for the rest of the season because of injury, Jeff Lebby has spent the week working through a quarterback picture that now features Billy Puckett and A.J. Swann as the main options, with the Bulldogs trying to reset both sides of the ball after a three-game skid.
The timing makes the decision especially tricky, because this is not the kind of environment where an offense can ease into things. Mississippi State needs clarity before Saturday, not just for rhythm at quarterback but for the rest of an offense that has to travel and answer after a rough stretch. However Lebby chooses to go, the Bulldogs are walking into a game that will demand cleaner execution and a quick adjustment from everyone around the new starter. [Read more 🡒]