2025 DL Jeramiah McCloud decommits from Mississippi State
Havana (Fla.) Gadsden County three-star defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud announced his commitment to Mississippi State on Jan. 21. Since then, multiple schools have offered him, including Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU and USC.
McCloud was back in Starkville this weekend, but he recently felt a different vibe from the Bulldogs and noticed how far its campus is from his home. These reasons played a key role in the 6-foot-4, 285-pound recruit deciding to back off his pledge to Mississippi State.
“I want to take all of my visits and see all of my options,” McCloud told On3. “I’ll probably wait it out. I don’t think I want to commit early again because I’m still getting offers and learning about the different schools.”
Four other SEC schools already have McCloud’s attention
Florida, Georgia and LSU are three serious contenders for McCloud following his decision. Auburn is also making a strong push for him.
McCloud visited the Gators again recently – which marked his third time in Gainesville since March 28 – and the Tigers last weekend, who previously hosted him for a spring practice. The No. 63 player in Florida also made a trip to the Bulldogs on March 21, which involved watching practice and touring Georgia’s campus.
McCloud has already locked in an official visit with Florida from June 14-16. He is also working to schedule dates for officials to Georgia and LSU.
“I’ve been talking to coach Tray Scott at Georgia a lot,” said McCloud, the No. 454 overall prospect and No. 40 defensive lineman in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “On a daily basis, I talk to coach Scott. At Florida, I talk to coach Gerald Chatman. At LSU, I have a great relationship with coach Bo Davis.”
McCloud discusses his interest in Florida and LSU
Florida: “I went to the game where they played Florida State. That was the best college football game I’ve ever watched. The atmosphere at that game and on Florida game days is different.”
“They’re coming on,” he also told Gators Online on March 28 about Florida. “They’re one of the top schools on my board right now because of the relationships. With the Gators, something I like is they’ve got something good going on.
LSU: “I like the atmosphere. There’s a new defensive staff at LSU, so if I choose LSU, I would be part of the first recruiting class for that staff. It would mean a lot with LSU, so that’s why I like them. Also, I would definitely be able to play my first year at LSU. That was an eye-opener for me.”
USC has jumped in this race
Earlier this month, USC offered. The Trojans will get McCloud on campus for the first time soon. He was planning to spend multiple days in Los Angeles last weekend before deciding to visit Mississippi State. The Big Ten program has quickly become a contender.
“I was talking to USC before they offered, so them offering is a real plus,” McCloud said. “I will be out there for an official visit on June 7, so we will see how I feel. I know I like them.”