Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff are at the midway point of an eventful transfer-portal period. Between the early signing period, staff changes and bowl preparation, he\u2019s also had to oversee planning for the future, as well, with the opening of the transfer portal. <\/p>\n
The portal window was shrunk to just two weeks this year, open Jan. 2-17 with the removal of the spring transfer portal as well, meaning these two weeks are crucial to plan for to avoid entering the spring shorthanded. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s speed dating,\u201d Lebby said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to find ways to make sure that you get the right guys. We\u2019ve got a priority list on what we need to get done in those first five days, and our hope is to get a lot done in those first days of official visits and be able to get guys in to where it\u2019s not an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the Bulldogs had even touched down in Charlotte for the Duke\u2019s Mayo Bowl last week, the program had to finalize a plan, and immediately got back to work the moment they returned to Starkville. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m expecting to get off the bus here on the 3rd, walk straight into my office and be ready for (official visits),\u201d Lebby told local media ahead of the bowl game. \u201cThe expectation is we\u2019re going to have five or six guys here on campus when the buses roll back in, so we\u2019ll hit the ground running, get ready to roll.\u201d<\/p>\n
Much of the team\u2019s recruiting and personnel staff stayed in Starkville to prepare for visits the very next day, with the portal officially open and players able to take official visits the day of their loss to Wake Forest. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur recruiting and personnel department will be (in Starkville), they won\u2019t be there for the game,\u201d Lebby said. \u201cThey\u2019ll be in-house, getting visits set and ready to roll. That\u2019s going to be a huge piece of it, those first five to seven days in the portal, allowing guys to be on campus, and visits will be a huge momentum builder for us if we can land the right guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hitting the ground running<\/p>\n
With MSU\u2019s early visits came early commitments. MSU landed 11 commits after one week of portal recruiting, addressing some big holes left by departing players. <\/p>\n
Some areas remain a concern, however. The Bulldogs have added just one true defensive lineman so far, with almost the entire interior group departing. Pass rusher Will Whitson announced his return after an injury redshirt year, but the depth chart is lacking in experience behind him. <\/p>\n
One area where the Bulldogs have had early success in the window is defensive back, adding depth at corner and a key experienced player at safety.<\/p>\n
Here is every portal commit so far, as of press time on Friday. <\/p>\n
For an up-to-date portal tracker, visit:\u00a0 https:\/\/cdispatch.com\/sports\/msu-football-transfer-portal-tracker\/ <\/p>\n
Marquis Johnson (WR) \u2013 Missouri<\/p>\n
Career: 37 games, 1,075 receiving yards, six touchdowns<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Junior<\/p>\n
Johnson fits the profile of receiver Lebby has targeted in his two years at MSU. He\u2019s productive despite limited production, a bit overlooked due to size, and above all, he\u2019s fast. <\/p>\n
In three years at Mizzou, Johnson has 66 catches for more than 1,000 yards and six scores. He averaged just 29 yards per game in that time, but has a 16.3 yards per reception average that speaks to his ability as a downfield threat. Like Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans in 2025, expect Johnson\u2019s role to expand in Lebby\u2019s offense. <\/p>\n
Jayson Jenkins (DL) \u2013 Florida State<\/p>\n
Career: 32 games, 31 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Senior<\/p>\n
Another player who comes with experience and multiple seasons in Power 4 football, but with limited usage. He is also one of four former Florida State players so far to make their way to Starkville.<\/p>\n
Jenkins transferred to the Seminoles last year after three years at Tennessee, where he recorded 3.5 tackles for loss at 2.0 sacks in the 2024 season. In 2025 he saw his usage expand at FSU, recording 16 tackles, one more than his previous three years combined. <\/p>\n
A.J. Swann (QB) \u2013 Appalachian State<\/p>\n
Career: 24 games, 57.1 completion %, 32 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 126.0 pass efficiency rating<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Senior<\/p>\n
An experienced starter at quarterback arriving in a support role behind Kamario Taylor, <\/p>\n
Swann will make MSU his fourth school in five years after stints at Vanderbilt, LSU and Appalachian State. <\/p>\n
Mario Nash (OT) \u2013 Florida State<\/p>\n
Career: DNP<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Freshman<\/p>\n
Nash was a four-star recruit out of Kemper County in De Kalb, Mississippi. He held an offer from Mississippi State out of high school, chose FSU, and now is transferring back to his home state after a redshirt year in Tallahassee. <\/p>\n
Quentin Taylor (DB) \u2013 Iowa State<\/p>\n
Career: 12 games, 27 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 5 passes defended<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Sophomore<\/p>\n
One of many former Cyclones in the transfer portal, Taylor leaves Iowa State after working his way on to the field often during his redshirt freshman season. He played in all 12 games, recording 27 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. He helps boost a corner room that returns All-SEC standout Kelley Jones from 2025. <\/p>\n
Kaylib Singleton (DB) \u2013 Syracuse<\/p>\n
Career: 8 games, 16 tackles, 0.5 TFL<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Sophomore<\/p>\n
Another depth addition at corner, Singleton arrives in Starkville after earning first team reps as a true freshman at Syracuse. <\/p>\n
Jameer Grimsely (DB) \u2013 Florida<\/p>\n
Career: 4 games, 1 tackle, 1 pass defended<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Sophomore<\/p>\n
Another corner addition, but one who saw limited action in two years at Florida. His one pass defended came, coincidentally, in the Gators\u2019 win over Mississippi State in 2025. <\/p>\n
Marcus Williams (DB) \u2013 Rice<\/p>\n
Career: 32 games, 120 tackles, 1 interception, 8 passes defended<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Senior<\/p>\n
A five-year veteran at Rice, Williams will spend his final year of eligibility as a graduate transfer with the Bulldogs. He was a vital part of the Owls\u2019 defense in 2025, posting career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and passes defended. <\/p>\n
Williams will provide some much-needed experience at safety, where the Bulldogs are losing some key defenders from 2025. <\/p>\n
Ja\u2019Elyne Matthews (OL) \u2013 Florida State<\/p>\n
Career: DNP<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Freshman<\/p>\n
Like Nash, Matthews transfers out of FSU after seeing no action. He spent a redshirt year at Rutgers as a freshman, and was a three-star recruit out of high school. <\/p>\n
Amaree Williams (DE\/TE) \u2013 Florida State<\/p>\n
Career: 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7 receptions, 122 yards, 3 TDs<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Junior<\/p>\n
Williams is one of the more interesting additions in this year\u2019s portal class, having played at both defensive line and tight end at FSU. He arrives in Starkville after a year of participation at both positions as a sophomore. <\/p>\n
L.J. Prudhomme (OL) \u2013 Arkansas<\/p>\n
Career: 4 games<\/p>\n
2026 status \u2013 Redshirt Freshman<\/p>\n
Prudhomme made four appearances before redshirting at Arkansas. He was a three-star high school recruit in the Class of 2025. <\/p>\n