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ReRank Breakdown: 2011 Mississippi State Recruiting Class

Class Snapshot

2011 class

Key numbers for this recruiting class

Original ranking41
S2S rerank12
Total recruits22
Blue chip %5%

Badges Earned

No class-year badges earned for this class.

S2S Class DNA

2011 class

One-year metrics for this recruiting class

Hits & Misses

Hit: Darius Slay (CB) — Originally ranked 75. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. Slay significantly exceeded expectations as a high-ranking recruit, achieving the highest outcome level available. Hit: Dak Prescott (QB) — Originally ranked 650. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. Prescott's development into a Pro Bowl player illustrates a remarkable trajectory from low expectations to elite performance. Hit: Benardrick McKinney (LB) — Originally ranked 1107. Outcome: NFL Pro Bowl. McKinney's success as a Pro Bowl player demonstrates the potential for significant growth from lower-ranked recruits. Hit: Preston Smith (DE) — Originally ranked 1269. Outcome: NFL Starter. Smith's progression to an NFL Starter underscores the effectiveness of Mississippi State's coaching in developing talent. Miss: Derrick Milton (RB) — Originally ranked 19. Outcome: Contributor. Milton, despite being a highly ranked recruit, didn't meet expectations, contributing minimally during his career. Miss: Joey Trapp (OT) — Originally ranked 94. Outcome: Contributor. Trapp's output did not align with his ranking, resulting in a lower-than-expected impact on the field. Miss: Daniel Knox (OT) — Originally ranked 1083. Outcome: Contributor. Knox, while a contributor, fell short of the expectations set by his ranking, indicating a missed opportunity for greater impact.

Development Story

The 2011 recruiting class for Mississippi State demonstrated a compelling pattern of development, particularly among lower-ranked recruits. With an original class rank of 41, the program managed to significantly improve its standing through effective coaching and player development, as indicated by the S2S rerank to 12. This upward movement suggests a strong capacity for nurturing talent, especially among players who may have been overlooked by other programs.
A notable aspect of this class is the number of hits, with several recruits exceeding their initial rankings and achieving high-level outcomes. Players such as Darius Slay, Dak Prescott, and Benardrick McKinney not only became starters but also reached the Pro Bowl, showcasing the potential for Mississippi State to maximize player development. In contrast, a small number of misses were observed, primarily among higher-ranked recruits who did not fulfill their potential, such as Derrick Milton and Joey Trapp. This highlights a crucial area for future recruitment strategies, emphasizing the importance of identifying and developing talent that can translate to on-field success.

Outcome Summary

Overall, the 2011 recruiting class for Mississippi State outperformed expectations, particularly through the development of lower-ranked players into high-impact contributors. The S2S rerank improved significantly, reflecting the success of the coaching staff in nurturing talent. The presence of multiple players achieving Pro Bowl status indicates a successful identification and development process, suggesting that Mississippi State can continue to build on this model in future classes.
This class serves as a strong example of how effective recruitment and development can lead to exceeding initial expectations, and it underscores the value of focusing on potential rather than solely on rankings.

Published: May 31, 2026Read time: 3 min487 words