STARKVILLE — Columbus High School standout Kylin Hill could be one of many Mississippi State football signees to contribute early in his career.
That’s the mind-set MSU coach Dan Mullen had on National Signing Day as he talked about Hill and the rest of his signing class.
“I thought when we looked at him that he was one of the best, if not the best, running back in the country,” Mullen said. “I thought (he was) the best running back in the state of Mississippi. He brings the physical ability to run the ball between the tackles and breakaway speed when he gets into the second level.”
MSU’s newest crop of incoming players, one of the largest to enroll in time for spring practice in the Mullen era, will debut today.
Even without Hill, who won’t enroll until the summer, spring practice could serve as the first indicator of where MSU’s rushing yards will come from in 2017. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald returns after rushing for a team-high 1,375 yards. No other Bulldog ran for more than 725. There is a precedent for Fitzgerald to take on even more. Dak Prescott also was the team’s leading rusher as a sophomore. He then had 76 more carries and 157 more yards as a junior.
Returning No. 2 rusher Aeris Williams enters spring practice as a leading candidate to take some rushing load off Fitzgerald. Hill could factor in the rotation because the Bulldogs will have to replace Ashton Shumpert and Brandon Holloway, last season’s Nos. 3 and 4 rushers, who graduated.
While Fitzgerald figures to be the starting quarterback, there will be a competition to see who will be his backup following the transfer of Nick Tiano (Chattanooga) and Damian Williams (Texas State).
MSU’s lone scholarship option is incoming freshman Keytaon Thompson, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana. Thompson enrolled in December, participated in some practices before last year’s bowl game, and will be active in spring drills. Walk-on Logan Burnett also will take snaps at quarterback.
Wide receiver is another position of interest. MSU returns seven lettermen who will try to make up for the production lost from Fred Ross, who will participate in the NFL Combine this weekend. Ross accounted for nearly a third of MSU’s receiving production as a senior — 72 catches for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns. Donald Gray and Malik Dear will look to fill that void. Redshirt freshman Reggie Todd is another player to watch at the position.
Spring practice also begins a “new day” for MSU’s defense, as labeled by new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. That begins with the junior college defensive linemen Chauncey Rivers, Deion Pope, Lee Autry, and Montez Sweat. MSU also will welcome JUCO safeties Jaquarius Landrews, Brian Cole, and Johnathan Abram into the fold.
The offensive line also will break in some new starters. The most notable returner is tackle Martinas Rankin, who CBS Sports rated the second-best tackle prospect for the 2018 NFL draft.
Starting linebackers J.T. Gray and Lew Lewis return, so one linebacker spot figures to be up for grabs in spring practice. Erroll Thompson redshirted last season and is expected to be in the mix with Traver Jung, Gerri Green, and others.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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