SI All-American candidate breakdown: Mississippi State Bulldogs commit Brandon Buckhaulter

Wide receiver could one day flourish in Mike Leach's Air-Raid offense

Whether or not new Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach ultimately proves to be successful with the Bulldogs will largely hinge on his ability to bring in top-tier talent at wide receiver. Hartfield Academy (Flowood, Mississippi) wide receiver Brandon Buckhaulter believes he can be a piece of that puzzle.

"The dream is to be in an air-raid type of offense," Buckhaulter told Cowbell Corner back in May. "But you know, not everyone is made for it. I really think I’m made for an air-raid type of offense."

This past week, Buckhaulter was tabbed as a Sports Illustrated All-American candidate. Here's SI director of football recruiting John Garcia's breakdown of what Buckhaulter might one day bring to Starkville:

Prospect: Brandon Buckhaulter
Projected Position: Wide Receiver
Status: SI All-American candidate
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
School: Flowood (Miss.) Hartfield Academy
Committed to: Mississippi State

Frame: Broad shoulders and powerful legs. Should aim to weigh in excess of 220-pounds down the line.

Athleticism: For his size, Buckhaulter proves to be incredibly nimble. Powerful hands. Lateral quickness of a 170-pound wide receiver. Great forward lean once he’s in the open field. Buckhaulter provides lower body strength that’s similar to a flex tight end.

Instincts: Flourishes at changing direction in traffic, going back across the field, and making multiple defenders miss tackles. During a screen pass, sets up blockers well. Utilizes a plethora of stop-and-start moves to leave defenders behind. Knows how and when to use a stiff arm.

Polish: Good at finding holes in the zone and maximizing yards after the catch. Quickness to get open in tight space, and then escape multiple defenders with several different moves. Catches the football with soft hands.

Bottom Line: Clever wide receiver with big-play physical tools. He can be a matchup nightmare for most cornerbacks because Buckhaulter possesses soft hands, great lateral quickness, and the strength of a flex tight end. Without question, Buckhaulter should flourish in Mississippi State’s wide-open passing attack.