STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State softball team has signed Briana Bell (Brandon, Fla.), Sammy Lenahan (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Jessica Offutt (Madison, Ala.), Heidi Shape (Duluth, Ga.) and Rachael Zdeb (Shawnee, Kan.) to national letters of intent for the 2010-11 academic year, head coach Jay Miller announced.

"We have an outstanding class coming in. We only lose two seniors, so I think we did a really good job of replacing out-going seniors Chelsea Bramlett and Jessie Bailey. With the five signees, I think we filled those needs quickly while giving us some depth at other positions. I'm excited about our signees, and I believe that this class will help our team continue to improve."

Briana Bell; OF; 5-6; R-R; Brandon, Fla.; Riverview HS/Tampa Mustangs

COACH MILLER ON BELL: "Briana is an outstanding athlete who is looking forward to getting to play one year here with her sister, Brittany. She is an outstanding talent with a good arm and good speed. Briana is versatile and athletic, and I see her being able to come in and contribute immediately."

Bell helped RHS to the Florida 6A region final last season en route to earning All-Hillsborough County first team, First Team Western Conference and Miracle Sports Class 6A Second Team All-State.

The younger sister of Bulldog junior outfielder Brittany Bell, she hit .483 with 28 runs scored, 17 RBI, seven doubles and a home run. Bell, the RHS Most Valuable Player the past two seasons, closed 2009 with eight RBI over the final five games for Angela Slater's Riverview squad.

"This is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened in my entire life, and I can't wait to step on that campus for the first time knowing that the school is mine. Just thinking about stepping foot on the softball field wearing Maroon and White sends jolts down my spine," Bell said. "Becoming a Bulldog has finally happened, and I am extremely excited!"

The daughter of Joe and Anne Bell, she hit .435 with 42 runs, 22 RBI, six home runs and 22 stolen bases while helping Walt Rosanski's Tampa Mustangs to the 2009 national team championship in Las Vegas. She previously played for her father's Mustangs squad, helping the team to ASA Nationals in Johnson City, Tenn., in 2006.

Sammy Lenahan; C; 5-6; R-R; Lawrenceville, Ga.; Collins Hill HS/Georgia Elite

COACH MILLER ON LENAHAN: "Sammy brings a lot of leadership and experience. Stepping in to replace Chelsea Bramlett is a monumental task, but it's one that I think Sammy is up to. She has a great arm, calls a good game and works well with the pitching staff. She also gives us a solid bat in the lineup. I feel really good with Sammy's ability to come in and work with the pitching staff."

Lenahan earned Region 7-AAAAA Player of the Year honors this season after helping Billy Dooley's Collins Hill High School to a 35-4 record and the Georgia Class AAAAA State Championship. The Gwinnett County Defensive Player of the Year hit the game-winning triple in the championship game to wrap-up a senior campaign in which she hit .340 and drove in 27 runs while scoring 25 times.

Lenahan, the daughter of Tom and Elizabeth Lenahan, also earned Gwinnett Daily Post All-County First Team and a Georgia Dugout Club All-Star selection as she helped Collins Hill to the region title and Gwinnett County Team of the Year honors. Lenahan was also a member of the 2006 Eagles squad that finished as the state runner-up.

"I'm very excited to start the next step of my softball career as a Bulldog, and I'm looking forward to getting to play for Coach Miller, the U.S. National Team coach," Lenahan said. "The campus atmosphere is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm anxious to play for a team that has made it to the NCAA Tournament consistently, and I hope to help make that run longer."

The run to the state championship came after Lenahan and fellow Bulldog signee Heidi Shape helped the Georgia Elite to a 13th-place finish at the ASA Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City and a No. 9 national ranking by Rivals.com. In 2008, Lenahan was selected as an adidas Futures Top 100 Participant.

Jessica Offutt; OF; 5-5; L-R; Madison, Ala.; Bob Jones HS/Alabama Crusaders

COACH MILLER ON OFFUTT: "Jessica is very quick, and I think she will help replace Chelsea Bramlett's speed on the bases. She's a very good athlete who can play a variety of positions, and she will give us some good quickness offensively."

