2024 cornerback Elijah Cannon discusses Mississippi State decision
The final week of recruiting led to a crazy experience for Coconut Creek (Fla.) High School’s Elijah Cannon. After being committed to Florida Atlantic for months, the 2024 cornerback and On3 three-star prospect added a Mississippi State offer last week.
That offer came from Mississippi State cornerbacks coach Corey Bell, who happened to recruit Cannon when Bell coached at Florida Atlantic this past season. After an official visit to Mississippi State last weekend, Cannon quickly followed Bell and signed with Mississippi State on Wednesday.
“I didn’t have that much time to make my decision,” Cannon said. “But I felt the love and energy at Mississippi State that I didn’t get anywhere else. Great people, great surroundings at Mississippi State and it is SEC ball. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Last weekend also allowed Cannon to get a better grasp of head coach Jeff Lebby’s vision for State’s program and for Cannon’s future there.
“Coach Lebby is a great coach,” the 6-foot-1 and 170-pound Cannon said. “I love his morals and I love everything about him. I feel like he is a great person. He is a family guy and I am a family guy myself. He was a player, too, so he knows what it takes to be great and what goes into being great.”
Naturally, Cannon was also able to reunite with Bell during his weekend stay in Starkville. Cannon appreciated the faith Bell showed in his during the recruiting process and after a couple of twists and turns, he looks forward to being coached by Bell at the next level.
“Of course, I talked a lot with my position coach, Coach Corey Bell,” noted Cannon, who had 46 tackles, five interceptions and 10 PBUs as a senior at Coconut Creek High School. “The transition for him to Mississippi State is amazing. Everywhere he went and coached, he always wanted me to come with him. He has always showed me the love and that’s my guy.”
Cannon also felt at home around State’s players. That included his player host, who provided Cannon some tips on what to expect in a college program.
“Ty Cooper was my player host and that went well,” said Cannon. “He is a funny guy and that is the most I have laughed on a visit. So I felt the love from the players, too. Ty said you got to work for what you get at Mississippi State and said you got to work for what you want. He said it is a family environment and that they do a lot of team bonding.”
In a couple of weeks, Cannon will return to Starkville and experience State’s program on a full-time basis. As an early high school graduate, Cannon will enroll at Mississippi State in January.
“It was a great visit and it was a good experience of what to expect,” Cannon said. “I love the energy and the people there and the environment. Everything went great and I loved everything about the visit. Now I am ready to get there in a couple of weeks and get to work.”
