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The Mississippi State Bulldogs have two offensive line commitments in the 2014 class with Deion Calhoun out of Restoration Academy in Fairfield, Ala. and Jordan Harris out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. In addition, the Bulldogs have already had Jocquell Johnson out of Copiah-Lincoln Community College sign a national letter of intent. However, the quest to pick up another offensive line commitment for this class has hit a roadblock over the past week as Sean Rawlings decided to leave the Mississippi State fold to commit to Ole Miss, and on Wednesday, Jervontius Stallings decided he would commit to Kentucky over the Bulldogs.
BREAKING: C/G Jervontius Stallings has committed to Kentucky over Mississippi State.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) January 29, 2014
Without a doubt, the Bulldogs would like to pick up another quality player or two along the offensive line. With these two off of the board, the Bulldogs will have to turn their eyes elsewhere.
Earlier on Wednesday, another Mississippi State target, Marlon Humphrey, committed to Alabama in a decision that was not very unexpected.
[UPDATE, 1/30/2014] -- After we learned of Stallings' commitment to Kentucky early yesterday afternoon, we would later learn a bit more detail as to why the young offensive lineman chose the Wildcats. As most of you all know, a brutal winter storm rocked the south earlier this week, stranding motorists and citizens of towns all across the south, including Birmingham where the young prospect lives. According to a story from AL.com, Kentucky coaches, who were in the area to visit with Stallings, drove on miles of treacherous roadway conditions to get to Stallings. When their rental car gave out on them about a mile or two from Jervontius' high school where he was stranded, the pair of coaches walked the final mile or so.
"I was stuck at Spain Park yesterday and had to spend the night," Stallings said. "I was finally allowed to leave home at about 12 o'clock today and go home. But I'm proud to say that Kentucky was stuck in it with me a little bit. ... They had to walk like the last mile to come to my school. That was a big part of my decision. I just felt real comfortable with them after they did something like that."
Mississippi State will certainly continue pursuing the talented lineman until National Signing Day, but as for now, it appears as if Birmingham's misfortunes will be Kentucky football's gain.
