MSU Football Signs 22 Student-Athletes To National Letters-Of-Intent
[List as of 1:30 p.m. CT, 2/1/2006 - 22 signees]
* Head Coach Sylvester Croom's comments on MSU's 2006 signing class
| NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL) | |
| Timmy Bailey | LB | 6-3 | 241 | Glen Allan, MS (Riverside/Mississippi Delta CC) | Bio |
| J.C. Brignone | DL | 6-1 | 284 | Pass Christian, MS (St. Stanislaus) | Bio |
| Alex Carpenter | WR | 6-0 | 168 | Rienzi, MS (Biggersville) | Bio |
| Brandon Cooper | DL | 6-3 | 240 | Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Marshall) | Bio |
| Chasman Davis | LB | 5-11 | 209 | Fort Pierce, FL (St. Lucie West Centennial) | Bio |
| Alex Dekle | DL | 6-1 | 270 | Statesboro, GA (Statesboro) | Bio |
| Anthony Dixon | RB | 6-1 | 229 | Jackson, MS (Terry) | Bio |
| Aaron Feld | SN | 6-1 | 220 | Homewood, AL (Homewood) | Bio |
| J.D. Hamilton | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Natchez, MS (Natchez/Copiah-Lincoln [MS] CC) | Bio |
| Brandon Henderson | TE | 6-1 | 228 | Fayetteville, GA (Fayette County) | Bio |
| Chris Herrera | TE | 6-3 | 275 | Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Marshall) | Bio |
| Jamon Hughes | LB | 6-0 | 221 | Rolling Fork, MS (Humphreys County) | Bio |
| Anthony Johnson | DB | 5-10 | 195 | Jackson, MS (Provine/Hargrave Military Academy) | Bio |
| Courtney Jones | RB | 5-11 | 204 | Pensacola, FL (Pensacola) | Bio |
| Kyle Love | DL | 6-2 | 315 | Fairburn, GA (North Clayton) | Bio |
| Ryan Mason | WR | 6-5 | 215 | Mobile, AL (Shaw/Mississippi Delta CC) | Bio |
| Mark Melichar | OL | 6-5 | 275 | Birmingham, AL (Oak Mountain) | Bio |
| Keith Mills | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Alexandria, LA (Alexandria) | Bio |
| Reggie Odom | DL | 6-0 | 290 | Deland, FL (Deland) | Bio |
| Rodney Prince | DL | 6-3 | 230 | Irondale, AL (Shades Valley) | Bio |
| Anthony Summers | DB | 6-2 | 200 | Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch) | Bio |
| Marcus Washington | DB | 5-10 | 175 | Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Marshall) | Bio |
Timmy Bailey, LB, 6-3, 241, Glen Allan, Miss. (Riverside/Mississippi Delta CC)JUNIOR COLLEGE: Credited with running a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Credited with a 41-inch vertical jump by Scout.com . . . Will have four years to play three following his transfer to Mississippi State from Mississippi Delta Community College . . . Did not play football the past two seasons (2004 and 2005), serving an 18-month active duty assignment with the Mississippi National Guard in Iraq . . . His unit was called to active duty in August 2004, he spent five months training at Camp Shelby, and was deployed to Iraq in December 2004 . . . Returned to the states in December 2005 . . . Selected second-team Mississippi Community College all-state and second-team, all-North Division in 2003 as a freshman linebacker . . . Led the team with 95 tackles, adding three quarterback sacks during that initial junior college campaign for head coach Jay Miller at MDCC . . . Other top scholarship offers: Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.HIGH SCHOOL: Named the Red Zone Mississippi Player of the Year following his senior season for head coach Jeff Horn at Riverside High School in Avon, Miss. . . . Helped Riverside to a 7-3 record during his 2001 senior season, the school's first winning record in almost two decades, leading the team with almost 900 yards receiving . . . Missed most of his junior season at the prep level due to injuries . . . Played linebacker, tight end and running back at Riverside.
PERSONAL: Born Timothy Bailey, 8-25-84, in Greenville, Miss. . . . Son of Ms. Gwen Bailey.
