Jones eligible as part of five football early enrollees

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State received help in the process of replacing key seniors on Thursday. Five prospects from the 2016 recruiting class enrolled at the university.

The key name is Dontea Jones, who became eligible on Thursday. Cornerbacks Lashard Durr and C.J. Morgan-Walker, tight end Christian Roberson and defensive tackle Tre Brown all enrolled last week.

Jones, a 6-foot-4 tight end, should compete for reps starting on Day 1 of spring practice. Jones is the top-ranked juco player at his position. He originally signed with Mississippi State last year. The Bulldogs are extremely thin at tight end. They lost Darrion Hutcherson to graduation, and Gus Walley's career is in jeopardy after multiple concussions.

He's joined by Roberson, a three-star tight end from Powder Springs, Georgia. Roberson ranks as the 37th best player at his position, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound freshman would normally be a prime candidate to redshirt, but the lack of depth at tight end could alter those plans.

Mississippi State played Justin Johnson as a true freshman last year at tight end. The Hoover, Alabama, native caught five passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Durr comes to Mississippi State from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, he ranks as the seventh-best junior college corner in the country and a three-star prospect according to 247Sports. Durr signed with Mississippi State in 2014 from Gulfport. Durr and possibly Morgan-Walker will immediately contend for the openings at cornerback to replace the vacancies left by Will Redmond and Taveze Calhoun. They'll compete with returning starter Tolando Cleveland, along with Cedric Jiles, Jamoral Graham and redshirt freshmen Maurice Smitherman and Chris Stamps.

Morgan-Walker hails from Parkway High School in Bossier City, Louisiana. Morgan-Walker is a three-star prospect. The corner ranks as the 24th-best player in the state and the 44th best at his position nationally, according to 247Sports.

Brown provides an option for the Bulldogs to replenish its depth along the defensive line. Brown is a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, from Co-Lin. At 6-4, 290, he ranks as the 12th-best defensive tackle in junior college.

Mississippi State lost two starters from its defensive line in 2015 in end Ryan Brown and tackle Chris Jones. Tre Brown should compete for playing time in 2016 in trying to replace Jones.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.