Within the Class of 2025, Mississippi State is needing immediate help on the defensive line, and have particularly targeted older guys in the trenches. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs took another positive step in that direction with the commitment of On3 four-star defensive lineman Zavion Hardy.

The East Mississippi Community College product is rated as the nation’s No. 2 juco defensive lineman by On3 rankings. The 6-foot-5 and 280-pound Hardy also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Oklahoma and Southern Cal among several others. Hardy becomes the 20th commitment in State’s Class of 2025 and the second defensive lineman, joining Christopher Johnson of Percy Julian (Ala.) High School.

However, in the end, Hardy said his decision was about the program that needed him the most.

“Coach (David) Turner said they really want me,” Hardy recalled. “He said they can take my game to a different notch. Then me and Coach (Jeff) Lebby have that good relationship and he’s been talking to me a lot even before my visit. We built a really good bond and they showed that they want me there and they need me there. So we’re good with each other and Coach Turner is good to me, too.”

This summer Hardy took in official visits to Mississippi State, Arkansas and South Carolina. Since that time, he noted that the Bulldogs have pursued him the hardest and his relationship with Turner dates back even further to Hardy’s prep days.

“They’ve been on me hard since my visit there and they’ve been on me the hardest,” added Hardy. “My relationships with Coach Lebby and Coach Turner are getting stronger and it’s still great love there with them.

“With Coach Turner, our relationship goes back to when I was in high school,” Hardy added. “He was coaching at Florida then so we’ve known each other for awhile. He’s been telling me the same things that Coach Hutzler said and Coach Turner is the real deal.”

Hardy has taken in game-day visits to Mississippi State this year and is also familiar with the Bulldogs’ program due to his former teammates. In the last recruiting class, Mississippi State signed several East Mississippi players and in the Class of 2025, Hardy’s teammate and former Alabama transfer Tony Mitchell is committed to the Bulldogs, as well.

“I’ve been talking to some of my guys that are at State now,” remarked Hardy. “They said it’s straight but that it is hard training. I talk with Ashun (Shepphard) the most and we talked a couple of weeks ago. He told me that it’s not too bad but it is an adjustment. But they’re all getting used to it now and they like it there.”

Over the past few months, Hardy has talked often with Lebby and Turner about his future at Mississippi State. Naturally, State’s staff gave him a list of their expectations for what he can accomplish in Starkville and now Hardy is eager to reach those expectations.

“Coach Lebby just wanted me to make the right decision,” added Hardy. “Coach Turner has said the same thing and he said I can do big things at State and I know I can. Coach Turner feels like he can develop me the best and he wants me there.”

Of course, Hardy also had a “different mindset” in his second experience on the recruiting trail. That process this year wasn’t similar to his high school recruitment and it was more about finding the best fit for his development.

“Really now that I am older, I had a different mindset in recruiting,” explained Hardy, a Georgia native. “It was more about where can I develop the best now. Once I am out of juco I will have two years left to play at the next level. So it is about where I can go and develop and handle my business.”

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