Mississippi State doesn’t run a traditional open tryout. It uses a recruitment process: a recruitment video, optional clinics and early offers, followed by in-person tryouts for invited athletes. MSU has already updated its official cheer recruiting page for the 2027-28 season. Recruitment for 2026-27 is closed, and all tryout invitations have gone out.
The 2027-28 Recruitment Process, Step by Step
1. Submit a recruitment video
Recruitment videos open August 1. Filming and submission instructions are posted at hailstatecamps.com.
2. Attend a clinic (recommended, and required for an early offer)
- Clinics run from June through March on the MSU campus. Dates are posted on MSU’s social pages and hailstatecamps.com as they’re confirmed.
- To be considered for an early offer, you must attend an MSU clinic and complete an in-person evaluation there.
- A clinic isn’t the only way in. If you can’t attend one, you can still be invited to in-person tryouts based on your recruitment video.
3. Early offers
Select recruits start receiving offers in January 2027. MSU is clear that early offers are “very selective and only based on open spots based on graduating seniors.” Not getting one doesn’t rule you out. Offered athletes still have to attend tryouts, and they must perform at or above the level they showed in their video and clinic evaluation.
4. In-person tryouts
In-person tryouts are open to:
- Athletes invited through their recruitment video.
- Committed recruits.
- Current team members.
Everyone in those groups is required to attend. MSU says tryout dates will be set in early 2027.
What MSU Cheer Does
- Game days on campus: football, basketball, volleyball and more.
- Postseason: travel to SEC tournaments and NCAA and bowl games.
- Competition: MSU competes at both NCA and UCA College Nationals, and says it was the only Division I program to compete at both in 2026. It lists itself as two-time NCA Collegiate National Champions in 2025.
- Community work: visits to local schools and assisted-living homes.
MSU’s 2025-26 Spirit Squads roster includes both Coed and All-Girl cheerleaders, alongside the dance team.
Coaching Staff
According to MSU’s roster page:
- Tiffany Fettinger — Director of Spirit & Fan Engagement (tfettinger@athletics.msstate.edu).
- Holly Prince — Assistant Director of Spirit & Fan Engagement and Assistant Cheer Coach (hprince@athletics.msstate.edu).
How to Prepare
- Make your video count. For many athletes it’s the main route to a tryout invitation. Film on a hard surface in good light with your full body in frame, and only include skills you land consistently. Follow the filming instructions on hailstatecamps.com exactly.
- Attend a clinic if you can. It’s the only route to an early offer, and it lets the staff see you in person.
- Keep improving after an offer. Offered athletes must match or exceed their earlier level at tryouts.
- Build your skill base: a consistent back handspring and standing tuck, strong jumps, and clean stunting for your position. MSU doesn’t publish minimum skill lists, so the clinics and video instructions are your best guide to its expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to attend a clinic to try out for Mississippi State? No. A clinic plus an in-person evaluation is required for an early offer, but you can also be invited to tryouts through your recruitment video alone.
When do recruitment videos open? August 1, through hailstatecamps.com.
When are early offers made? Starting January 2027 for the 2027-28 team.
When are tryouts? MSU says the 2027 tryout dates will be set in early 2027.
Does MSU have coed and all-girl cheer? Yes. Its Spirit Squads roster lists both.
Related Resources
- SEC Cheer Tryout Guides
- Auburn Cheer Requirements
- Ole Miss Cheer Recruitment
- University of Tennessee Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Mississippi State Athletics, Cheer Recruiting (updated for the 2027-28 season) and 2025-26 Spirit Squads roster and coaching staff. Last checked September 23, 2026.
