Higgason walking on at MSU

Petal (Miss.) senior Taylor Higgason still has one sport left on his plate concerning his high school career. But the multi-sport standout has already made his plans to remain on the gridiron at the next level.

Getting ready for this week's Class 6A state championship baseball series, the 6-foot-2 and 195-pound Higgason will soon trade his batting gloves for shoulder pads and a helmet. The Petal receiver had other football offers but has chosen to walk on at Mississippi State.

"I had some offers from other schools," said Higgason, who also played soccer at Petal. "Some of them were not full scholarships, though, and it was gonna be pretty expensive. Samford offered me and so did Harvard and Cornell. Once Coach Les Koenning of Mississippi State found out I was not going to Harvard, he said they were happy for me to walk on. I wanted to major in engineering, too, and there is no better place than Mississippi State for that major. So it all worked out for the best. Plus, I grew up watching SEC football and there is no better opportunity in my mind than the SEC."

Last year at Petal, Higgason led the team with 20 receptions for 544 yards and eight touchdowns. With MSU head coach Dan Mullen always looking to add to the team's depth at receiver, Higgason said he saw a good opportunity and good timing to walk on at Mississippi State.

"They don't have too many older guys and they don't have any senior receivers," said Higgason. "So it seems like a good time to be there and it will be good to be in that group. They have a lot of young receivers so some of us will all be learning at the same time and seeing how college ball works. So in that aspect I think it will be good."

But before Higgason reaches training camp, he is bracing for those "tough" summer workouts.

"I should be there on May 31st and start summer school in that first term and then start workouts," said Higgason.

"Everyone I talk to always talks about how hard and how tough those workouts are. So I started doing some distance running and I've also been working out with Petal's football team. I am not sure what I am about to get into (laughing). It all sounds pretty tough but I look forward to the challenge."