J.C. Brignone, DL, 6-1, 284, Pass Christian, Miss. (St. Stanislaus)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated with the top 70 defensive linemen in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Credited with a 340-pound bench press max and a 5.0-second clocking in the 40-yard dash at the Rivals.com Louisiana Junior Day . . . Has benched 185 pounds 35 times, with a 385-pound max, according to the Scout.com website . . . Considered one of the top seniors in the state of Mississippi prior to his senior season by G&W Recruiting Report . . . Displaced by Hurricane Katrina for his senior year of high school, he finished his prep career at Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview High School . . . Helped Parkview to a 10-3 record during his senior campaign and into the state of Georgia playoff quarterfinals . . . Was a two-way tackle for the Class 5A Panthers, a team which finished No. 6 in the Atlanta Journal Constitution's season-ending final poll . . . Made 37 tackles with four tackles for loss on the season, a campaign that was interrupted for him at midseason by a broken left arm . . . Rebounded from that injury to earn first-team, all-Gwinnett County on the defensive line . . . Began his senior wrestling season at Parkview before returning to the state of Mississippi in January 2006 . . . Selected second-team, Class 4A all-state at offensive guard following his junior season at St. Stanislaus by the Mississippi Association of Coaches . . . Registered 62 tackles with six quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries during his junior campaign for head coach Casey Wittman at St. Stanislaus . . . Helped lead his team to a 9-2 record during his junior year . . . Also an outstanding wrestler and power lifter on the high school level . . . A three-time USA wrestling champion for Louisiana/Alabama.Mississippi region, he finished sixth nationally . . . Won a state wrestling championship in Louisiana all three years . . . Finished fourth in the 308-pound weight class in the power lifting meet during his junior season, despite weighing just 275 at the time . . . An outstanding student at the prep level, he had a 3.0-plus grade point average . . . Owned his own pressure washing business in high school . . . Other top scholarship offer: Rice . . . Committed to Mississippi State in September 2005.PERSONAL: Born Julio Cesar Brignone IV, 2-16-88, in Atlanta, Ga. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Julio Brignone.
Alex Carpenter, WR, 6-0, 168, Rienzi, Miss. (Biggersville)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 50 wide receiver prospect in the country and the No. 17 player in the state of Mississippi prior to his senior season by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Ranked with the top 30 wide receivers and tight ends in the SEC region by the G&W Recruiting Report prior to his senior season . . . Credited with running a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and with a 32-inch vertical leap at the Oxford Nike Training Camp during the spring of 2005 . . . His 40 time was the seventh-fastest of all players at the camp, while his shuttle speed (4.43) was fifth fastest among running backs (his group) . . . His vertical jump was the third longest among the backs . . . Recorded a 37-inch vertical jump at the Starkville Scout.com summer clinic . . . Rated the No. 22 prospect in Mississippi before his senior campaign by SuperPrep Recruiting Magazine . . . Played quarterback, running back, receiver and defensive back during his high school career for head coach Ronnie Lawson at Biggersville . . . Rushed for more than 4,000 yards during his prep career, he was named Class 1A, Division 8 most valuable player for all three years . . . Rushed for more than 1,000 yards and over 20 touchdowns during his senior season, a campaign in which he played multiple positions on both sides of the ball . . . Had 60 tackles playing primarily at safety, but also worked some at cornerback and linebacker . . . As a junior, he rushed 118 times for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 799 yards and eight more scores . . . Also a standout on the basketball court and in track and field, where he is the reigning Class 1A high jump champion, winning the title as a junior with a 6-4 leap . . . Committed to Mississippi State in June 2005.
PERSONAL: Born Alex Carpenter, 5-3-87, in Memphis, Tenn. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Carpenter.
Brandon Cooper, DL, 6-3, 240, Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Marshall)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated with the top 35 defensive linemen in the Midlands by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Named first-team, Class 20-5A all-district selection on the defensive line in suburban Houston, Texas, by Texas High School Football.com . . . That recruiting website ranked him as the #11 defensive line prospect in the state of Texas . . . Credited with running a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash and with a 275-pound bench press max at the University of Houston combine run by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Also listed with a 32-inch vertical jump by Rivals . . . Helped lead Fort Bend Marshall to a 9-1 record during his senior season and a District 20 championship with a 7-0 mark in league play . . . The team's only loss came in the first round of Class 5A title play . . . Registered 52 tackles and a quarterback sack during his junior season for the Buffalos . . . Played for head coach Dennis Brantley at Marshall, a school that has only been playing football the last three years . . . Solid high school student with a 3.0-plus grade point average on the prep level . . . Other top scholarship offer: Iowa State . . . Committed to Mississippi State in June 2005.PERSONAL: Born Brandon Cooper, 11-10-87, in Houston, Texas . . . Son of Ms. Rhoda Cooper.