Offutt tallied a school-record .526 batting average with 70 hits, 13 RBI, 36 runs and 27 stolen bases last season in helping Kent Chambers'

Bob Jones High School to the Alabama Class 6A Region Tournament. Her stellar junior campaign earned her a second-straight NFCA All-South Region honor, First Team All-State, Huntsville Times All-Elite First Team and a spot in the Alabama North/South All-Star Game. Offutt fielded at a .981 clip with 50 putouts en route to earning the Bob Jones Golden Glove and 110-percent awards.

The BJHS Wendy's High School Heisman Award winner for 2009, Offutt was named Super All-Metro First Team and an all-state honorable mention as a sophomore after hitting .434 with 12 RBI, 40 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.

"What really drew me to State was the school's commitment to academics because that was a major factor for me when looking at schools," Offutt said. "I also know there is not a team anywhere else that has a better coaching staff, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of their program. All of State's facilities, whether they are academic or athletic, are awesome. Before I left the campus on my visit, I knew this was the school for me and I cannot wait to go there next fall."

Offutt joined the Alabama Crusaders travel team after playing for the Madison Mayhem 16U in 2008. Last summer she hit .506 with seven RBI, a home run and 24 stolen bases to help the Crusaders to a 16-10-2 record.

In her final season with the Mayhem, Offutt hit .410 to help the team, coached by her father, Monty, and Dan Bobrowski, to a second-straight runner-up showing at the Alabama USFA Tournament. The squad also claimed a third consecutive fourth-place finish at the ASA Alabama A State Tournament.

Heidi Shape; INF; 5-5; R-R; Duluth, Ga.; Norcross HS/Georgia Elite

COACH MILLER ON SHAPE: "Heidi is a third baseman who we believe can replace Jessie Bailey. She can play any of the infield positions with her arm and quickness, and she also has a good bat. We feel that she can come in and contribute as a freshman."

Recently wrapping up her playing career for Hope Black at Norcross High School, Shape earned All-Region 7-AAAAA honors, Gwinnett All-County and the NHS top offensive player award for the fourth time. This past season she was also selected to the Gwinnett County Top 6 Players list. In 2008, Shape garnered Georgia Class AAAAA Second Team All-State recognition after earning her second Player of the Month accolade.

"I'm very excited that I will soon be a part of the Bulldog family," Shape said. "I feel like all my hard work has paid off."

During the travel season, the daughter of Greg Shape and Beverly Maday teamed with fellow Bulldog signee Sammy Lenahan to lead the 2009 Georgia Elite to a 13th-place finish at the ASA Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City and a No. 9 national ranking by Rivals.com.

Rachael Zdeb; OF; 5-9; R-R; Shawnee, Kan.; Shawnee Mission NW HS/KS Desoto Belles

COACH MILLER ON ZDEB: "Rachael is a tremendous athlete from the Kansas City area. She can play a variety of positions, but has played mainly outfield with her summer team. Rachael is a big, strong player who runs well, throws well and swings a good bat. I think she will be able to help us in a variety of ways."

Zdeb earned All-Sunflower League and All-Sun County First Team last season after setting the school record with 40 hits in 21 games for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. A three-year starter for Mark Balderston entering her senior season, Zdeb hit .491 with two home runs, 12 stolen bases, 31 RBI and 36 runs in 2009.

The daughter of Joe Zdeb, a former Kansas City Royal, and Diane, Zdeb batted .408 as a sophomore and contributed 43 runs while earning second team All-Sunflower League and All-Sun County. She hit .379 and drove in 12 runs while scoring seven more her freshman year.

"I am very excited and honored to be joining the Bulldog family," Zdeb said. "I would really like to thank Coach Miller, Coach (Annie) Smith, and Coach (Karen) Johns for this opportunity."

Playing for coaches Greg Heinrich and Steve Fulk on the Desoto Belles this past summer, Zdeb earned USSSA All-State accolades after hitting .407 with 48 hits, 36 runs, 40 RBI, 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases. She also compiled an .808 slugging percentage while reaching base at a .451 clip.