Two Bulldogs enter transfer portal
A pair of Mississippi State football players are looking at moving on from the Bulldogs.
Both kicker Jace Christmann and offensive lineman James Jackson are entering the NCAA transfer portal sources have told Cowbell Corner. They become the third and fourth Bulldogs to enter the portal since the conclusion of the 2020 season, joining running back Lee Witherspoon and wide receiver Cameron Gardner who both entered the portal last week.
Christmann was a longtime starter for the Bulldogs before he was unseated as State's placekicker by graduate transfer Brandon Ruiz this past season. A source also noted to Cowbell Corner that Ruiz is expected to return to the Bulldogs in 2021. That'd be welcome news for MSU after a year in which Ruiz went 10-for-12 on his field goal tries, 24-for-24 on his extra point attempts and had 37 touchbacks on 43 kickoffs.
Meanwhile Christmann will at the very least explore his options elsewhere. He'll take with him a strong resume, having served as MSU's primary placekicker over the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. For his career, Christmann has made 32 of 40 field goal tries with a career long made kick of 51 yards. He's made 127 career extra points. Christmann is one of only two MSU kickers to make at least 100 career PATs with the Bulldogs, along with Westin Graves.
Jackson has played both offensive and defensive line for the Bulldogs over his career. He played in all 11 games this past season, including his first two career starts. He started at center in back-to-back weeks in October, first at Kentucky and then at home against Texas A&M. Jackson was one of 26 Bulldogs to make their first career start in 2020.
Thank you for coming to Cowbell Corner for coverage of Mississippi State sports. Be sure to follow Cowbell Corner on Twitter (@SIBulldogs) by clicking here, and like it on Facebook by clicking here.
