Mississippi State surging for 4-star RB Daniel Hill

Meridian (Miss.) four-star running back Daniel Hill was not expected to be uncommitted and unsigned following the Early Signing Period.

South Carolina appeared to be on the verge of landing his pledge in the fall. Alabama has been in the mix for the 6-foot, 220-pounder, while Tennessee also made his final three back in October.

Mississippi State was always mentioned, but never considered a true frontrunner. That’s slowly changed in December. Hill, the son of a former Bulldog, visited Starkville on Dec. 8 to see MSU and new head coach Jeff Lebby.

“I had a great time,” Hill said of the visit to On3’s Sam Spiegelman. “The whole coaching staff welcomed me and my family and we all enjoyed ourselves.”

Ahead of Hill’s Jan. 6 commitment date, Mississippi State is surging in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Spiegelman logged a pick in favor of the Bulldogs on Dec. 13. On Saturday, Miss State recruiting insider Paul Jones did the same, accompanying his pick with a 90% confidence level.

South Carolina still holds the lead for Hill in the RPM, but MSU is surging. The No. 188 overall prospect and No. 14 RB in the 2024 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking — could be staying in-state to begin his college career.

“The Bulldogs are working hard to keep the legacy recruit inside the state of Mississippi. This recruitment has had no shortage of twists and turns, which is expected to continue into next month’s announcement,” Spiegelman wrote on Dec. 21.

Bulldogs hoping for multiple recruiting wins in January

Hill isn’t the only Mississippi State target set to come off the board early in January. Three days before Hill’s announcement at the All-American Bowl, Starkville (Miss.) four-star wide receiver Braylon ‘Stonka’ Burnside will announce on Jan. 3 at the Under Armour All-America Game.

The hometown recruit and one-time Miss State commit is down to the Bulldogs and Ole Miss. Multiple recruiting insiders have logged RPM picks in favor of MSU over the Rebels, pointing to a potentially big week for Lebby and his staff. Other new pledges include elite JUCO linebacker Branden Jennings and Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville three-star WR Mario Craver.

The Bulldogs are amidst a major December that saw eight prospects commit, including Baltimore St. Frances Academy four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren, the No. 22 signal-caller in the cycle.

During the Early Signing Period, 20 of the 22 commits in Miss State’s class put pen to paper. The class ranks No. 27 in the nation and No. 14 in the SEC, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. If Hill were to commit, he would become the highest-ranked prospect in the class.