Chasman Davis, LB, 5-11, 209, Fort Pierce, Fla. (St. Lucie West Centennial)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 77 high school prospect, regardless of position, in the country by ESPN.com . . . Rated as the No. 19 outside linebacker in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Rated with the top 20 linebackers in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Also listed as the 19th-best prospect from the state of Florida and a national No. 70 prospect by that site following his senior season for head coach Jim O'Neal at St. Lucie West Centennial High School in Florida . . . Clocked in 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Miami Training Combine . . . Pressed 185 pounds 28 times on the bench and jumped 34.9 inches in the vertical leap while at the NIKE Training Camp at Coral Gables . . . He was third among all linebackers in both the bench press competition and the vertical jump . . . Did not run the 40 or the shuttle at the camp after pulling his hamstring . . . Ranked No. 41 among the state of Florida's top prospects prior to his senior season by SuperPrep Magazine prior to his senior season . . . His high school coach credits him with a 460-pound bench press max . . . Was selected to play in the CaliFlorida Bowl, the postseason all-star game pitting high school seniors from the state of Florida against those from California . . . Suffered a knee injury in that game which will require surgery . . . Capped an outstanding high school career, in which he started all four years, by twice being named the Palm Beach Post Treasure Coast Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and '05 . . . Played defensive end and middle linebacker on the high school level . . . Made 113 total tackles, including 25 for loss, of which five were quarterback sacks, during a standout senior campaign . . . During his hurricane-plagued junior season with the Fighting Eagles, he made 68 tackles in seven games played, with 21 tackles for loss and 10 QB sacks . . . Also ran track on the high school level, running an 11-second, 100 meters . . . From among more than 25 offers, his other top scholarship offers: Georgia, Auburn, Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Carolina and N.C. State . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.
PERSONAL: Born Chasman Davis, 9-12-87, in Fort Pierce, Fla. . . . Son of Ms. Valery Davis.
Alex Dekle, DL, 6-1, 270, Statesboro, Ga. (Statesboro)
HIGH SCHOOL: Was rated the No. 66 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 48 prospect available in the state of Georgia by the Rivals.com recruiting website following his senior season for head coach Steve Pennington at Statesboro High School, the sixth-best defensive tackle . . . Rated with the top 70 defensive linemen in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Ranked as the No. 45 prospect in Georgia prior to his senior season by SuperPrep Magazine . . . Credited with running a 4.91 in the 40-yard dash and with a 345-pound bench press max at the Athens NIKE Training Camp . . . His 40-yard dash time was the third-best time among all defensive tackles at the camp . . . Pressed 225 pounds 21 times at that camp and jumped 28 inches in the vertical leap . . . His bench press repetitions tied for eighth best among all defensive tackles, while his vertical jump was third best in his group . . . Ranked with the top 50 offensive and defensive linemen in the SEC region by the G&W Recruiting Magazine . . . Two-time, first-team all-state player in Class 4A . . . Despite playing his senior season with a broken finger suffered earlier in the year, he led head coach Steve Pennington's Statesboro Blue Devils to a perfect 15-0 record and into the state of Georgia Class 4A state title game where they defeated Northside-Warner Robins for the championship . . . Registered 104 total tackles with four and one-half quarterback sacks and four other tackles for loss as a nose guard during his senior season . . . Made 92 tackles with four quarterback sacks as a defensive tackle during his junior campaign . . . He helped the Blue Devils to a 14-1 record that year and into the state championship game . . . Other top scholarship offers: Ohio State, Tennessee, Clemson and Ole Miss . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.PERSONAL: Born Alexander Dekle, 4-7-88, in Statesboro, Ga. . . . Son of Mr. Alex Dekle and Ms. Gloria Mincey.
