Mississippi State wins in-state battle for Rivals250 WR Antonio Harmon

There's never a bad time for recruiting momentum, and as the Early Signing Period inches closer and closer, Mississippi State unwrapped an early gift.

Rivals250 wide receiver Antonio Harmon pledged to the in-state Bulldogs over Ole Miss on Monday, two days before the early signing window arrives. Texas, Georgia and LSU were other finalists in contention for Harmon, who was the top uncommitted prospect in Mississippi.

Harmon is currently tabbed as the No. 39-ranked wide receiver. He’s the No. 4 overall player in Mississippi and No. 209 in the country, bolstering Mike Leach’s 2021 recruiting class, which entered the day ranked inside the top-30 nationally on Rivals at No. 29.

Harmon joins a wide receivers corps comprised of fellow Rivals250 prospect Teddy Knox and four-stars Malik Nabers along with in-state three-star Jacobi Moore and Alabama three-star Rodarius Thomas.

Harmon is a three-sport athlete that runs track and also competes on the basketball court, which is certainly evident in the wideout’s game. At 6-foot-3 and close to 200 pounds, Harmon is a physical outside receiver with a well-built frame and possesses the rare blend of size and downfield speed.

The Kosciusko (Miss.) High School product has been massively productive over his four-year span on the varsity team. Harmon turned 13 catches into 400 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2017. He remained a big-play threat as a sophomore, averaging 25.3 yards per catch with 455 yards and five touchdowns. Harmon also found a groove on defense, where he accounted for four forced fumbles, four recoveries with an interception and two passes defended.

Harmon was dynamic on both sides of the ball as a junior last fall. He had a career-best 35 receptions for 429 yards and four touchdowns with 757 all-purpose yards. Defensively, he had also a career-best with 53 stops to go along with two picks, two forced fumbles and recoveries.

As a senior, Harmon accounted for nine total touchdowns, the highest mark of his high school career. He recorded 26 catches for 474 yards and eight touchdowns receiving.

Harmon has junior track times of 23.54 in the 200 and 56.59 in the 400, but on film is a long-strider with enough speed to breakaway in the open field and can create separation downfield.

Not only is Harmon a consistent downfield playmaker for Kosciusko, but gives offensive play-callers some unique creativity with gadget plays and allowing their 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to get the ball in space with enough speed to turn around the edge. In space, Harmon is a physical, downhill runner that isn’t easy to bring down.

Harmon brings a rare physicality to the wide receiver position. He not only gives defenders fits, but refuses to go down and has a unique ability to regain his balance and continue running through contact. Harmon somehow keeps plays alive time after time, which only adds to his big-play threat ability.

Harmon pairs athleticism with some advanced receiver attributes like a wide catch radius, the ability to get vertical and high-point the football, come away with contested catches and of course, being sure-handed.

Harmon makes a habit out of making difficult grabs with defenders in his face. He’s a reliable target even when covered because of his size and hands, as well as a willingness to be physical and challenge for the ball in the air.

It’s also worth noting that Harmon makes a ton of plays downfield and certainly has the ability to make freakish type of catches where he’s 30 inches off the ground and out-jumping two defenders and coming down with the football. While there aren’t always records of his vertical jump, it shows on tape in addition to his strong hands and ability to battle in double coverage.

Coaches around the country have also flirted with the idea of using Harmon on defense as a big-framed safety or even an athletic outside linebacker. He is gifted as a wide receiver, of course, but possesses so many unique athletic abilities to also offer creativity for defensive coordinators in the secondary or in the box.