Cowbell Corner

Bulldogs add linebacker depth with FSU transfer Gavin Holman

Mississippi State continued its Florida State pipeline by adding linebacker Gavin Holman, the fifth former Seminole to join the Bulldogs this cycle.
Taylor Hodges|
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby looks on before the game against the Alcorn State Braves at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby looks on before the game against the Alcorn State Braves at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

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Mississippi State Bulldogs

One position group we didn’t expect Mississippi State to focus on too much was at linebacker.

Senior starting mike linebacker Nic Mitchell is gone, but the Bulldogs will have Jalen Smith, Zakari Tillman, Tyler Lockhart, Derion Gullette as significant contributors in 2025 returning in 2026. There’s also several freshmen who redshirted this season, plus a pair of linebackers in the signing class (Micah Nickerson and Chris Addison).

So, it was a bit of a surprise to see Mississippi State announce it had signed former Florida State linebacker Gavin Holman on Monday.

Holman saw limited playing time with the Seminoles. He redshirted his freshman season in 2024 and played in only three games last season. He recorded three tackles and one pass breakup during the season.

As an interesting wrinkle to Holman’s signing, he’s the fifth former Florida State player to sign with Mississippi State in the transfer portal cycle. That list includes offensive linemen Jaelyne Matthews and Mario Nash, edge Amaree Williams and defensive end Jayson Jenkins.

Mississippi State 2026 Transfer Portal

Class Rankings

Incoming Bulldogs

  • WR Marquis Johnson (Missouri)
  • DE Jayson Jenkins (Florida State)
  • QB AJ Swann (Appalachian State)
  • CB Kaylib Singleton (Syracuse)
  • CB Quentin Taylor (Iowa State)
  • OL Mario Nash (Florida State)
  • CB Jameer Grimsley (Florida)
  • S Marcus Williams (Rice)
  • OL Jaelyne Matthews (Florida State)
  • EDGE Amaree Williams (Florida State)
  • OL LJ Prudhomme (Arkansas)
  • DE Gus Cordova (USC)
  • TE Riley Williams (Oregon State)
  • WR Zion Ragins (Oklahoma)
  • OL Isaiah Autry-Dent (Oklahoma)
  • OL DJ Chester (LSU)
  • CB Kendel Dolby (Oklahoma)
  • S Jardin Gilbert (LSU)
  • OL Tyler Miller (LSU)
  • DT Dealyn Evans (Texas A&M)
  • OT Miles McVay (North Carolina)
  • LB Gavin Holman (Florida State)

Outgoing Bulldogs

  • WR Jordan Mosley
  • S Stonka Burnside (Memphis)
  • WR Cam Thompson (Northern Illinois)
  • DL Terrance Hibbler
  • OL Jaekwon Bouldin
  • WR Jaron Glover
  • DL Corey Clark
  • OL Alex Lopez (Western Kentucky)
  • K Marlon Hauck
  • OL Brennan Smith
  • S Tony Mitchell
  • WR Markus Allen
  • DE Joseph Head
  • TE Max Reese
  • OL Jimothy Lewis Jr. (Cal)
  • WR Ferzell Shepard
  • TE Emeka Iloh
  • S Lo'Kavion Jackson
  • TE Cam Ball
  • QB Luke Kromenhoek (South Florida)
  • RB Johnnie Daniels
  • S Tyler Woodard
  • CB Dwight Lewis III
  • DL Ashun Shepphard
  • WR Davian Jackson
  • P Nathan Tiyce
  • DT Kai McClendon
  • CB Elijah Cannon (Kansas)
  • S Cyrus Reyes
  • OL Luke Work (Missouri)
  • RB Seth Davis (Tulsa)
  • OL Koby Keenum (Memphis)
  • LB Montrell Chapman
  • DT Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Alabama)
  • CB DK McGruder
  • CB Jayven Williams
  • OL Zack Owens (Missouri)
  • WR Ricky Johnson

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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