MSU commit Stone Blanton flips, elects to play baseball, football at South Carolina
Dec. 13—STARKVILLE — Mississippi State lost a two-sport commitment Monday as Stone Blanton announced he is headed to South Carolina.
Blanton is a four-star linebacker (247Sports) and a potential top-10 round MLB selection (Perfect Game) out of Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Madison, Mississippi.
Blanton announced his commitment to Mississippi State baseball on Jan. 23, 2020. But his football decision was not made until Monday.
Blanton was the top linebacker out of Mississippi, according to 247Sports. He was the No. 36 linebacker nationally.
It was clear Blanton's frontrunners were South Carolina and Mississippi State through his recent in-home visits.
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach, defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, outside linebackers coach Matt Brock and nickelbacks coach Tony Hughes visited Blanton's house on Nov. 29.
Arnett returned on Dec. 9.
South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White made an in-home visit on Dec. 2. USC head coach Shane Beamer and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield joined White for a trip to Madison-Ridgeland Academy five days later.
Blanton would have been the second four-star in MSU's 2022 class alongside receiver Marquez Dortch.
STEFAN KRAJISNIK is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at stefan.krajisnik@djournal.com.
