6/22/2016 football Edit

Three-star Tennessee DB Kaleb Oliver commits to Mississippi State

Woody Wommack • Rivals.com

Social Media Director

Mississippi State has made the state of Tennessee a priority in the 2017 class and the Bulldogs hard work is paying off. On Wednesday morning three-star Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland safety Kaleb Oliver made the decision to commit to the Bulldogs.

"I'm committed to Mississippi State," Oliver said. "Since the first time I went down there they treated me just like family and I felt like now was the time."

Oliver visited campus last week and worked out with the Bulldogs coaches during the camp. He said once he felt like his game meshed with the staff's coaching style, he was ready to pull the trigger.

"I liked working with all their coaches, but especially Coach Linguist," Oliver said. "The way he coached really made me comfortable. He described what he wanted you to do with his words then he gets out there and shows you himself. He's more hands-on so it's easier to grasp and learn."

During his multiple trips to Starkville, Oliver also fell in love with the town and campus.

"As I walked around the town you can just tell everyone loves the school," Oliver said. "The same with the campus. Everybody there as smiling and happy to see me and I just got a good overall feeling when I was there."

The icing on the cake for Oliver and his latest trip to Starkville? Face-to-face time with the head coach himself.

"Coach Mullen brought me into his office and we sat there and talked for like 30 minutes," Oliver said. "He's a great guy. We talked about everything, football, life on campus, life after football. He said if you want to go to a school and just party and not take school and football seriously then Mississippi State isn't the place for me. But he said if you want to come and be great, in the classroom and on the field and try to get to the next level, this is the school and I really believe him."

Oliver, who is ranked No. 38 nationally as the safety position, is commitment No. 17 for the Bulldogs in the Class of 2017 and he joins Landon Guidry as the second commitment from the state of Tennessee.