Oakland’s Kaleb Oliver, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety, committed to Mississippi State on Wednesday.
MURFREESBORO — Kaleb Oliver recently visited Mississippi State for a football camp.
He plans on returning to Starkville next year.
Oliver, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety, committed to the school on Wednesday.
“I went down (last) Friday to Mississippi State and went to camp,” Oliver said. “I worked with their (defensive backs) coach (Maurice Linguist). I liked how he coached.
“He just worked with me. After talking to my parents and telling them how much I like it there, they got on the phone and talked to (defensive coordinator Peter) Sirmon. We just made it happen.”
Commitments are nonbinding for the athlete and the school. Oliver cannot sign until Feb. 1.
Oliver is ranked as the 19th-best football prospect in the state for the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. He had 99 tackles with five interceptions and three sacks in 2015.
“It’s huge for somebody from this area to sign with an SEC school, particularly one that has been to bowl games and had winning records and coached by one of the top-notch coaches around,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said. “And their (defensive) coordinator (Sirmon) played with the Titans.
“He’s going to a school with good coaches and able to compete at the highest level. I think that tells what kind of player that everybody has projected Kaleb to be in college.”
Oliver is the younger brother of former Tennessee signee Kyle Oliver, who played last year at Jones Community College in Mississippi.
Oliver had seven offers, including South Carolina, Vanderbilt and MTSU.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.