Anthony Dixon, RB, 6-1, 229, Jackson, Miss. (Terry)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 19 running back in the country following his high school career by Prep Star Magazine . . . Named a preseason all-America prior to his senior campaign by SuperPrep Magazine, one of just five players so honored from the state of Mississippi . . . That magazine had him rated as the No. 21 running back in the nation . . . Ranked the No. 22 running back prospect in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Listed with the top 28 running backs in the nation by the G&W Recruiting Report, the only runner from the state of Mississippi . . . Rivals also ranks him as the No. 3 player, regardless of position, in the state of Mississippi, the top-ranked running back . . . Rated as the No. 31 running back in the nation by the Scout.com recruiting website . . . Credited with a 265-pound bench press and a 33-inch vertical jump by Scout . . . That website ranked him among the top 100 players in the South, and the third-best running back in Mississippi . . . Ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the Oxford NIKE Training Camp combine . . . Rated No. 60 in the Southeast region by Tom Lemming in his season-ending Prep Football Report . . . Listed No. 4 on the Jackson Clarion-Ledger ranking of the state's top high school prospects in its postseason listing of the state's 10 most wanted prospects . . . That newspaper also had him among its Dandy Dozen players prior to his senior season . . . Named first-team all-state following that record-breaking season by both the Clarion-Ledger and the Mississippi Association of Coaches . . . The Jackson newspaper also named him the metro player of the year . . . Capped an outstanding high school career for head coach Bill French at Terry (Miss.) High School by rushing 304 times for 2,683 yards, an 8.8-yard per rush average, and 31 touchdowns as a senior . . . Rushed for more than 150 yards in all but two games during the year, surpassing the 100-yard mark in all 13 games . . . Led Terry to an 11-2 overall record into the quarterfinal round of the Mississippi high school playoffs . . . Paced the team to the Region 6-4A crown . . . During his junior campaign, he rushed 246 times for 1,897 yards, a 7.7-yard per rush average, and 22 touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a 7-4 overall record and into the first-round of the state playoffs . . . Rushed for a career-high 321 yards vs. Jim Hill that season . . . Started the first two games of his sophomore season before having the year come a premature end with an ankle injury and then a collarbone ailment . . . Also a standout baseball player at the prep level . . . Other top scholarship offers: LSU, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida State, Miami and Iowa State . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.
PERSONAL: Born Anthony Dixon, 9-24-87, in Jackson, Miss. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Williams.
Aaron Feld, SN, 6-1, 220, Homewood, Ala. (Homewood)
HIGH SCHOOL: Tested with the defensive ends (his high school position) at the Oxford NIKE Training Camp, he placed in all four areas in his group . . . Finished second among all defensive ends with 22 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, and second in the vertical leap (32 inches) . . . Was timed in 5.01 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.72 in the shuttle run, ninth and fifth, respectively among all defensive ends . . . Has a 320-pound bench press max . . . A four-year starter, he set his high school's single-season and all-time quarterback sack records while playing defensive end . . . Totaled 25 quarterback sacks during his career . . . Named honorable mention all-state and all-metro Birmingham following a standout senior season by the Birmingham News . . . Helped lead head coach Bob Newton's Homewood (Ala.) High School team to a 15-0 mark in 2005 and to the state championship . . . Made 92 tackles, including 18 quarterback sacks and 12 other tackles for loss during his senior season for head coach Bob Newton at Homewood (Ala.) High School . . . Caused six fumbles for the Homewood defense . . . Played fullback on the offensive side of the ball . . . Also wrestled at the high school level, finishing second in the state at the 225-pound weight class as a junior . . . Outstanding student in the classroom . . . Committed to Mississippi State in December 2005.PERSONAL: Born Aaron Feld, 8-10-87, in Birmingham, Ala. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Feld.
J.D. Hamilton, OL, 6-4, 300, Natchez, Miss. (Natchez/Copiah-Lincoln [Miss.] CC)JUNIOR COLLEGE: Ranked the No. 67 junior college prospect coming out in 2006, regardless of position, by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . .Credited with running a 4.9-second 40-yard dash by Rivals . . . A J.C. Gridwire second-team, junior college all-America offensive lineman for head coach Glenn Davis at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College following his sophomore campaign . . . Rated No. 9 on the Jackson Clarion-Ledger list of the state's top junior college recruits . . . Named first-team, all-state by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges . . . Earned pre-season all-America recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association . . . Earned second-team, all-state recognition as a freshman for the Wolfpack . . . An avid rodeo (former state champion calf and steer roper) enthusiast . . .Other top scholarship offers: Ole Miss, West Virginia and Texas A&M.
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-way standout lineman for head coach James Denson at Natchez (Miss.) High School. PERSONAL: Born Johnathan Hamilton, 8-14-86, in Natchez, Miss. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hamilton.
Brandon Henderson, TE, 6-1, 228, Fayetteville, Ga. (Fayette County)HIGH SCHOOL: Ran a 4.87 40-yard dash at the Athens (Ga.) NIKE Training Camp prior to his senior season at Fayette County (Ga.) High School . . . His 4.31 time in the shuttle, however, was the second-fastest among those players classified as "athletes" at the camp . . . Was also second in that group with 18 repetitions of 185 pounds in the bench press . . . Finished fourth among those players with a 31-inch vertical leap . . . Played both wide receiver and tight end during his high school career for head coach Tommy Webb at Fayette County (Ga.) High School . . . Had 21 pass receptions during his senior season, working as both a tight end and an h-back on a predominately running team . . . Made 18 catches with a pair of scores as a junior . . . Also saw action at defensive end . . . Solid in the classroom . . . Committed to Mississippi State in November 2005.
PERSONAL: Born Brandon Henderson, 2-18-88, in Athens, Ga. . . . Son of Mr. Keith Henderson and Ms. Carolyn Jones . . . His father played football at Georgia and lettered for the Bulldogs 1985-88, and later played professionally with the San Francisco 49ers (1989-92) and Minnesota Vikings (1992).
Chris Herrera, OL, 6-3, 275, Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Marshall)
HIGH SCHOOL: Credited with running a 4.9 in the 40-yard dash and a 30-inch vertical jump by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Played tight end on the prep level until his senior season when he made the move inside to offensive tackle . . . Helped Fort Bend Marshall High School in suburban Houston, Texas, become the top-ranked offense in Class 20-5A, averaging 444.5 yards per game during his senior season . . . Helped head coach Dennis Brantley's Marshall team to a 9-1 record during his senior season and a District 20 championship with a 7-0 mark in league play . . . The team's only loss came in the first round of Class 5A title play . . . Other top scholarship offers: Iowa, Iowa State, Houston, Baylor and Missouri . . . Committed to Mississippi State in June 2005. PERSONAL: Born Christopher Herrera, 3-23-88, in Chicago, Ill. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Heard.
Jamon Hughes, LB, 6-0, 221, Rolling Fork, Miss. (Humphreys County)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 34 inside linebacker prospect in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Credited with a 330-pound bench press maximum by Rivals. . . Rated with the top 60 linebackers in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Ran a 4.84 in the 40-yard dash at the Oxford Nike Training Camp prior to his senior season . . . He tied for sixth among all inside linebackers at the camp by pressing 185 pounds 21 times . . . Was tied for ninth with a 4.53-second shuttle run . . . Also had a 29-inch vertical leap at that summer session . . . Ran a 4.56 in the shuttle at the Starkville Scout.com combine . . . Named first-team, all-state at linebacker by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger following his senior season for head coach Kenneth Lawrence at Humphreys County High School . . . Named second-team, all-state by the Mississippi Association of Coaches . . . A tackling machine on the high school level, he had 181 tackles with 12 quarterback sacks in nine games during his senior season . . . Also forced 14 fumbles as a prep senior . . . Registered 24 tackles in his senior season opener vs. Yazoo City . . . Finished third in the state with 196 stops as a junior . . . Was named Class AAA District 4 defensive most valuable player following his junior campaign . . . Also scored five touchdowns while on offense . . . Started at linebacker for four seasons, spending his sophomore and freshman years at South Delta (Miss.) High School . . . Recorded 643 total tackles during a combined four-year high school career . . . Committed to Mississippi State in December 2005.
PERSONAL: Born Jamon Hughes, 12-30-87, in Greenville, Miss . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Cardell Hughes . . . His brother Carlos played football at Louisiana-Monroe.
Anthony Johnson, DB, 5-10, 195, Jackson, Miss. (Provine/Hargrave Military)
PREP SCHOOL: Ranked No. 16 on Rivals.com's list of the top 50 prep school prospects in the country, the top-rated defensive back . . . Rated the No. 20 postgraduate prospect available in 2005, the second-best cornerback on the chart, by the Scout.com recruiting website . . . Played for head coach Lonnie Messick at Hargrave (Va.) Military . . . Ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Hargrave combine, the second-fastest time recorded . . . Re-committed to Mississippi State in August 2005. HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 34 defensive backfield prospect in the nation and No. 5 player in the state of Mississippi, regardless of position, by Superprep Magazine, the second defensive back listed . . . Ranked No. 51 among the top athlete prospects in the nation by the Rivals.com recruiting web site . . . That web site also ranked him No. 12 on its postseason list of the top recruits in the state, the second-rated "athlete" . . . BulldogBlitz.com ranked him No. 8 on its postseason list of the state's top prospects . . . Recruiting web site Scout.com listed him No. 45 among the top prospects in the southeast, regardless of position, the No. 3 cornerback ranked . . . Dawgs Bite Magazine had him ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Magnolia State . . . Credited with running a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and with a 265-pound bench press max by Rivals.com . . . Attended the Baton Rouge NIKE Camp prior to his senior season . . . Did 15 repetitions of 185 pounds and had a 31-inch vertical leap at that camp . . . His performance on the bench was third best among all defensive backs . . . Selected to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen prior to his senior season, symbolic of being among the top 12 players in the state . . . Was named the Jackson metro player of the year by the Clarion-Ledger . . . That newspaper ranked him as the No. 8 most-wanted prospect in the state and first-team, all-state in the defensive secondary following his prep career . . . Selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama High School all-star game following his senior season . . . Outstanding all-around athlete for head coach Willie Collins at Provine High School in Jackson, Miss., helping the Rams to a 22-3 record during his senior and junior seasons . . . A two-time all-state football player, he had 53 catches and 15 interceptions during his high school career . . . Had 29 catches for 584 yards and 17 touchdowns while on offense during his senior season when Provine qualified for postseason play and finished 11-1 . . . Had two games with three scoring catches each . . . Added eight pass interceptions that year, returning one for a score . . . He was part of a defense that allowed a total of just seven points in 10 regular season games . . . Recorded 24 catches for 639 yards (26.6-yard average) and 11 touchdowns, and seven pass interceptions during his junior season . . . Helped the Rams to an 11-2 record that season and to the state's Class 4A quarterfinals . . . Finished second in the state triple jump competition as a junior (45-3) and third in the state long jump . . . Also boasts a 6-6 high jump and a 21-3 in the long jump . . . Other top scholarship offers: Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Nebraska and Notre Dame.
PERSONAL: Born Anthony Terrone Johnson, 11-25-86, in Jackson, Miss. . . . Son of Mr. Anthony T. Perkins and Mrs. Nell Johnson.
Courtney Jones, RB, 6-0, 212, Pensacola, Fla. (Pensacola)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 30 running back prospect in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Ranked with the top 30 running backs in the Southeastern Conference region by the G&W Recruiting Magazine . . . Rated with the top 50 running backs in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Ranked the fourth-best running back prospect in the state of Florida following his senior season by the Scout.com recruiting website . . . Considered the top rising senior running back in the state of Florida following his junior season by state recruiting service floridakids.us . . . Rated the No. 14 player, regardless of position, in Florida by that site after his 11th grade season . . . Credited with running a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com and with a 315-pound bench press by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Rated No. 88 in the Southeast region by Tom Lemming in his season-ending Prep Football Report . . . Called the No. 1 running back prospect in the Florida Panhandle by that recruiting publication . . . Ran a 4.5 in the 40 and went 36 inches in the vertical leap at the Tallahassee Nike Training Camp prior to his senior season . . . That 40 time tied for fifth fastest among running backs at the camp, while the vertical jump tied for second best . . . Rated the No. 52 player in Florida, regardless of position, prior to his senior year by SuperPrep Recruiting Magazine . . . Suffered ankle and groin injuries during the third game of his senior season and lingered all year long . . . Managed to rush for over 800 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season for head coach Mike Bennett at Pensacola (Fla.) High School . . . Rushed for just over 300 yards vs. Pensacola Tate before incurring his injury problems . . . Rushed 126 times for 1,427 yards, an 11.2-yard average, and 15 touchdowns during his junior season for head coach Mike Bennett . . . Also caught 20 passes for 203 yards . . . Led the Tigers to postseason play as a junior . . . Named third-team, all-state following that campaign . . . Started at linebacker during his sophomore season . . . Also a standout basketball player at the prep level . . . Solid student in the high school classroom . . . Committed to MSU in February, 2004. PERSONAL: Born Courtney Jones, 9-14-86, in Pensacola, Fla... . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Jones Sr.
Kyle Love, DL, 6-1, 315, Fairburn, Ga. (North Clayton)HIGH SCHOOL: Two-way lineman for head coach Donald Shockley at North Clayton High School in College Park, Ga., an Atlanta suburb . . . Above a 3.0 grade point average in the classroom . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.
PERSONAL: Born Alexander Love, 11-18-86, in The Philippines.. . . . Son of Mr. Anthony Love and Mrs. Miriam Love.
