Mississippi State football's Lideatrick Griffin, nation's top kick returner, in transfer portal
STARKVILLE — In one of the most surprising twists of the offseason, Mississippi State football wide receiver and kick returner Lideatrick Griffin has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media Friday.
Griffin has been among the most active Bulldogs on social media in trying to recruit other transfers to come to Starkville. He's the third outside receiver to depart from MSU this offseason, joining Rara Thomas (transfer to Georgia) and Caleb Ducking (NFL Draft).
Griffin caught 35 passes for 449 yards in 2022 while scoring four touchdowns. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, he caught 71 passes for 779 yards and five touchdowns. However, Griffin was at his best on special teams.
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Griffin, who goes by "Tulu," returned 40 kickoffs in his MSU career for an average of 33.3 yards. He has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons, including a 100-yard opening kickoff return against NC State in 2021. His 32.3 yards per kick return in 2022 led the nation.
The Philadelphia, Mississippi, native was a four-star prospect out of Philadelphia High School in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Griffin's departure comes during a time of change for Mississippi State. Zach Arnett, who has been MSU's defensive coordinator since 2020, was promoted to head coach on Dec. 14 − two days after the death of coach Mike Leach.
MSU receivers coaches Drew Hollingshead and Steve Spurrier Jr. are no longer with the program. Appalachian State offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay was hired to the same role at MSU on Thursday.
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: Lideatrick Griffin: Mississippi State football WR to transfer portal
