Top Mississippi State Football Recruit Decommits from 2026 Class

McCoy had been committed to Mississippi State since June 24, 2023. While the Bulldogs were one of the first Power Four programs to identify his potential, a recent uptick in attention from other schools—including Georgia State and UTSA, as well as SEC rivals Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ole Miss—appears to have influenced the shift.

Ranked No. 547 nationally and the No. 44 cornerback in the country by the 247Sports Composite, McCoy was one of the top in-state prospects. He’s also listed as the No. 19 player in Mississippi—a state where MSU can’t afford to lose recruiting battles if it wants to stay competitive in the ever-brutal SEC.

His departure leaves Mississippi State with seven verbal commitments in the 2026 class, including his Tupelo teammate, running back Jaeden Hill. The class currently ranks No. 39 nationally and 10th in the SEC, according to the 247Sports Composite. While there’s still time to rebound, losing a top-tier defensive back—especially from within Mississippi—underscores the challenges facing head coach Jeff Lebby as he tries to solidify his program’s recruiting footprint.

The Bulldogs still boast promising talent in the 2026 class, including versatile ATH Jaiden Taylor and quarterback Brodie McWhorter, but McCoy’s exit highlights the fragility of early commitments in the NIL and transfer portal era.

The takeaway for Bulldog fans? Recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint—and in the SEC, the race is only getting faster.