Mississippi State football former 4-star receiver Marquez Dortch entering transfer portal

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football redshirt freshman wide receiver Marquez Dortch plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced via social media on Sunday. Dortch is a former four-star prospect out of Lucedale, Mississippi, and George County High School.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank God for blessing me with this ability to play this great game that I love the most," Dortch wrote. "I also want to thank the entire Mississippi State coaching staff for providing this opportunity as well as all of my teammates for believing in me.

"However, I think now is the time for me to leave home and see what is next for my career. With that being said, I will be entering my name in the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left."

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Dortch appeared in one game last season, securing a one-yard reception in a November win against East Tennessee State. His departure comes as MSU transitions from coach Mike Leach and his Air Raid offense to offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay.

Landing Dortch was a noteworthy piece in MSU's 2022 recruiting class. He was the second-highest ranked Mississippi State signee, according to 247Sports, and flipped from an original commitment to Ole Miss.

A big piece in Dortch's recruitment was his desire to play wide receiver. At Ole Miss, he was being recruited as a defensive back.

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: Mississippi State football's Marquez Dortch to enter transfer portal