<p class="storyheadline">MHS QB commits to Mississippi State</p>
Wildcat junior Russell to play for Croom, Bulldogs</p><font size="2"><span class="storycredit">By Brandon Walker</span>
</font>
<span>Three weeks before opening his final spring football practice at Meridian High School, starting quarterback Tyler Russell admits to getting a huge load off his shoulders Tuesday morning.
That's when Russell, Meridian's 6-5, 195-pound junior quarterback, verbally committed to play on the college level at Mississippi State University.
"It's a big relief," Russell said Tuesday. " I feel like getting this out of the way early will help me to focus on where I need to be academically and help me concentrate on winning a state championship."
Russell's non-binding verbal commitment ends a recruitment that included trips to Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia in addition to Mississippi State. When making his decision, Russell ultimately felt right at home in Starkville.
"It just felt like home. I've been all over the SEC and have been impressed, but every time I was at Mississippi State, it just felt right," Russell added. "I feel like I belong there and I look forward to winning championships at Mississippi State."
With Mississippi State on the heels of an 8-5 season and a Liberty Bowl victory under head coach Sylvester Croom, Russell's impressions of the Bulldog coaching staff also played a role in his commitment.
"Coach Croom's character is second to none," Russell said of Mississippi State's fourth-year head coach. "To me, that's very important. I believe in the coaching staff they have up there, especially coach Croom and coach McCorvey (MSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach)."
"I like the coaching on the offensive side of the ball and I feel like I can excel in that offense," he said.
Russell has excelled on the high school level, passing for 2,481 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to the Class 5A South State Championship game. He also added 514 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, bringing a level of versatility to Meridian's spread offense.
With his commitment coming just a week after another highly-touted signal caller, Tupelo's Chris Garrett, backed out of a previous verbal to Mississippi State, Russell is quick to point out that his recruitment is over.
"I'm a man of my word," Russell said. "I am going to play football at Mississippi State."
The first day for high school seniors to sign a letter of intent is February 4.
First things first, as Russell and the rest of the Wildcats will take aim at a Class 5A state crown during his senior season.
"With this out of the way, my only concern is getting back to Jackson and winning the state championship," Russell said</span></p>
Wildcat junior Russell to play for Croom, Bulldogs</p><font size="2"><span class="storycredit">By Brandon Walker</span>
</font>
<span>Three weeks before opening his final spring football practice at Meridian High School, starting quarterback Tyler Russell admits to getting a huge load off his shoulders Tuesday morning.
That's when Russell, Meridian's 6-5, 195-pound junior quarterback, verbally committed to play on the college level at Mississippi State University.
"It's a big relief," Russell said Tuesday. " I feel like getting this out of the way early will help me to focus on where I need to be academically and help me concentrate on winning a state championship."
Russell's non-binding verbal commitment ends a recruitment that included trips to Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia in addition to Mississippi State. When making his decision, Russell ultimately felt right at home in Starkville.
"It just felt like home. I've been all over the SEC and have been impressed, but every time I was at Mississippi State, it just felt right," Russell added. "I feel like I belong there and I look forward to winning championships at Mississippi State."
With Mississippi State on the heels of an 8-5 season and a Liberty Bowl victory under head coach Sylvester Croom, Russell's impressions of the Bulldog coaching staff also played a role in his commitment.
"Coach Croom's character is second to none," Russell said of Mississippi State's fourth-year head coach. "To me, that's very important. I believe in the coaching staff they have up there, especially coach Croom and coach McCorvey (MSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach)."
"I like the coaching on the offensive side of the ball and I feel like I can excel in that offense," he said.
Russell has excelled on the high school level, passing for 2,481 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to the Class 5A South State Championship game. He also added 514 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, bringing a level of versatility to Meridian's spread offense.
With his commitment coming just a week after another highly-touted signal caller, Tupelo's Chris Garrett, backed out of a previous verbal to Mississippi State, Russell is quick to point out that his recruitment is over.
"I'm a man of my word," Russell said. "I am going to play football at Mississippi State."
The first day for high school seniors to sign a letter of intent is February 4.
First things first, as Russell and the rest of the Wildcats will take aim at a Class 5A state crown during his senior season.
"With this out of the way, my only concern is getting back to Jackson and winning the state championship," Russell said</span></p>
