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Vick Ballard was a junior college running back a year ago, fielding interest from mostly Sun Belt or Conference USA programs.
Today, he leads the Southeastern Conference in touchdowns.
Proving that recruiting is an inexact science, Mississippi State took a gamble on the 5-foot-11, 225-pounder - and it's turned into a windfall of production through five games.
With a combination of speed and power, Ballard has scored nine touchdowns - eight rushing and one receiving. He also leads the Bulldogs with 284 rushing yards, including 6.5 per carry.
Though few big-name programs paid much attention to Ballard, who was an All-American last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College after rushing for 1,728 yards and 22 touchdowns, the Bulldogs were ecstatic to add him to an already deep backfield.
''He's a downhill runner and a strong kid,'' said John Hevesy, who cooordinates the Bulldogs' run game. ''He got here in January, you could see his work ethic in the weight room and on the practice field, and that's when I started to realize he could be really good for us.''
Mississippi State (3-2) travels to Robertson Stadium to face Houston (3-1) on Saturday.
Ballard's spring arrival was crucial to his development. With no pressure to perform right away, he bulked up in the weight room and adjusted to the speed of SEC defenders during spring practice.
''When we recruited him it was one of the things that attracted us to him,'' coach Dan Mullen said. ''His toughness, his demeanor and his attitude. He's got this drive to be good and he's carried it since Day 1 he's been on campus.''
Part of Ballard's success at finding the end zone has been tied to his opportunities. Because he's one of the biggest backs on the roster, he gets most of the carries when the Bulldogs are in a goal-line formation and need someone to move the pile.
But the touchdowns haven't all just been 1-yard dives. His 75-yard touchdown run against Alcorn State, 51-yard touchdown run against Memphis and 13-yard touchdown catch against Georgia have all shown off his surprising speed and versatility.
He's scored at least one touchdown in all five games.
''I've always just tried to do my job and everything takes care of itself,'' said the soft-spoken Ballard. ''I never really think about scoring touchdowns, it's just doing what I'm supposed to do.''
Mississippi State had what looked like a surplus of running backs coming into the season - including Robert Elliott, LaDarius Perkins and Adrian Marcus. But Ballard has separated himself from that group very quickly and figures to have a huge role as the Bulldogs push for bowl eligibility for only the second time in a decade.
''He was a very productive player in junior college and you're seeing that on the field for us,'' Mullen said.
Mississippi State lost to Houston last season 31-24 at home after leading 17-14 at halftime. The Bulldogs finished the year with a 5-7 record - one win shy of bowl eligibility - and often point to the Houston game as the one that kept them from the postseason.
The Cougars lost star quarterback Case Keenum to a season-ending knee injury in September, but easily beat Tulane two weeks ago with freshman Terrance Broadway under center.
No matter who's at quarterback, Mississippi State isn't underestimating Houston.
''It's been on our mind - payback,'' receiver Leon Berry said. ''They probably kept us from a bowl game last year, so we can't let it happen again.''
