Mississippi State’s bye week gives Bulldogs fans a chance to look ahead, and two 2027 commitments stand out: Rosa Fort athlete Christian Alexander and Riverdale tight end Sutton Gutting.
Alexander is one of those players who shows up everywhere in the offensive backfield. He can line up at quarterback, running back, or wide receiver, but his biggest impact comes when he has the ball in his hands as a runner. That’s where he’s been at his most dangerous for the Lions.
His top rushing outing this season came early, when Rosa Fort faced North Panola and Alexander piled up 16 carries for 198 yards and four touchdowns. At the halfway point of the 2026 season, he has rushed for 673 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 10 yards per carry.
Bulldogs fans will get their next chance to see him on Friday, Oct. 16, when Rosa Fort hosts Senatobia in Tunica. Alexander has been committed to Mississippi State since April 16 and already has 14 scholarship offers, with Colorado and Cincinnati among the schools still chasing him.
Gutting brings a different kind of value to the class. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native has dealt with injury this season, but he’s starting to come on as Riverdale pushes through the second half of the year. At 6-5, he gives defenses problems all over the field.
He’s a physical tight end who attacks the ball in the air and doesn’t mind working through contact. In the passing game, he’s the kind of target who can haul in the tough catches that keep drives alive, and his size makes him a real threat in the red zone.
But his biggest asset may be what he does without the ball. Gutting is a willing blocker who helps create running lanes, and he uses strong hand placement to drive linebackers and defensive linemen backward.
Gutting has 11 scholarship offers, with Duke, Jacksonville State, and Miami OH among the schools in the mix. Duke could be the toughest competition because of the way it uses tight ends. Riverdale’s next game comes Friday, Oct. 16, when it travels to Siegel.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Is Making An Early Push For An In-State Playmaker
Ahmad Summers Jr. is already getting a close look from the Mississippi schools that know him best. The Forest High School sophomore receiver has picked up scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss, and his recent trip to Starkville gave the Bulldogs a chance to make an early impression on one of the states more intriguing young playmakers. He was on campus for Mississippi States game against Alabama, a setting that tends to tell recruits plenty about the program, the crowd and the kind of atmosphere they can expect.
For Summers, the visit clearly mattered. He left with a positive feeling about Mississippi State and said he would like to come back, giving the Bulldogs a foothold in a recruitment that is still in its early stages. The in-state connection makes this one worth watching, especially with Mississippi State trying to keep talented Mississippi prospects from drifting too far from home as the process develops. [Read more 🡒]