Yoshawn Hudson steps back from his pledge to Jeff Lebby’s 2027 class, but Starkville isn’t out of the picture yet
Just weeks after making it official, Mississippi State’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit on Thursday when four-star running back Yoshawn Hudson announced he’s stepping back from his commitment to Jeff Lebby’s program.
Hudson, a standout out of Winona, Mississippi, had pledged to the Bulldogs on June 14. Barely a month later, he’s telling Rivals he wants more time to weigh his options before his senior season kicks off. “My plan now is just looking forward to my senior season, balling out and trying to win a championship,” Hudson said. “That’s my main focus right now. I want to make the right decision for me and my family and for my future.”
Here’s the part Bulldog fans should hold onto: Hudson didn’t slam the door. He specifically said Mississippi State remains in the mix as he weighs offers that also include Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Houston. This reads more like a kid wanting to breathe before signing day than a flip to a rival — at least for now.
The timing stings a little more given where Hudson sits on the board. He was the second-highest ranked commitment in MSU’s 2027 class, trailing only four-star running back Christian Alexander, who locked in back in April. Per the 247Sports composite, Hudson checks in as the No. 256 overall prospect nationally, the No. 11 athlete in the country and the No. 10 prospect in the state of Mississippi.
Even with the setback, Lebby’s staff still has real momentum in Starkville. The Bulldogs now sit at 15 commitments in the 2027 cycle, and losing a piece doesn’t erase the work that’s gone into building one of the more talked-about young classes in the conference. Recruiting is a long game, and this is the kind of speed bump every program hits somewhere along the way — the real test is whether Mississippi State can get Hudson back in the fold before he puts pen to paper somewhere else.
For now, it’s a name to keep an eye on as the summer rolls toward fall camp.