Bulldogs look to 3-star Mississippi talents to round out 2018 receiving class

Mississippi State’s 2018 class is loaded with receiving talent, a position that has not traditionally been boasted by the Bulldogs. As signing day approaches many of the receivers have already been locked in thanks to early signing day, but more signatures could round off an already stellar receiving core. In state 3-stars Johnquarise Patterson and Cameron Gardner may be just the receivers to complete said class.

Johnquarise Patterson, of the Pearl High School Pirates, had an impressive 2017 campaign with just over 1000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, and helped his team to a 6A Mississippi State Championship in a 21-17 win over Gardner’s Starkville High School Yellow Jackets. Standing at 6’1 Patterson has the body that is desired of wide receivers along with the speed and athleticism to release from coverage and gain yards after the catch.

Though he was previously committed to the Bulldogs earlier in the 2017 season, Patterson de-committed in the new year days before recommitting again on January 4th, 2018. The Bulldogs should be confident going into signing day.

Cameron Gardner, a homegrown recruit of the Starkville High School Yellow Jackets, had an equally impressive senior year. Though he didn’t rack up yardage quite like Patterson, Gardner established himself as a dominant possession receiver and red zone threat. He caught 9 touchdown passes, and many of his catches were in or around the end zone or coming back to the ball off of coverage. He is an ideal target in the end zone and off back shoulder throws and curl routes.

Gardner chose the Bulldogs and signed a letter of intent on early signing day, December 20, 2017.

Though they were opponents in the State Championship game, the Bulldogs are looking forward to pairing Patterson and Gardner in maroon and white along with their other receiver signees Stephen Guidry, Malik Heath, and Devonta Jason in the 2018 class.