Redmond is a Bulldog

MEMPHIS, Tenn., - Mississippi State added a key component to its 2012 class Monday morning when Memphis, Tenn., three-star athlete Will Redmond gave his commitment to the Bulldogs.

The six-foot, 179-pounder announced his decision at Memphis East High School choosing MSU over his other finalist Tennessee.

"Last night it was a 50-50 chance," Redmond said. "I woke up this morning just knowing which school I was going to go to. Last night when I talked to both coaches I pretty much settled on it."

Redmond called the State coaching staff from the podium in front of family, friends and coaches before putting on a Bulldogs cap and rang a cowbell

"I love the coaches down there, and how everything is," Redmond said. "I like how (Dan) Mullen built the program. They've got a chance to compete for a national title."

Redmond took an unofficial visit to Starkville last week which marked the third time he has been on the Bulldogs campus over recent months.

"I went down there on Thursday and came back on Friday," Redmond said. "When I was down there it was just something about it. I felt like home. Me and head coach Dan Mullen talked about family and just being apart of an organization that wants to win and is trying to win. That's really what made me commit."

Outside of Mississippi State and Tennessee, Redmond also had 21 other offers from the likes of Clemson, Miami, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Notre Dame, Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Memphis, Purdue, Virginia and Western Kentucky.

"It was real tough to narrow it down," Redmond said. "I didn't know that I would narrow it down this soon but this is where I wanted to go."

Redmond played his junior season at Manasses High School before transferring to Memphis East High School this year. At Manasses as a junior he rushed for 1,862 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 866 yards and 11 more scores. Redmond also added two more touchdowns on kickoff returns.

Redmond projects as a defensive back at the next level.

"When me and Coach Mullen were talking he was talking about how they graduate two safeties," Redmond said. "He wanted me to play safety and boundary corner and that really stood out to me that I could play as a freshman. He said the quicker you can come in and play then the quicker you can help the team."

He plans to major in criminology.

Redmond is rated the No. 9 prospect in the state of Tennessee and the 30th ranked athlete nationally.