Eligibility math ends Dwight Lewis III’s short Mississippi State stay

Dtate defensive back Dwight Lewis III entered the transfer portal after an eligibility mess ended his Bulldogs tenure almost as soon as it began.

Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Dwight Lewis III (26) and defensive lineman Ray Thomas (25) celebrate after a touchdown against the Alcorn State Braves during the second half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

Mississippi State added Dwight Lewis III hoping for experience, depth and maybe a little upside in the secondary.

What the Dawgs actually got was a crash course in NCAA eligibility math — the kind that never seems to come with clear instructions.

Lewis entered the NCAA transfer portal this week after one season at State, citing an eligibility issue that left him without the playing future he believed he had when he arrived in Starkville.

This was not a case of a player getting beaten out. It was not a case of scheme fit or development timeline. It was a case of the rulebook showing up late and ending the conversation.

Lewis transferred to Mississippi State from Marian University, an NAIA program, in January with the understanding that he had two years of eligibility remaining. That belief shaped where he enrolled, where he lived and what he thought his football future looked like.

Instead, Lewis now leaves the Bulldogs after one season, still searching for clarity and maybe a school whose eligibility math lines up differently.

“This isn’t how I wanted things to go, but sometimes you have to adjust the plan,” Lewis said in a statement. That’s one way to describe finding out the calendar ran out sooner than expected.

According to Lewis, an unexpected eligibility issue tied to his previous seasons forced his decision to re-enter the portal. Unexpected is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Lewis redshirted in 2021, appeared in one game in 2022, then became a starter at Marian in both 2023 and 2024. Somewhere in that timeline, the NCAA decided the clock had already done enough ticking.

For Lewis, the result was simple with no clear path forward at Mississippi State.

I will be entering my name into the NCAA transfer portal as a Graduate Transfer, working through an eligibility situation related to multiple prior NAIA redshirt seasons. Thank you MSU ..🙏🏾 #GS pic.twitter.com/ZYSTBHWVni

— Dwight Lewis III † (@ddmonneyy) December 23, 2025

When two years turns into zero

On the field, Lewis’ season with the Bulldogs was quiet but steady. He appeared in all 12 games, mostly on special teams, and never cracked the starting rotation in the secondary.

He finished with 10 total tackles, one pass breakup and a 33-yard fumble return against Alcorn State. Useful contributions, but hardly the résumé of a player who got the chance he expected.

Mississippi State didn’t lose a cornerstone defender. State lost a depth piece who never got the runway needed to become more.

For the Dawgs, it’s a manageable roster change. For Lewis, it’s the difference between continuing a career and explaining it.

This is the part of the transfer era that rarely gets celebrated. Players move freely, but eligibility does not.

Lewis believed he had two seasons left. Mississippi State believed it too. That belief did not survive contact with the NCAA’s interpretation.

Now Lewis plans to explore his options, including the possibility of resolving the eligibility issue. That’s hopeful. It’s also about the only move available.

Next chapter‼️ pic.twitter.com/4iKKRI8kV3

— Johnnie Daniels (@Jdaniels__2) December 21, 2025

Mississippi State’s portal reality check

Lewis now joins the growing list of Mississippi State football players navigating the transfer portal during this cycle.

That list will grow even more. It always does.

The Bulldogs, like everyone else in the SEC, are rebuilding through constant movement. Some transfers stick. Some barely unpack.

Lewis falls into the second category — a player caught between opportunity and eligibility enforcement.

This wasn’t about effort. It wasn’t about fit. It wasn’t about production.

It was about timing, definitions and a rulebook that doesn’t bend much, even when everyone involved thought the math worked.

For the Dawgs, it’s a footnote in an offseason full of them.

For Lewis, it’s a reminder that in college football, the transfer portal opens fast — and the eligibility door can shut even faster.

Key takeaways

• Dwight Lewis III entered the transfer portal after an eligibility issue ended his Mississippi State career.
• Lewis believed he had two years remaining, but NCAA eligibility rules said otherwise.
• His departure reflects the growing uncertainty surrounding transfer eligibility calculations.