Big get today for the Bulldogs in the 2026 class. Tucker ranked No. 14 in the state:
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media

The Bulldogs are in the top five, according to Rivals, for best running back additions through the transfer portal. Story below.

State is up one spot to No. 21 after a loss to Florida, then win at Ole Miss:

Via our friend Sam Spiegelman:
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media

Big time win for the Bulldogs to get back to .500 in the SEC. Really balanced, too, as five guys were in double figures in scoring:

Media availability on Thursday from coach Chris Jans ahead of the game with Ole Miss on Saturday:

Hey y'all, following up on the previous INsider I had, here's the full story on Johnson. State and others are looking at him on both sides of the ball now, at receiver and safety. Close, but I'm not quite ready to FutureCast him for the Bulldogs just yet.

Got a full story coming, but no surprise that O'Mari Johnson is the guy Rivals' Sam Spiegelman sees as the most vital for the Bulldogs in the class:

I mean, this was all about the run Florida had to start the second half. It was a 17-0 run to be exact. Bulldogs never recovered:

Bulldogs hold steady at No. 22 after their narrow win at Georgia:

The latest from across the country:

This one was a hell of a nail-biter, but State held on tonight at Georgia:

Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.
I talked last night with one of one of State's visitors from its junior day on Saturday, Cross County (Ark.) four-star DT Danny Beale. He's up to 24 offers now, most recently from Memphis, Purdue and Oklahoma State.
Login to view embedded media Beale told me he's been to State now five times, though previously, the last visit was last spring. Still, the Bulldogs were the first SEC school to offer and he hasn't forgotten that. "I mean, it’s a very special place to me," Beale told me. He said he specifically loves the bond everyone seems to have around the program and the personalities he's come in contact with.

Beale said Courtney Williams, who's State's director of recruiting, was the primary contact. But in recent months, it's been assistant coach David Turner. That makes sense, given Beale's rise in profile and that Turner would be his position coach. Beale told me he loves the relationship he has with both Williams and Turner. "Honestly, we talk about everything," Beale told me. "I can talk to Coach Turner and Coach Williams about everything."

In the last month, Beale said he's also been on visits/junior days to Memphis, Missouri and Ole Miss. I'm not sure if any of them super stood out, but he said he liked the conversations he had and how he'd fit in. Beale had previously released a top 8 in November of State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Georgia, Oregon, Mizzou, Arkansas and USC. He told me he's working from that list still. But I'm not sure how serious USC and Oregon are here. No officials set, but my guess is at least 4-5 of that group will get one in May/June. And I expect State to be one of them.

Beale did tell me, "I’m just ready to make a decision. I don’t know where I wanna go, I’m just ready to make a decision." So, I think a decision might come early in that official visit period. So, if State can get an early visit, I think the odds go up.

Full story coming.

Hey y'all, just following up my previous INsider on Kamron Wilson, whom State offered a few weeks ago. Minnesota seems like the favorite for now, but I know the Bulldogs are trying to get him for a spring visit next month.

Meeting with members of the media on Thursday:

Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other Web sites or message boards, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws and could result in the termination of your Rivals.com subscription per our terms of service. Thank you.
Hey y'all, I caught up with not only one of State's top targets for the 2026 class, but one of the visitors from the Bulldogs' junior day last weekend, four-star athlete O'Mari Johnson. A few good nuggets he shared that I'll pass on here.
Login to view embedded media First off, Johnson has been to State countless times. He literally told me he's lost count. But he did say it was the first time he'd visited since back in the fall during the season. Johnson told me," It wasn’t all about football. We just kicked back and watched some basketball, just had fun. I learn something new every time I go."

A couple of things: Johnson had been recruited primarily by assistant coach Chad Bumphis. Now, he said they haven't talked a ton and that "I talk to the whole staff, offense and defense." He told me there isn't a coach he doesn't talk regularly with now. That seemed strange, since I thought Bump would be Johnson's position coach. BUT, Johnson told me State is one of a handful of schools now recruiting him to play offense AND defense. I'll make the case to Rivals, but I think Johnson should now be listed as an athlete.

It seems like Johnson is good with playing receiver or defense. If the latter were the case, it sounds like he'd be safety. Johnson told me, "They ask me what I prefer more and I was like, ‘It really doesn’t matter.’" He didn't go into specifics on the other schools looking at defense, but I'll stay on him.

The only other school Johnson has been to in the last few months is Tulane, the previous weekend for a junior day. I think that went well, but I'm not sure if he'll take an official visit there. That seems like the next step, which will come in May and June. Johnson told me he wants to see Tennessee, Missouri, Texas A&M and Miami. He's only been to Miami of that group.

