Dan Mullen Invading the State of Alabama on the Recruiting Trail

Top-ranked Mississippi State takes on its biggest test of a sensational season Saturday, traveling to Tuscaloosa for a highly anticipated showdown with Alabama. A rising Bulldogs program may be looking to prove its pedigree on the field this weekend, but the team has already established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail.

Head coach Mullen, a longtime Urban Meyer assistant, has spent the past decade delving through SEC territory for promising prospects. He's enjoying an immensely successful 2015 cycle that should set the stage for further success in Starkville.

The team's ability to pull talent away from Alabama has become a major factor for Mississippi State's good fortune. Mullen currently claims seven commits who live in the neighboring state and are prepared to make an impact at Mississippi State.

“We're definitely overlooked in the SEC," Mississippi State receiver pledge Justin Johnson, an Alabama native, said this summer. "That’s going to change, though. We’re all on the same page and committed to making this a special team. People are going to look at the Dawgs differently."

Perception is already shifting for a squad that has spent the past four weeks sitting atop national rankings.

Mullen, who arrived at the university in 2008, is the first Bulldogs coach to qualify his team for five consecutive bowl berths. His achievements as a recruiter are equally impressive.

Mississippi State, once annually expected to reside in the SEC recruiting basement, has maintained steady momentum under Mullen with each passing national signing day. This latest haul—heavier than ever with Alabama prospects—is on pace to be the best of a breakout era.

Year	National Class Ranking	SEC Class Ranking	Alabama Signees
2010	34th	11th	3
2011	34th	10th	0
2012	22nd	9th	2
2013	25th	11th	4
2014	35th	12th	3
2015 (in progress)	13th	7th	7

Mullen may be reaching new heights in Alabama this year but his current roster includes several key performers from past recruiting cycles.

Tight end Malcolm Johnson, offensive lineman Blaine Clausell, linebacker Beniquez Brown and receiver De'Runnya Wilson are former Alabama high school stars who were largely overlooked by a pair of in-state SEC institutions that have appeared in the past five national title games, winning four of them.

Mississippi State holds 2015 commitments from three of the top 15 Alabama products in 247Sports' composite 2015 rankings, the best success rate for any squad from beyond state borders.  

Minor High School cornerback Maurice Smitherman, rated 12th on that list, didn't land a scholarship offer from Alabama or Auburn despite multiple campus visits. He believes Mullen and Mississippi State are smart to swoop in and secure players like him.

"He really knows our talent and believes we can actually be the top players in the SEC," Smitherman said.

Credit: 247Sports

Smitherman fits the mold of athletes who have thrived at Mississippi State. He may not carry 5-star clout but his motivation to overachieve is apparent.

When you assemble several young men together with that mindset, special things can happen.

"I think a lot of us are looking to prove other teams wrong when we get to Mississippi State," said Johnson, who stars at Alabama powerhouse Hoover High School. "We get a chance to do that with a great team that appreciates what we bring to the field."

Mullen embraces the strategy of welcoming recruits who were previously passed up by more acclaimed programs like Auburn and Alabama. He believes more hidden gems are on the way.

"There are some guys in this class who I think are going to be some real sleepers," Mullen told Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com. "Guys who when we go watch their film, we go, 'Wow, this guy is special,' and then you go to the recruiting rankings and he's not ranked very high. There are some of those guys in this class."

Credit: 247Sports

Pretty soon, Mississippi State may blend in more blue-chip prospects. 

The team already holds seven pledges in a 2016 class that ranks third nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings, including touted Alabama offensive lineman Dee Nalls. Fellow Alabama native Caleb Tillman, a 2016 defensive tackle, provides an example of how young prospects are beginning to view the Bulldogs in a new light.

"Mississippi State is a great university and has an awesome football program," 2016 Alabama  said. "Football is No. 1 there."

The 6'3", 265-pound Northview High School junior is an emerging star in the SEC landscape, recently adding offers from Mississippi State and Kentucky. He's already built a strong rapport with the Bulldogs

"Coach Mullen has great coaches to recruit (Alabama players)," Tillman said.

He's a key target in the next wave of talent Mullen intends to recruit from Alabama but 2015 efforts aren't done just yet.

Daron Payne, a 5-star defensive tackle who plays with Mississippi State running back commit Keith Mixon at Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, could put a very large cherry on top of this recruiting class.

The 6'2", 348-pound prospect was long considered the centerpiece in a tug-of-war between Auburn and Alabama. However, the Bulldogs have crashed the party.

Payne, the top overall Alabama recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, told Bleacher Report's Kynon Codrington that Mississippi State is a serious contender. He attended Big Dawg Camp in Starkville this summer and continues to maintain contact with Mullen's staff.

The team is working to line up an official visit with Payne after the season, per Codrington.

Credit: 247Sports

Kenny Thomas, a 6'6", 330-pound offensive lineman, is another Alabama recruit Mississippi State coaches will keep tabs on during the final stretch toward national signing day. For now, the primary focus is on the field.

Another strong performance Saturday would go a long way toward immediate and future success in the recruiting spectrum. It isn't hyperbole to say this matchup means more than any other in Mississippi State history.

The next generation of Alabama prospects will be watching closely.

"I'm looking for a physical test up front because both teams can run the ball," Tillman said. "I'm looking for (Mississippi State defensive lineman) Preston Smith to have a great game and dominate because he's a beast. It's going to be a physical game. No doubt."

This matchup offers the Bulldogs more than just a stepping stone toward playoff contention. A victory would continue to change the narrative for a 119-year-old program and build confidence for future Mississippi State standouts.

"I'm expecting an amazing game," Smitherman said. "MSU has been doubted all year, and people are still doubting us. Don't be surprised when it's an upset Saturday once again."

All quotes obtained firsthand by B/R national recruiting writer Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.

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