2026 Mississippi State University Depth Chart

Mississippi State’s quarterback job is Kamario Taylor’s to lose. The dynamic sophomore flashed a massive fantasy ceiling in his Egg Bowl debut (173 rushing yards and 2 TD on the ground against Ole Miss) and brings the dual-threat profile that new coach Jeff Lebby covets. Taylor’s legs and firm grip on the job give him the edge over incoming transfers AJ Swann and Jaden Rashada. Swann offers experience from Vanderbilt/App State, but he lacks Taylor’s upside. Rashada arrives with a blue-chip pedigree (a former top-35 recruit with a notorious NIL saga), yet his winding journey (four schools in three years) and inexperience make him a high-ceiling stash rather than a threat to Taylor’s Week 1 status. In short, Taylor’s combination of rushing production and growing command of the offense outweighs the raw arm talent sitting behind him in the pecking order.

At running back, Da’Marion “Fluff” Bothwell projects as the fantasy RB1 based on both talent and opportunity. The 230-pound back led the Bulldogs in rushing last season with 677 yards and 6 touchdowns despite splitting carries, and he profiles as the early-down and goal-line hammer in 2026. Bothwell’s power and SEC production give him a higher floor than junior Xavier Gayten, who slots in as RB2. Gayten is a home-run hitter – he ripped off a 72-yard touchdown as a freshman – and should carve out a change-of-pace role, but he hasn’t yet proven he can handle a heavy workload. The committee risk is real under Lebby, yet Bothwell’s proven efficiency and nose for the end zone keep him atop this depth chart. Redshirt freshman Kolin Wilson projects as RB3 after a year in the system; he’s unproven in games but showed enough in practice to be mentioned among the returning backs. Wilson will need to fend off talented true freshmen, but for now he’s the next man up if injuries strike. The bottom line: Bothwell’s mix of experience and role security wins out, with Gayten offering explosive upside as a complement.

The wide receiver group is being restructured for fantasy relevance after the departure of record-setter Brenen Thompson (1,054 yards in 2025). Anthony Evans III looks poised to emerge as the top target – he quietly led the team with 67 receptions for 831 yards last year, operating mostly from the slot. Evans’ rapport with Taylor and high target share give him a sturdy PPR floor, and he’s shown he can handle volume in this fast-paced offense. Newly arrived transfer Marquis Johnson projects as the field-stretching WR2. Johnson was brought in specifically to replace Thompson’s speed on the outside; while he posted a modest 28 catches for 340 yards at Missouri, his explosiveness should translate well in Lebby’s scheme. Still, Johnson may split downfield opportunities with junior Ayden Williams, a former four-star who is finally in line for a starting role. Williams has the talent to be a go-to receiver and showed flashes with 28 grabs for 371 yards in his first year in Starkville. We give Johnson a slight edge in fantasy upside (his big-play ability fills a clear need), but Williams’ all-around skill set and third-year experience make this a close 3–4 pairing. The real wildcard is Sanfrisco Magee, a 6’2″ redshirt freshman who impressed late last season (scoring his first TD while totaling 5 receptions). Magee’s blend of size and playmaking has drawn offseason buzz, and he could leap into a top-three WR role if his development continues – for now, we slot him as the WR4 with significant upside. Speedster Zion Ragins comes in as an intriguing WR5. The former Sooner has elite speed but minimal college production so far; the staff will likely scheme him touches on screens and gadget plays, yet his fantasy value depends on carving out consistent snaps behind Evans in the slot. Rounding out the depth chart is Ricky Johnson, a redshirt freshman who provides depth after the transfer exodus. Johnson has size and spring practice rapport on his side, but he’ll need to fend off incoming recruits to see the field. In summary, Evans’ volume and consistency make him the safest bet, Johnson and Williams offer starter-worthy ceilings (with a classic talent vs. opportunity debate), and Magee is the high-upside sleeper of this receiving corps.

At tight end, we’re projecting transfer Riley Williams to overtake the starting job and deliver the greater fantasy value. Williams, a former top-160 recruit who initially signed with Miami, has two years of eligibility left and is known for his pass-catching upside. He only logged 16 career catches in limited action so far, but he should thrive in a system that just produced 35 receptions and 5 TDs for the tight end position last season. We expect Williams to inherit many of departing starter Seydou Traoré’s route-running and red-zone duties. Sam West slots in as the TE2 – the Indiana transfer made 5 catches in a reserve role in 2025 and is a reliable blocker with enough athleticism to contribute if needed. However, West’s fantasy appeal is capped unless Williams falters or the Bulldogs drastically increase two-TE sets. Finally, the kicker spot is straightforward: Kyle Ferrie returns as the clear K1, coming off an 85% field-goal rate and perfect PATs, which solidifies his job security and weekly scoring potential. Ferrie’s experience and track record make him one of the steadier kicking options in the SEC. In sum, Mississippi State’s depth chart is set up to balance proven production with incoming talent – we’ve prioritized players with secured roles and high ceilings, while acknowledging where explosive newcomers could tilt the fantasy outlook if things break right.