BULLDOG BITS
The total number of football players that took part in a signing day ceremony at Starkville High School's auditorium Wednesday afternoon.
Women's Basketball
Mississippi State's Teaira Mccowan was chosen a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award on Wednesday. She is one of 10 women chosen from a pool of 30 candidates announced earlier this year.
The Bulldog senior, who has helped her team win 25 consecutive Southeastern Conference games, dating back to last year, has broken MSU'S career rebounds (1,316) and double-doubles (57) records this season.
Mccowan leads MSU in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.9 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. The SEC Preseason Player of the Year has also been selected to the Lisa Leslie Watch List for the nation's top center, as well as the watch lists for the Wooden, Naismith and Wade trophies.
The Brenham, Texas, native has scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games and tallied 20-plus points in eight of those.
She is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage (66.1 percent) and sixth in total blocks (58). Her 18 double-doubles for the year rank third in the country. Among active players, she is second in career rebounds (1,316), eighth in blocks (242), fourth in double-doubles (57) and 38th in points (1,652).
Mccowan leads the SEC in field goal percentage, rebounding (13.7 reboonds per game) and total blocks. She is one of two players in the conference to be in the top 10 in both scoring and rebounding average.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Mccowan has volunteered with special needs children and is on track to graduate in May with a degree in human development and family studies.
Online fan voting begins immediately to help select this year's winner and will run through March 25. Fan votes are combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winner, who will be announced at the Women's Final Four.
Mccowan is back in action on Sunday afternoon when the Bulldogs host Tennessee in Humphrey Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN.