Mike Leach Adds To Top 25 Recruiting Class

STARKVILLE – Mike Leach added Ty Cooper, the state of Mississippi's top defensive line prospect, to his top 25 recruiting class on Wednesday during the late signing period. Mississippi State's class is ranked No. 23 by Rivals and No. 25 by both 247Sports and the 247Sports Composite.

Cooper, from Louisville, Mississippi, is the No. 17 ranked overall prospect in Mississippi and the No. 59 defensive end recruit by 247Sports. A Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen selection as a senior, Cooper piled up 211 tackles, including 66.0 tackles for loss and 22.0 sacks during his high school career.

"Ty has been a huge priority to us from the start," Leach said. "He is considered the top defensive line prospect in the state of Mississippi this year, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Bulldog Family. He is an explosive player who made great improvements from his junior to senior year, and his best football is still in front of him. Ty is long, athletic, and has a knack for getting to the quarterback. He is a great kid who also excels in the classroom and takes great pride in his community. Ty will have a great career in Starkville!"

Cooper joins a group of 21 that signed during the earlier period last December, as well as transfers Makai Polk and Jalen Green, who joined the program in January.

Polk came to Starkville after two seasons at Cal, where he hauled in 36 passes for 478 and three touchdowns.

Green is a former 247 Sports five-star defensive back who spent three seasons at Texas, where he played in 30 games with eight starts and totaled 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and seven pass breakups.

Each of the Bulldogs' six Mississippi high school signees are ranked among the top 25 recruits in the state.

Linebacker John Lewis, from Germantown, is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state by 247Sports.

Four-star defensive end Deonte Anderson from Fort Meade, Florida, announced his commitment to the Bulldogs on Jan. 3, at the 2021 All-American Bowl. Anderson is the No. 14 ranked defensive end and No. 201 overall prospect, according to 247Sports.

The four-star trio of wide receivers Anthony Harmon and Teddy Knox, and quarterback Sawyer Robertson headline the class. And a trio of highly ranked junior college products also join the fold in offensive linemen Nick Jones and Carson Williams, and linebacker DeShawn Page.

The fifth-highest ranked offensive recruit in MSU history, Robertson is the second-highest offensive skill player to ink with the Bulldogs according to 247Sports, trailing only running back Jerious Norwood in 2002. Offensive linemen Charles Cross, Donovan Davis and Damien Robinson are also among the top five offensive recruits.

MSU's five signees from Florida and four from Texas are the most ever in a single class from either state since 1999.

2021 Class Breakdown

By State:
Alabama: 1
California: 1
Canada: 1
Florida: 5
Georgia: 1
Louisiana: 1
Mississippi: 9
Tennessee: 1
Texas: 4

By Position:
Offense: 13
               OL: 5
               QB: 2
               RB: 1
               WR: 5
Defense: 11
               DB: 3
               DL: 4
               LB: 4

Mississippi State University Athletics

Mike Leach Adds To Top 25 Recruiting Class

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Players Mentioned

Deonte Anderson

Ty Cooper

Charles Cross

Jalen Green

Nick Jones

Teddy Knox

John Lewis

DeShawn Page

Makai Polk

Sawyer Robertson

Carson Williams

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