2025 four-star linebacker Tyshun Willis commits to Mississippi State

Over the weekend Mississippi State welcomed several top 2025 instate targets to campus for Super Bulldog Weekend. On Monday, one of those top targets decided to join Mississippi State’s Class of 2025 in On3 composite four-star prospect Tyshun Willis.

The Velma Jackson High School standout and edge prospect announced his Bulldog commitment on his Twitter page Monday morning and became the fourth 2025 commitment for head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff. He joins fellow Bulldog commits in On3 four-star quarterback Kamario Taylor, On3 three-star linebacker AJ Rice and punter prospect Jack Richardson.

“It was really everything,” noted Willis. “Just the love, the energy and good vibe every time I visited there. They have a great coaching staff and it just felt right to go ahead and commit.”

The 6-foot-1 and 230-pound Willis held other Power 5 offers from Ole Miss, Missouri and Baylor. Willis is rated as the nation’s No. 31 edge and the state’s No. 12 prospect by On3 composite rankings.

“Things have been good with Mississippi State,” said Willis last week. “I call them and they call me to check up on me. I’ve been talking the most with Coach (Coleman) Hutzler, Coach Lebby and another coach. They’ve been talking to me about playing jack linebacker and some different drills I can do to help my game at linebacker. They like the way I play the game and they showed me how I can work on the edge, too.”

Willis unofficially visited Mississippi State this past weekend for the Maroon and White spring game and was with several family members, as well, on that visit. And it was during that visit that Willis told the State coaches that he wanted to commit.

“I knew Saturday when I took my family to the spring game,” Willis added. “I told Coach Lebby and Coach Hutzler after the game that I was ready to commit. It felt good to make that decision and my family likes it there, too.”

This past season Willis played a varity of roles for Velma Jackson and helped lead his team to a 13-1 record and a spot in the Class 1A state championship game. Defensively, Willis totaled 113 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two blocked punts. On the offensive side of the ball, Willis had 470 receiving yards and six touchdowns along with 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

But at the next level, he is eager to play the jack linebacker spot for Hutzler and his staff.

“I think they will coach me well,” mentioned Willis. “Coach Lebby and his staff can develop me and help me do more things on defense. They like me at jack linebacker, outside linebacker. I would not mind moving to defensive end but I think outside linebacker is better for me.”