JUCO receivers commit to MSU

December 11, 2012

EMCC's standout wide-receiver Corey Smith runs with the ball after a catch in a game earlier this year. (Photo by Bob Smith)

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are going to lose a great amount of talent at wide receiver when the season is over.

Replacing those guys has been a top priority for the Bulldog coaching staff, and Sunday there were indications that help is on the way.

MSU picked up commitments from junior college receivers Corey Smith and Jeremey Chappelle.
Smith and Chappelle were the 20th and 21st commitments for the class of 2013.

Smith played his junior college ball at East Mississippi Community College, while Chappelle played at Tyler (Texas) Community College.

Both were making their officials visits to Mississippi State over the weekend and let head coach Dan Mullen and the rest of the coaching staff know of their decisions before they left.

"When I was leaving I met with coach (Dan) Mullen and I committed," Smith told Bulldawgs 247 on Sunday. "All of the coaches were so excited and they all started yelling. It was all about the opportunity I have there and knowing they have a great quarterback (Tyler Russell) coming back just made it even better."

Chappelle had MSU on the top of his list when he entered the weekend. When Chappelle left, he knew he was coming back.

"I just got through meeting with coach Mullen and coach Koenning in coach Mullen's office," Chappelle told Bulldawgs 247 on Sunday. "They asked me how I felt about Mississippi State. They asked me how I felt with most of their receivers leaving and having that chance to play right away. I told them I was ready to be a Bulldog and everyone in the room got real excited, so yeah, it made for a great weekend."

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Smith is a four-star prospect rated by 247Sports and has a rating of 95. He is the nation's second-best junior college receiver prospect and the ninth best junior college prospect regardless of position by 247Sports.

Smith, an Akron, Ohio native, will graduate from Scooba in May and will not take any other official visits.
"I am done now visiting," Smith told Bulldawgs 247. "I was going to see Ohio State and Tennessee next month, but I have found my spot now and I just want to focus on preparing myself to get there in the summer."

Smith had 51 catches for 733 yards and nine scores this past season for EMCC.

Chappelle measures in at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He was rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports with a ranking off 88. He is the ninth best junior college wide receiver in junior college and is the second best in the state of Texas.

Chappelle, a native of Jacksonville, Texas, will make his commitment official on Dec. 19 and will enroll at MSU in the spring.

"Now I just have to keep moving forward and come in there and work hard to get my spot," Chappelle told Bulldawgs 247. "I am ready to work with my new teammates."

Smith had offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Iowa. He singed with Tennessee in 2011.

Chappelle also had offers from West Virginia, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Hawaii and Southern Miss.