Ryan Mason, WR, 6-5, 215, Mobile, Ala. (Shaw/Mississippi Delta CC)
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Credited with running a 4.54 in the 40-yard dash by the Scout.com recruiting website . . . Ranked as the No. 60 junior college player in the country following his sophomore season for head coach Jay Miller at Mississippi Delta Community College, the ninth-best JC receiver on the list, by that website . . . Was named first-team, all-North Division in the Mississippi junior college ranks in 2005 (no all-state team was announced) . . . Selected to play in the state's junior college all-star game this past December, he made two catches in the contest . . . Caught 10 passes for 390 yards during that sophomore season . . . Other top scholarship offer: Oklahoma State . . . Committed to Mississippi State in December 2005. HIGH SCHOOL: Injured during the second game of his senior season at Shaw High School in Mobile, Ala., he missed the remainder of the season with a back injury.
PERSONAL: Born Ryan Mason, 12-19-85, in Mobile, Ala. . . . Son of Rev. and Mrs. Sanders Mason III.
Mark Melichar, OL, 6-5, 275, Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated with the top 60 offensive linemen in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Named honorable mention all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . Named to the Birmingham News Super Seniors and to that newspaper's Class 6A all-metro team . . . Credited with a 325-pound bench press max and with running a 5.2 in the 40-yard dash by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Two-year starter on the offensive line for head coach Jerry Hood at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala. . . . Nominated for the Alabama North/South all-star game. . . Graded out at an 85 percent clip during his junior and senior seasons . . . Had 112 pancake blocks as a senior . . . Named to the Birmingham News all-metro honorable mention team following his senior season . . . Outstanding high school student with a 3.3 grade point average . . . Other top scholarship offer: Vanderbilt . . . Committed to Mississippi State in August 2005. PERSONAL: Born Mark Melichar, 1-28-88, in Birmingham, Ala. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Melichar.
Keith Mills, WR, 6-3, 200, Alexandria, La. (Alexandria)HIGH SCHOOL: Credited with running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and with a 37-inch vertical jump by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Split time at quarterback and wide receiver during his senior campaign for head coach Butch Stoker at Alexandria (La.) High School . . . Made 21 pass receptions for 397 yards, an 18.9-yard per catch average, and six touchdowns while playing wide out for the Trojans . . . Had his six scoring receptions on his final 12 catches of the year, all coming in the final three games of the season . . . Also played cornerback on defense . . . Named first-team, District 3-4A and honorable mention all-state at wide receiver . . . Missed most of his junior season with a broken arm . . . Suffered a postseason, non-football related broken fibula . . . Also a standout basketball player and track athlete on the prep level . . . Credited with a nationally recognized 47-11 in the triple jump . . . Also runs the sprints and relays . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006.
PERSONAL: Born Vernon Mills Jr., 1-1-88, in Alexandria, La. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Mills . . . His father played football at Northeast Louisiana (now Louisiana-Monroe) when Bulldog assistant coach J.B. Grimes, who recruited Keith, was on the staff there.
Reggie Odom, DL, 6-0, 290, Deland, Fla. (Deland)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 77 high school prospect, regardless of position, in the country by ESPN.com . . . Selected to play in the CaliFlorida Bowl, the California vs. Florida All-Star game following his senior season . . . Helped lead the Florida team to a 20-0 win over the California squad with a pass interception behind the line of scrimmage . . . Rated the 37th-best defensive tackle in the nation by the Scout.com recruiting website . . . Ranked as the No. 65 defensive tackle in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website following his senior season . . . Listed among the top 20 defensive linemen in the Southeast by Prep Star in its postseason magazine . . . Rated the No. 34 player, regardless of position, in the state of Florida, the sixth-best defensive tackle by that website . . . Credited with a 320-pound bench press max by Rivals . . . Was ranked 26th nationally among defensive tackles prior to his senior campaign by that site . . . Ranked with the top 50 offensive and defensive linemen in the SEC region by the G&W Recruiting Magazine . . . The recruiting website floridakids.us ranked him the No. 20 prospect in Florida prior to his senior season, the second-best defensive line prospect on the list . . . Listed as the No. 54 prospect in the state of Florida prior to his senior season by SuperPrep Magazine . . .Standout four-year starter for head coach Dean Fabrizio at Class 6A Deland (Fla.) High School . . . Helped lead Deland to a 7-3 record as a senior . . . Recorded 78 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks . . . Also credited with two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . . . Made 50 tackles with eight quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries during an injury-reduced junior season . . . Outstanding high school student with a 3.5-plus grade point average . . . Other top scholarship offers: LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Penn State, Illinois, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest and Louisville . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006. PERSONAL: Born Reggie Odom, 10-6-87, in Pensacola, Fla. . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Odom . . . His father played football at Southern Mississippi.
