Mississippi State football receives commitment from top JUCO recruit in the country

As difficult as it has been to watch Mississippi State football on the field this season, the Bulldogs have had some success off the field as they look to improve for the future. That continued Tuesday night as State added one of its best commitments to date for the 2025 signing class.

Tuesday night, Mississippi State football added another big commitment to its 2025 recruiting class. JUCO defensive line recruit Zavion Hardy made his commitment to the Bulldogs. 247 Sports rates Hardy as the top overall JUCO recruit in the country, while On3 industry rankings call him the top DL.

The 6-6, 280-pound defensive back from East Mississippi CC chose the Bulldogs over South Carolina, Arkansas and Florida. The Macon, Georgia native originally committed to South Carolina out of high school before ultimately enrolling at EMCC. Hardy's commitment puts State at No. 25 in the nation, according to On3.

Mississippi State football is having a terrible season defensively. They are in the midst of their worst defensive season since 2016 and still have some strong offense ahead of them. And while there isn't a solution this year, the good news is that Jeff Lebby and his staff appear determined not to let this problem persist beyond this season.

13 of the Bulldogs' 20 commitments are on the defensive side of the ball, with six of those 13 being four-star prospects. According to the On3 industry rankings, Mississippi State has commitments from the top four JUCO prospects in the country, all of whom play defense. Lebby and his staff are not only working to bolster the defense with more talented young talent, but are also working to acquire players who can make an immediate impact in the 2025 season.

Zavion Hardy, in particular, is a huge addition to the class given State's struggles along the DL. The Bulldogs are currently weak in the trenches and lack depth there. Hardy contributes enormously to improving this place for next season.

This season has been and continues to be a struggle for Bulldog football, but if they can continue to have success in recruiting there will be excitement heading into 2025.