Ex-Colorado Buffaloes football coach almost had Jordan Seaton commit to downtrodden SEC school over Miami, LSU, and Oregon
TL;DR
Jordan Seaton, a top offensive lineman, nearly committed to Mississippi State instead of LSU, Miami, and Oregon due to his connection with former Colorado OL coach Phil Loadholt. His first visit was to Starkville, highlighting the Bulldogs' early momentum in his recruitment.
Key points
- Jordan Seaton is a top offensive lineman.
- He almost committed to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
- Seaton's relationship with Phil Loadholt influenced his decision.
- His first visit was to Mississippi State, not LSU or Miami.
- LSU ultimately secured his commitment.
Mentioned in this story
Ex-Colorado Buffaloes football coach almost had Jordan Seaton commit to downtrodden SEC school over Miami, LSU, and Oregon originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of the biggest transfer portal upsets of the entire offseason wouldâve been left tackle Jordan Seaton committing to the Mississippi State Bulldogs over the biggest brands and deepest-pocketed universities across the country. That almost happened because of Seatonâs relationship with former Colorado Buffaloes OL coach Phil Loadholt.
As CBS Sportsâ Chris Hummer points out, Seatonâs first visit was to Starkville, Mississippi, over the Oregon Ducks, whom he never visited, the Miami Hurricanes, which have a recruiting pipeline from Seatonâs alma mater, IMG Academy, and the LSU Tigers, who eventually landed his commitment.
âWhile LSU and Miami were two program sources highlighted when Seaton entered the transfer portal, he actually took his first visit to Mississippi State,â Hummer wrote. âThe Bulldogs' offensive line coach, Phil Loadholt, served as Seaton's O-line coach in Boulder during his true freshman season. The pair remain close, and that gave Mississippi State early momentum.
âMiami got the next visit with Seaton as the Hurricanes sold Seaton on Mario Cristobal's offensive line development and style of football. From there, Seaton headed to Baton Rouge. LSU desperately needed impact offensive linemen as Lane Kiffin had to overhaul almost that entire room, and Seaton was the last impact offensive tackle on the open market.
âOregon was also involved in the process. Seaton was scheduled to visit Eugene at one point, but that never materialized. Instead, Oregon coach Dan Lanning flew to see Seaton in Atlanta.â
Phil Loadholt was a recruiting loss for Colorado. The OL got better in 2025 after he left, though.
Loadholt was undoubtedly a loss for the Buffsâ recruiting. Seaton checked out towards the end of last season after Colorado fell apart amid having no identity. Still, the stats show that the offensive line got better overall.
After poorly-performing protection in 2023 and 2024, the unit improved, helping the running game amass 150 yards per game. Loadholt left in December 2024, right before the season. His new employer, Mississippi State, gave up over 40 sacks and averaged under four yards per carry.
Is there a correlation here? More evidence is needed, but maybe.
Q&A
Why did Jordan Seaton consider Mississippi State over LSU and Miami?
Jordan Seaton considered Mississippi State due to his close relationship with former OL coach Phil Loadholt, who coached him at Colorado.
Which schools were competing for Jordan Seaton's commitment?
The schools competing for Jordan Seaton's commitment included LSU, Miami, and Oregon, among others.
What was significant about Seaton's first visit during his recruitment?
Seaton's first visit was to Mississippi State, which gave the Bulldogs early momentum in his recruitment despite their less prominent status compared to other schools.
