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4-star OT Emanuel Tucker commits to Mississippi State

hunterby:Hunter Shelton02/18/25

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Emanuel Tucker
2026 OT Emanuel Tucker (Photo credit: Emanuel Tucker-Instagram)

New Albany (Miss.) four-star offensive tackle Emanuel Tucker has committed to Mississippi State.

The 6-foot-7, 285-pounder chose the Bulldogs over Tennessee and LSU. The home feel in Starkville put head coach Jeff Lebby and Co. over the finish line for the blue-chipper.

“I love their staff, it’s just like family,” Tucker told On3’s Chad Simmons.

Tucker is the No. 271 overall prospect and No. 20 OT in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 10 player in Mississippi.

The Bulldogs got the lineman over to Starkville multiple times last year. He continued to feel comfortable around the staff, including new OL coach Phil Loadholt, and is now in the boat for the in-state program.

“It’s been going really good with Mississippi State,” Tucker told Maroon and White Daily earlier this week. “I love the staff there and I’ve been talking a lot with Coach Loadholt, their offensive line coach. He reached out to me as soon as he got to Mississippi State and it’s been going well with him.”

Miss State adds big piece to 2026 recruiting class

Tucker becomes commitment No. 7 for Mississippi State’s 2026 class. He’s the lone blue-chipper in the mix and now one of four Magnolia State recruits pledged.

Miss State’s top two commits to date are both O-linemen, as Tucker flanks Niceville (Fla.) three-star interior offensive lineman Jakobe Green, who committed earlier this month on Feb. 1.

“It really feels like home,” Green told On3. “I like a smaller city like Niceville, and with coach Lebby being an offensive lineman and having coach Loadholt and coach (Alex) Jackson around, I know I will get developed.”

Tupelo (Miss.) three-star running back Jaeden Hill and his teammate, three-star athlete Iverson McCoy, each committed last summer on June 24. Three unranked commits round out the class to date: Valdosta (Ga.) cornerback Camron Brown, Winnsboro (Texas) wide receiver Camden Capehart and Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County WR Jaiden Taylor.