Good morning! Bulldog football fans can officially say that Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson was one of the best. ESPN named him in its Top 100 Players of 2023 with Bookie coming in at No. 74 on the list.

What else did we throw into today’s Bulldog Brew?

🏀 Bulldogs’ bouts against South Carolina
🏈 New signees starting in the Coach Lebby era
🐶 And much, much more!

🎥 BULLDOG BREAKDOWN

Bulldog Breakdown: Jessika Carter. Join Jessica Carter courtside as she talks about her new blonde hair, the addition of Lauren Park-Lane, and how her time in the weight room has helped her game.

🎥 DEAR OL’ STATE

Dear Ol’ State Diamond Dawgs: Evan Siary and Bryce Chance. On the latest episode of Dear Ol' State, Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery stop by MSU baseball's players' lounge and chat with pitcher Evan Siary and outfielder Bryce Chance.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Battled Number One. The Bulldogs put up a tough fight against top-ranked South Carolina but came up short on the road. Senior guard Jerkaila Jordan balled out with a team-high 25 points and added four rebounds and three assists. State finished with 40 points in the paint – the second most allowed by South Carolina this season and held the advantage in second-chance points at 16-15. 

Next up, the Bulldogs will remain on the road and head down to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas on Thursday at 8 p.m.

🔼 All-American Dawg. Following last season’s powerful performances at the plate, Perfect Game announced Diamond Dawg Hunter Hines to its Preseason All-American Third Team. In 2023, Hines led the team in home runs (22) and RBIs (61) and became the State first player at MSU since Brent Rooker to hit 20 or more homers in a single season.

🔼 It’s #SHOWTIME. Coach Lebby and his staff are hard at work to get ready for the 2024 season. Check out the newest signees the Bulldogs have landed for next season.

👤 No. 3 JUCO corner in the country, Brylan Lanier, officially announced Starkville as his home for the 2024 season. He helped his team, EMCC, to the national championship game after tallying 60 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception on the season.

👤 The SWAC Freshman of the Year is joining the Bulldog family. Wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. will head to Starkville as a former 4-star recruit where, this past season, he totaled 26 receptions for 362 yards and a pair of scores.

👤 Stone Blanton, the former MAIS 6A Defensive Player of the Year, will be playing at Davis Wade Stadium in 2024. The second-year linebacker finished his 2023 campaign with 52 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and an interception.

🔼 Grade Success. This fall, Mississippi State student-athletes continued their excellence in the classroom after earning the highest departmental GPA in school history. In total, 11 of 13 teams earned a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher with 56 student-athletes finishing with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

🔼 Turning The Page. The Bulldogs drew the game within two points with 22 seconds to play but were unable to complete the comeback in the SEC opener and fell 68-62 to South Carolina on the road. The Dawgs outshot the Gamecocks 48 percent to 40 percent, but it wasn't enough for State due to South Carolina's success in crashing the glass.

Three Bulldogs scored in double figures in the defeat. Josh Hubbard and Tolu Smith III scored 13 points apiece for State, while Shakeel Moore tallied 10 points. The Bulldogs will now look to turn the page following the loss as State will host Tennessee at Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday.

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

New Dawgs. State football has been hard at work to draw in the best talent for the new era under head coach Jeff Lebby.

Our question today: do you know how many players Bulldog football has signed in its Class of 2024?

Think you know the answer? Scroll down to the bottom to find out!

📬 STICK WITH US

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🐶 DAWG DAILY

Today’s Dawg Daily: A Weekend Recap. Both men's and women's basketball had tough losses in Columbia this weekend, and Joey and Jalyn are here to fill you in on all you might have missed.

✅ Listen to today’s Dawg Daily on Spotify

🍎 Listen to today’s Dawg Daily on Apple Podcasts

📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday 1/10

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Tennessee @ 6:00pm in Starkville, MS | Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

Thursday 1/11

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Arkansas @ 8:00pm in Fayetteville, AR | Listen

Friday 1/12

👟 Track and Field @ UAB Invite in Birmingham, AL

Saturday 1/13

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Middle Tennessee @ 10:00am in Starkville, MS

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Jacksonville State @ 4:00pm in Starkville, MS

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama @ 7:30pm in Starkville, MS | Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

Sunday 1/14

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Northern Illinois @ 10:00am in Starkville, MS | Watch | Live Stats

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Chattanooga @ 2:00pm in Starkville, MS | Watch | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Ole Miss @ 4:00pm in Starkville, MS | Listen | Live Stats

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 34!

Since the Early Signing Period, 34 players have committed to play football at Mississippi State under Coach Lebby for the 2024 season.

🐶 Have a great Monday, y'all!