Looking at Mississippi State football's best transfer portal additions since 2020

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football hasn’t leaned on the transfer portal as heavily as its SEC counterparts, particularly the one it shares a state with.

Mike Leach, who died on Dec. 12 after three seasons at MSU, and his staff weren’t portal hungry but were portal savvy. Whether Zach Arnett, who is taking over for Leach after serving as his defensive coordinator, takes the same approach is to be determined.

It would be hard to blame him for sticking with the formula. It’s proven worthy.

The Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC), who are preparing for the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) on Jan. 2 (11 a.m., ESPN2), have identified needs and fulfilled holes via the portal when necessary. When safety Fred Peters exhausted his eligibility in 2021, West Virginia transfer Jackie Matthews stepped in as a starter.

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MSU has a favorable schedule in 2023 with eight home games and a team with key players set to return. However, getting an attractive portal haul will be crucial to meeting expectations.

Mississippi State is off to a good start. With All-America defensive back Emmanuel Forbes declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, MSU signed former four-star prospect Khamauri Rogers, a transfer from Miami.

Replacing Rara Thomas and Caleb Ducking at outside wide receiver, Tyrus Wheat at linebacker and Dillon Johnson at running back won’t be easy. Mississippi State has succeeded in similar situations before.

Here are the most notable transfer portal signings for the Bulldogs since 2020.

Makai Polk

In finding an outside receiver, here’s what position coach Steve Spurrier Jr. needs to show: 105 catches, 1,046 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. That’s what Makai Polk did in one season at MSU after transferring in from Cal.

Polk got attention from Leach’s staff while they were at Washington State. Polk, a California native, started his collegiate career with the Golden Bears where he caught 36 passes in two seasons.

MSU went after him following the 2020 season. His stint in Starkville was short, but it led him to the 2022 NFL Draft and a spot atop numerous MSU single-season receiving records.

Jalen Green

Green joined Mississippi State last season after three years at Texas. After playing cornerback for the Longhorns, he’s been a two-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs.

He intercepted four passes in two seasons, and his two interceptions this year were tied for second on the team behind Forbes’ six. Green recorded 88 tackles and two forced fumbles as a Bulldog.

Randy Charlton

Charlton single-handedly clinched Mississippi State’s first Egg Bowl win since 2019 this year, literally. He read a shovel pass from Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, stuck his right arm out, deflected the ball to the ground and killed any chance at a comeback for the Rebels.

Charlton joined Mississippi State in 2021 after three seasons at Central Florida. As a defensive end, Charlton has recorded 68 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in two seasons with the Bulldogs.

He’ll play in the bowl game but is a player MSU looks to replace as he has exhausted his eligibility.

Jackie Matthews

Arnett moved from coaching linebackers to safeties this year, along with maintaining defensive coordinator responsibilities. Matthews was one of his better products.

Matthews was tied with Green for second on the team with two interceptions this year, his lone season at MSU. He declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Dec. 5, forcing MSU to fill the position quickly.

Matthews came up through the junior college ranks and was a three-star prospect when he signed with West Virginia. He had one interception in 21 games with the Mountaineers.

Scott Lashley

Lashley was shaky at times playing right tackle for MSU last season, his lone season on the field in Starkville. However, after sitting the bench at Alabama, he immediately earned a starting spot in 12 games for Mississippi State.

His career at MSU has extended beyond the field. He served as a graduate assistant for the program in 2022.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Best Mississippi State football transfer portal additions since 2020