FWtCT's Weekly Crootin Catch Up - January 25, 2013

As college football's recruiting season begins to come to a close, the weekends full of visitors become more and more important. This weekend will be no different for MSU, who hosts three committed prospects, three uncommitted prospects, and an unofficial prospect that is committed and coming back to help recruit. The three uncommitted prospects are as follows: JUCO DT Toby Johnson, Fresno St. QB commit Zach Greenlee, and Southern Miss QB commit Damian Williams. Here is a rundown of where each of the visitors stands in their recruitment. Please remember that with these 17-18 year olds, the information is always fluid, as any one of them can decide not to show up, or can very easily make a late decision to show up, even if they aren't schedule to.

MSU visitors list - January 26, 2013 (as always, list subject to change)

• BJ Hammond - WR, Gadsden, AL - Hammond has long been considered the premier high school wide receiver commitment for the Bulldogs in 2013. He is 6-4 207 and should be a big weapon on the outside and a lethal deep threat in Dan Mullen's offense. Hammond is a long time commit, who chose the Bulldogs over Auburn, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, UAB, Purdue, and others.
• Dez Harris - LB, McCalla, AL - Harris is a long time linebacker commitment for the Bulldogs, who was injured during his senior season and is still rehabbing from his injury. It has been rumored he might greyshirt to further his rehab, but that appears to not be so. His situation with that could become more clear this weekend. He is along linebacker with a frame that could add some good weight. He is 6-4 210. He chose MSU over South Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
• Shelby Christy - WR, Geisma, LA - Christy is a 6-3 175 pound WR commitment who has been committed for a while. Christy is another receiver that can be a deep threat on the outside, because of his size. He was a good get from Louisiana for Dan Mullen and company. He chose MSU over Houston, ULL, Louisiana Tech, Nebraska and others.
• Toby Johnson - DT, Hutchinson Community College - At one point, Johnson was considered the top JUCO DT in the country. He was injured and that changed. He was also once upon a time considered a heavy Georgia lean. Now it appears they are waiting to see about his injury. MSU has gotten in with him and he is originally from Mississippi. If Georgia continues to wait, his Mississippi roots could benefit MSU.
• Damian Williams - QB, Metairie, LA - He is a state championship winning QB in Louisiana. He is currently committed to Southern Miss. He is 6-1 215, so his body is shaped similar to that of Dak Prescott. He was recruited by ULM, Tulane, Memphis, and Nebraska before committing to Southern Miss.
• Zack Greenlee - QB, Stockton, CA - A late addition like Williams to the weekend visit list, Greenlee is an Under Armor All-American participant that MSU is making a large push late to land. Greenlee, a Fresno State commit, was offered a scholarship last night, and will be in Starkville this weekend. With less than two weeks left until NSD, expect Mullen and company to do their best to land him or Williams soon, maybe even this weekend. It will be interesting to see how he likes it. Although a west coast kid, it will be interesting to see if playing in a bigger conference will have any draw for Greenlee. He stands at 6-2 and weighs in at 185.
• Chris Jones - DE, Houston, MS - One of the biggest recruits to make his way to campus this weekend will be one that was here last weekend. Jones, the highly rated, highly followed defensive end out of nearby Houston, MS, will reportedly make his way to campus this weekend to help the Bulldogs recruit. Rumors abounded earlier in the week that Jones may visit various other schools, but he has apparently decided to come back to campus to help MSU with a few uncommitted prospects. That's huge for MSU's efforts in recruiting several key uncommitted players, as well as the fact that Jones is choosing to take an unofficial to MSU rather than take an official visit somewhere else.
• Ashton Shumpert - RB/S, Itawamba, MS - A late addition, Shumpert will reportedly also be in Starkville this weekend visiting unofficially, according to Scout's Steve Robertson. Shumpert is another one of MSU's highest rated recruits, so having him back in town this weekend to help with efforts is a big deal. Shumpert, like Jones, was being rumored to potentially visit elsewhere, but it looks like he will be back in Starkville this weekend.

MSU recruits visiting elsewhere

Here are a few key names in MSU's recruiting efforts that have either already visited MSU or have elected not to do so:

• Mackensie Alexander - CB, Immokalee, FL - The more vocal of the two Alexander brothers visited (along with Mackenro) Starkville last weekend, but did not commit, as many might have hoped. This weekend, Mackensie is in New Jersey to visit Rutgers. Although he's been thought recently to be leaning towards MSU, many say that his LOI could end up anywhere come National Signing Day. It looks like we won't know what he decides until then.
• Mackenro Alexander - S, Immokalee, FL - The quieter of the two brothers was also in town last weekend, although he kept a lower profile than Mackensie. Mackenro is reportedly visiting West Virginia this weekend.
• Joshua Dobbs - QB, Alpharetta, GA - State fans had hoped that Dobbs would be in Starkville this weekend, however he has decided to take an official visit to Tennessee instead. MSU met with Dobbs, an Arizona State commit, earlier in the week in his home, and apparently were not able to sway him to come for a visit. Although nothing is ever final, it is assumed that Dobbs is now likely out of the picture for State.
• John O'Korn - QB, Fort Lauderdale, FL - As we noted this morning, O'Korn, MSU's other main target to join Cord Sandberg as a QB in this signing class, has opted to stick to his commitment to Houston, and will not visit MSU this weekend. O'Korn got his official scholarship offer earlier in the week from coach Mullen, but decided to stay with the Cougars. His decision to stick with Houston was what prompted MSU to begin their heightened pursuit of Williams and Greenlee.
• Johnathan Ford - RB, New Hope, AL - Ford, a long time Vanderbilt commit, was originally scheduled to visit MSU this weekend after visiting Tennessee two weekends ago and Vanderbilt last weekend, but has apparently decided to opt out of the visit. It was expected that Ford would most likely have remained committed to Vanderbilt anyways; this visit may just have been an "enjoying the process" type trip for him.