2024 juco defensive back Brylan Lanier details Mississippi State decision
2024 juco defensive back Brylan Lanier collected a Mississippi State offer a couple of weeks ago and that offer happened while head coach Jeff Lebby was still putting the finishing touches on his first coaching staff in Starkville.
As the days progressed, Lanier kept building new bonds with the new Bulldog defensive coaches. So on New Year’s Eve, that led to the East Mississippi Community College standout committing to the Bulldogs.
“I’ve been talking to their coaches a lot during all of their coaching changes,” noted Lanier. “They offered when they were changing coaches so I was just seeing how the new coaches were. So it was my relationships with their coaches and the opportunity to come in and impact right away. Our relationships kept building and I felt like I would be comfortable there.”
Among those coaches Lanier got to know better is State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Matt Barnes along with recruiting specialist Rod Gibson. Later this week (Wednesday–Friday), the Alabama native will get a better grasp of his future coaches with an official visit to Mississippi State.
“I talked a lot with Coach Barnes and Coach Rod Gibson,” added Lanier. “And Coach Lebby is a pretty cool guy, too. He’s a good guy and we are going to talk more later this week when I visit and I will get to know him better on my official visit this week.”
Lanier’s decision also marks his return to the Power 5 ranks. The 6-foot-1 and 185-pound Lanier began his college career at Alabama where he redshirted. In the 2022 season, the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native transferred to Indiana where he had 12 tackles and one sack while playing 12 games for Indiana as a redshirt freshman.
“I feel like that gives me an advantage over a lot of guys,” mentioned Lanier, who has two years to play two at the next level. “Having already been in Power 5, I’ve been on the big stage and played in the big games. My experience will help me be more comfortable instead of being shocked. I am just focused on what we got to do to win.”
Lanier, a December graduate, spent this past season at East Mississippi Community College where he helped lead the Lions to a state championship and a spot in the NJCAA national championship game. For the Lions, Lanier totaled 60 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, four PBUs and two forced fumbles.
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For the Bulldogs, Lanier expects to play one of the safety spots.
“They like me as a nickel or a safety,” Lanier remarked. “This year was my first year playing nickel and I felt like I did well with it. Now I am coming into a good system that will develop me better and I can show that I can play there.”
Lanier also held offers from Georgia, Arkansas and N.C. State among others. In the month of December, the former Paul W. Bryant (Ala.) High School standout took official visits to Arkansas, Georgia and N.C. State.
With his decision, Lanier becomes the fourth East Mississippi Community College product to join Mississippi State’s 2024 roster. Earlier this month, East Mississippi safety Tyler Woodard, East Mississippi linebacker Marcus Ross and East Mississippi defensive lineman Ashun Shepphard officially signed with the Bulldogs.
And when Lanier enrolls at Mississippi State later this month, he looks forward to maintaining that chemistry he built with his former Lions’ teammates.
“That’s going to be great,” Lanier said. “Especially us four, I feel like we played a big role on defense when it came to communication and getting the team going. I feel like all of us have those characteristics and traits. It helps our chemistry be more comfortable when you know the guy beside you is the same type of guy you are.”
