Mississippi State adds commit No. 9

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are off to a great start to their 2009 recruiting class. Already with eight commitments heading into the weekend, Sylvester Croom has landed some of the top players from within the state of Mississippi and on Saturday he added another name to the list. Jackson (Miss.) Provine athlete Nickoe Whitley pledged his commitment to the Bulldogs this weekend, giving Mississippi State its ninth 2009 commitment, and sixth from with the state boundaries.

"Nickoe's dad told me he committed yesterday," said Provine head coach Willie Collins on Sunday. "He went up there yesterday to the mini camp that they had and I guess he decided to go ahead and commit."

Whitley is listed as an athlete and plays both quarterback and safety for his high school program. Collins noted that Mississippi State likes the 6-foot-1 175-pounder as a safety and Whitley in turn likes the opportunity that that presents.

"He has a lot of talent," said Coach Collins. "He's been blessed. He's just a pure athlete. They recruited him as a free safety so I think that's a plus. Coach said they lose three free safeties so he I think that was a plus for him possibly having the opportunity to play early. I know coach Harbison has done a great job of recruiting him."