How Emmanuel Forbes, other potential draft picks help Mississippi State football recruiting

Stefan Krajisnik, Mississippi Clarion Ledger

April 26, 2023 at 6:03 AM·3 min read

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coaches and players will be watching closely each time commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium during the latter half of Thursday’s first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Over the tune of fans in Kansas City booing Goodell, those in Starkville will listen in hopes of hearing these words with some additions: “With the (number) pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the (team) select Emmanuel Forbes, defensive back, Mississippi State.”

For cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath, those words become another layer in his recruiting pitch. While Forbes is gone and replacing him won’t be easy, his success adds a legacy at a position Mississippi State is building some recognition in.

Forbes is set to follow Martin Emerson (Cleveland Browns) and give MSU back-to-back years with a defensive back taken in the draft. That adds to a building list including Cameron Dantzler (Vikings, 2020) and Darius Slay (Lions, 2013). Beyond corner, MSU’s secondary has seen recent success with safeties Johnathan Abram (Raiders, 2019) and Will Redmond (49ers, 2016).

MOCK DRAFTS: Where experts have Mississippi State football's Emmanuel Forbes landing in 2023 NFL Draft

PORTAL: Mississippi State football freshman receiver Kaydin Pope enters transfer portal

PROJECTIONS: What ESPN's FPI projects for Mississippi State football in Zach Arnett's first season

Playing in the SEC with schools such as LSU and Alabama consistently producing NFL talent in the secondary, McBath is starting to strengthen his sell to prospects.

“For the high school guys, it’s huge," McBath said. "They love it. We can recruit high school at a high clip with what they’ve done – the reputation they’ve built for themselves, on the field, for this team, for this defense and for our cornerback room.”

Nov 19, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) returns an interception for a touchdown against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

While it would be nice to have Forbes taking the field in 2023, the changing landscape of college football brings some light to his departure. McBath doesn’t have to ask transfers to come sit behind a star. He can search for players wanting immediate playing time.

The impact of this year’s draft class for MSU extends beyond cornerback as well. MSU has a pair of safeties in Jackie Matthews and Jalen Green who might not be selected, but their role in improved recruiting from the portal is evident.

Green transferred to MSU from Texas ahead of the 2021 season. He was a corner with the Longhorns but was a two-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs. Matthews transferred from West Virginia last year and started in his lone season with Mississippi State.

The pitch: Come to MSU and compete for immediate playing time in the secondary.

With Green, Matthews, Forbes and fellow safety Collin Duncan preparing for the NFL Draft, there was plenty of playing time to fill in the offseason. It’s no surprise MSU was able to sign Khamauri Rogers (CB, Miami), Chris Keys (S, Indiana), Ja'Kobi Albert (S, Kentucky) and Raydarious Jones (CB, LSU).

“You’ve got some evidence (with Matthews and Green) that you’ve got a plan in place for guys when you recruit them out of the portal,” coach Zach Arnett said after MSU’s pro day last month. “It kind of speaks to what you hope is – I don’t want to say ease of learning the defense because, obviously, you hope you’re got some complexity to what you do – the ability to coach them, get them up to speed quickly and get them on the field. Usually when guys are transferring, they don’t have time to sit around for a year and lose a year learning a system. They want to get on the field and play.”

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Emmanuel Forbes, NFL Draft help Mississippi State football recruiting

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