Humphreys county linebacker Jamon Hughes was a relative unknown amongst recruiting fans until yesterday, when Rivals.com released some video of his bone-crushing hits, but college recruiters were familiar with him. MSU offered two weeks ago, then an unofficial visit to MSU last weekend moved State to the top. An in-home visit with coach Sylvester Croom and coach Reed Stringer yesterday sealed the deal, and he announced today that he would be a Bulldog.

"I committed to Mississippi State," he said. I had been thinking about them for a long time and I got to go up there (for the Egg Bowl) and got to see a game.

"I got to see the atmosphere of playing down there and I got to see their defensive scheme and I checked out their roster and I think I could be a good fit for the team. I think I can help Mississippi State win some games next year." He is being recruited as a middle linebacker.

Hughes was scheduled for an official visit to Memphis on Dec. 9 and is now considering whether he will take that one. He has, however, scheduled a trip to Mississippi State on Jan. 20.

So did yesterday's in-home visit help Hughes make up his mind?

"It had an impact, but very little," he said. "I already had my mind made up before they came."

Hughes measured in at 6-foot-0 at the NIKE Camp in Oxford this May and weighed 221 pounds. While his 4.84-second 40 time caused some to back off, his 4.5-second shuttle time – the most important stat for a middle linebacker - came in at an impressive 4.5 seconds. As a senior he recorded 215 tackles in just nine games and added 196 tackles as a junior, so his nose for the ball has never been in question.

He projects as a full qualifier with a 2.7 GPA and an 18 on the ACT.

***This is the kind of complete coverage BulldogBlitz.com subscribers receive on a daily basis. GIVE BULLDOGBLITZ.COM A TRY: Click here to take advantage of BulldogBlitz.com's 7-Day Free Trial and get all the INSIDE SCOOP on Mississippi State's football, basketball, baseball and recruiting from our staff of experts Lane Etheridge, Michael Wardlaw, and Rob Haralson.