105-man football roster released, new players and weights the highlights

In advance of fall camp starting tomorrow, Mississippi State football released it’s official 105-man roster this afternoon, the entirety of which you can read here at HailState.com. There are plenty of highlights, though the first may be the inclusion of a familiar name for Bulldog fans. The last name, at least.

Rashun Dixon, younger brother of former State running back Anthony Dixon, is officially with the team as a walk-on after fulfilling the years on his contract with the MLB he signed out of high school.

As he left high school, Dixon was considered a talented and promising safety prospect on the football field, but ended up taking the baseball offer from the Oakland Athletics, which included the stipulation that they would pay for his education if he came back to school, so he’s now getting that taken care of, too.

He’s listed as an “athlete” on the roster, checking in at 6’2″, 250 pounds, but I’m told he’s going to start camp working with the tight ends and wearing jersey No. 85. I’ll hopefully have more on Dixon (who showed up for camp wearing a Buffalo Bills shirt from his brother) in the near future.

One particular note from the weight category: sophomore defensive tackle Chris Jones is listed at 308 pounds, which is in the 305-310 range he said the coaches want him. He has actually gotten leaner in terms of the type of weight he’s carrying, though his still maintained his mass.

The heights and weights listed on the roster come from the most recent testing by strength coach Rick Court, so the numbers are updated and accurate. Some of the freshmen who reported earlier this summer have actually put on size already.

For example, running Aeris Williams, at 6’1″, has bulked up to 215 pounds. Linebacker Gerri Green, another true freshman, is listed 6’4″, 220 pounds.

Also worth mentioning is the arrival of walk-on kicker J.J. McGrath, a transfer from Michigan who will enter the competition for field goals.

The first practice of the fall takes place tomorrow and we’ll have written and video updates between now and the season-opener on August 30 against Southern Miss in Davis Wade Stadium.