Rodney Prince, DL, 6-3, 230, Birmingham, Ala. (Shades Valley)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 26 weakside defensive end in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Rated with the top 70 defensive linemen in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue . . . Was 23rd on that site's list of the top 40 players in the state of Alabama, the third-best defensive end . . . Credited with running a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and a 300-pound bench press max at the Rivals.com Georgia junior day. . . Jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap, according to Rivals . . . Rated No. 25 in the state of Alabama by AuburnSports.com . . . Ranked the No. 30 player in the state of Alabama by SuperPrep Recruiting Magazine in its preseason edition . . . Made more than 100 tackles with 12 quarterback sacks during his senior season for head coach Mark Rice at Shades Valley High School . . . Also credited with eight pass deflections and four fumble recoveries . . . Tallied 120 total tackles with 10 quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries during his junior season at Shades Valley (Ala.) High School . . .Other top scholarship offers: Arkansas and Clemson . . . Committed to Mississippi State in September 2005.
PERSONAL: Born Rodney Prince, 11-27-86, in Birmingham, Ala. . . . Son of Dr. and Mrs. Rodney Prince.
Anthony Summers, DB, 6-2, 200, Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch)
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 8 athlete in the country following his high school career by Prep Star Magazine . . . Listed among the top 250 prospects in the country by the Rivals.com recruiting website, the eighth-ranked "athlete" in the nation . . Rated No. 23 in the Southeast region by Tom Lemming in his season-ending Prep Football Report, the national No. 101-ranked player . . . Rated No. 7 in the state of Mississippi on that website's preseason ranking of the top 30 players in the state, the top defensive back listed . . . Credited with running the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds by the Rivals . . . Ranked as the sixth-best prospect in Mississippi in SuperPrep's Recruiting Magazine, the top rated defensive back . . . Listed No. 3 on the Memphis Commercial Appeal's ranking of the Shelby County-metro area Most Wanted, the highest rated Mississippi player . . . That newspaper also listed him on its Elite Football Team at quarterback . . . Named to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen, one of the top 12 players in the state heading into his senior season . . . Named first-team, all-state by that newspaper as an all-purpose back following his senior season . . . Led the Conquistadors to the state playoffs in both his junior and senior seasons, recording a 10-2 record as a junior and leading his team to the Class 5A semifinals as a senior . . . Named region most valuable player following his senior season by the Mississippi Association of Coaches . . . Rushed for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns and passed for 1,269 yards and 21 scores for head coach Jamie Mitchell at Olive Branch (Miss.) High School . . . In addition to playing quarterback, also starred in the secondary, making 20 tackles as a senior and 36 tackles as a freshman defensive back before making the move to offense full-time . . . Accounted for 30 touchdowns during his junior season at the high school level . . . Passed for 1,032 yards and rushed for 583 more during that breakout junior campaign . . . Other top scholarship offers: Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Nebraska and Ole Miss . . . Committed to Mississippi State in January 2006. PERSONAL: Born Anthony Summers, 9-22-86, in Ingram's Mill, Miss. . . . Son of Ms. Ann Brown.
Marcus Washington, DB, 5-10, 175, Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Marshall)HIGH SCHOOL: Rated with the top 50 defensive backs in the Midlands by Prep Star Magazine in its season-ending issue, calling him one of the top 20 defensive backs in the state of Texas . . . Made 25 tackles with one pass interception during his senior season . . . Credited with running a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash and with a 36-inch vertical jump by the Rivals.com recruiting website . . . Solid basketball player and track athlete at the prep level . . . Ran a 37.5 in the 300 meter hurdles, a 14.1 in the 110 meter hurdles, and ran a leg of the school's nationally ranked 4 x 400 meter relay team . . . An outstanding student with a 3.4 grade point average in the high school classroom . . . Completed an ROTC Leadership Camp while in high school . . . Other top scholarship offer: Northwestern and Air Force . . . Committed to Mississippi State in September 2005.
PERSONAL: Born Marcus Washington, 8-13-88, in Houston, Texas . . . Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Washington Jr.