So, based on his actions in visiting, how he talked about State, I do think the Bulldogs are the favorite. It's not enough for a FutureCast just yet, but I don't think it's that far off. It'll be interesting to see where the official visits will be to. If State gets one, I think that's the pick. But he may also not take a Bulldogs official and still commit, since he's visited so much. Miami is the one that really piqued his interest, so I'm watching that one the most.

Full story coming.

I put together some early depth chart projections for State's defense. Coleman Hutzler likes to utilize multiple fronts, but I’ve done the depth chart with a 3-4 base that technically includes 12 starting positions (with the Star or nickel being No. 12).

It’s possible Nevaeh Sanders will be part of that JACK conversation, but up to this point, he hasn’t spent any of his time playing off the ball — and last year’s top 2 guys (Branden Jennings and Ty Cooper) played between 25-30% of their snaps doing just that. Regardless of where State lists him, I feel like he’ll be limited to a situational role in obvious passing situations. Granted, he thrived in that role at NIU. He's long (6-4), but he’s light (220). He did finish 2024 with 14 pressures and 4.5 sacks despite only being in on 67 pass rushing snaps. For comparison, Sanders got the ninth-most PR snaps for the Huskies (the eighth- highest having more than twice as many at 145) and yet, he still managed to finish fourth on the team in pressures and sacks. He's totaled 30 pressures and 6.5 sacks in only 127 pass rushing snaps over the last two years, according to PFF. That's really impressive.

Whitson is an inside-out option who can be effective as a 3-tech, 5-tech or anywhere in between. He’s been one of my favorite additions out of the transfer portal. I can see either Bingley-Jones or Dinkins starting at the nose. I’m expecting a big jump from Trevion Williams. Yes, I know State brought in three other transfer signees who will all compete for that other 3/5-tech spot, but Williams showed major flashes in 2024. He’s got to learn to play more under control and with a bit more consistency, but he’s got NFL upside in my opinion. Has strong disruptive traits in my opinion.

I originally had Hunter Washington continuing his role as the starting strong safety with Isaac Smith playing Star, but I decided to switch it up at the last minute. Don’t get me wrong, that could be how it looks, but former Alabama DB Tony Mitchell feels like another immediate contributor in the secondary alongside Old Dominion transfer Jahron Manning. Cornerback is a big concern. Right now, you are banking on at least 2-3 of the following things happening: quality development from Kelley Jones as a corner, Dwight Lewis being able to make a quick transition from NAIA, DeAgo Brumfield and/or Treveon Wright staying healthy and Kyle Johnson being ready to immediately contribute as a freshman. Those things are possible, but are they likely? Time will tell.

I have Nic Mitchell losing out to Zakari Tillman at DIME and then sliding over to MIKE to fill out the two deep. This is a risky projection, as the coaching staff clearly likes Mitchell and he has the experience there, but I loved some of the things I saw from Tillman last season. I feel like he’ll continue to get better as he gets more reps. I’ve seen some projecting Derion Gullette at either JACK or MIKE (both are possible), but he has mentioned that the coaching staff has discussed him playing DIME. He likes the idea of that too. Because of that, I have him backing up Tillman there with Jalen Smith and Mitchell rounding out the “two-deep” at the two off-ball linebacker spots. I’ll be curious to see how freshman Tyler Lockhart develops in Year 1. The good news? Despite unexpectedly losing last year’s starter Stone Blanton early to the NFL, you don’t have to rush Lockhart due to the additions of Smith and Gullette.

I will admit that the Texas transfer does have some edge tendencies, so it is possible that he winds up playing JACK, but I believe the additions of JUCO signee LaKendrick James and freshman Tyshun Willis bolstered that position group enough to get quality play. I wouldn’t be surprised if one or both of those guys push Donterry Russell for that No. 2 spot. James is undersized (listed at 6-2, 217), but he’s twitched up, explosive and can more than handle the off-ball side of playing the position. Willis might be my favorite freshman signee on defense — and maybe even on the team. I’m a big, big fan.

Yes, I’m projecting Stonka Burnside moves over to the defensive side of the ball. His physicality and fearlessness would thrive at either safety spot or Star. There will likely be a transition period which could slow down his contributions early in Year 2, but by the end of the season, I’d expect for him to be getting steady snaps somewhere.

If you have any questions about my projections, please let me know. As I said, this is still early. Spring should reveal a lot.

Via our friend Adam Gorney, Bulldogs four-star commit Kennedy Green is still being recruited by others. Not a shock at all, but for now, he's solid with State: