Front Porch Football2018 Mississippi State Season Preview
by Christopher Paschal
3rd – SEC West
Starkville, MS | Davis Wade Stadium (61, 337) | 2017 Record: 9-4 (4-4)
Aside from Alabama, no other SEC team has a starting 22 more talented than Mississippi State. Georgia, Florida, Auburn, and LSU all have talented starters, but Mississippi State’s are just as talented, if not more so, than those from those other four “big name” programs. And Mississippi State has veterans in the right spots, too, namely at quarterback, offensive line, and defensive line. Those positions are where you win football games in this conference.
Joe Moorhead enters Starkville with an extremely talented Bulldog team. Image from ABC News.
For Mississippi State to take the next step, though, the Bulldogs are going to have to ask a new coaching staff to take this program to heights it has rarely achieved. Joe Moorhead enters Starkville as a first-time FBS head coach who tore it up in the Northeast as a dynamic offensive coordinator. Will that translate to the SEC? Jury is still out. But for this year at least, Joe Moorhead will put the Bulldogs in position to compete for the SEC West.
Offense
Quarterbacks: Besides Alabama, Mississippi State might have the best quarterback situation in the SEC. Nick Fitzgerald (6-5, 230) should return this season after an ankle injury cost him a chance at leading his team to an Egg Bowl Trophy. I expect him to flourish under Joe Moorhead in his senior season. Moorhead benefits from Dan Mullen’s work in shaping this quarterback room into a smart, heady group of guys. Look for Mississippi State to pass the football a lot more in 2018 under Moorhead than it did in 2017 under Mullen. If you watch Fordham and Penn State highlights (Moorhead’s last two stops), you will notice that he is a master of the RPO (run/pass option) offense. Below, Matt Wyatt breaks down the RPO.
That will bring a lot more diversity to an offense that finished second in the SEC in rushing yards per game, but dead last in the conference in passing yards per game. Last season, Penn State finished in the top 25 in passing yards per game, while still featuring one of the best running backs in the nation in Saquon Barkley. Behind Fitzgerald is Keytaon Thompson (6-4, 225) who led the Bulldogs to an upset bowl victory over Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
Running Back: Mississippi State has 28 rushing touchdowns returning from last season’s football team. While Nick Fitzgerald and Keytaon Thompson are huge pieces to the rushing attack, it really starts with Aeris Williams (6-1, 220). Williams returns for his senior season after bullying SEC defenses in both his sophomore and junior campaigns. Coming out of high school, Williams could have gone to Florida State. However, he decided to stay in-state, and boy has that worked out well for the Bulldogs.
Williams looks to build upon a great career so far at MSU. Image from USA Today.
Behind Williams is sophomore Kylin Hill (5-11, 215) who also hails from the Magnolia State. Hill averaged an impressive five yards per carry last season, but this season look for Moorhead to use Hill like he used Saquon Barkley – as a game changer. A steady diet of Aeris Williams rushing the football will be complimented perfectly if Hill can be utilized in the passing game coming out of the backfield. Watch Hill’s tape from last season and tell me he doesn’t remind you a little bit of Saquon Barkley. He runs close to the ground, hits holes hard, has a great first step, and couples his acceleration and agility with a fearless capacity to lower his shoulder into a defender. It will be fascinating to see how Moorhead uses the two backs in 2018.
Hill is ready to contribute even more this year after a great freshman showing. Image from The Dispatch.
Wide Receiver: If you just looked at the numbers and statistics from last season, you would probably think Mississippi State had no talent at the wide receiver position. But that just isn’t the case. Am I claiming this is one of the best wide receiver rooms in the country? No, that title is claimed by in-state rival Ole Miss. But there is receiver talent in Starkville, too.
At 5-9, 220 Dear is hard to take down. Image from USA Today.
Malik Dear (5-9, 220) returns this season after missing all of 2017 due to injury. Dear is a talented, well-built receiver that can be an excellent slot-like option for Nick Fitzgerald this year. Jesse Jackson (6-2, 215) and Keith Mixon (5-8, 185) return this season after playing in a considerable number of snaps last season, but it’s who the Bulldogs add this year that makes this group intriguing. Devonta Jason (6-3, 210) is a big-time, highly touted freshman that adds instant size and skill to this position group. He was sought after by the SEC elite, but decided to join a roster that needed some help.
But possibly the biggest addition is Stephen Guidry (6-4, 190) out of Louisiana. Guidry is a JUCO guy who it felt like had the longest, most followed recruitment of all time. Guidry is one of the top JUCO signees regardless of position and should be a shot in the arm to this receiving corps.
Offensive Line: There is a reason this offense was widely considered one of the best rushing attacks in the country last year, and that is because Mississippi State has some men up front. Almost everyone returns from last season. Although the one departure does sting in All-SEC tackle Martinas Rankin. Back, however, are both guards, which is the key to any interior zone rushing attack. Both Daryl Williams (6-2, 305) and Deion Calhoun (6-3, 320) are studs at the guard position, and I expect more of the same this season, especially from Calhoun in his senior year. At center, senior and native Mississippian Elgton Jenkins (6-4, 315) returns to anchor an offensive line that will be considered, yet again, as one of the best in the SEC. And reinforcements are on the way from the 2017 recruiting class; Kwatrivous Johnson (6-7, 360) signed with Mississippi State over offers from Alabama, Florida, and rival, Ole Miss.
Elgton Jenkins looks to lead this offensive line at center. Image from USA Today.
Defense
Defensive Line: If one was to make a list of the top ten defensive lines in the country, Mississippi State would comfortably make the cut. This is a SEC-style defensive front, and it is a big reason Mississippi State is going to win a lot of football games. Like any great defensive line, Mississippi State has a stud at defensive tackle in junior Jeffrey Simmons (6-4, 300). This guy is a millionaire walking – he will be a first round draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is fast, physical, and versatile. Simmons is joined inside by veteran seniors in Braxton Hoyett (6-3, 305) and Cory Thomas (6-5, 310), both of whom are excellent at gobbling up offensive linemen in run defense.
Jeffery Simmons is a beast in the middle. Image from Mississippi State Athletics.
But as good as the interior is, it is the defensive ends that make this defense lethal. Elite pass rushing specialist Montez Sweat (6-6, 245) returns after registering 10.5 sacks and 15.5 TFLs. Sweat is one of the best athletes the SEC has to offer. Opposite Sweat could be a whole host of players that would start anywhere in the country. Gerri Green (6-4, 255) finished last season with five sacks and 11 TFLs. Chauncey Rivers (6-3, 275) is finally eligible to play SEC football (highly recruited prospect coming out of high school and JUCO). Kobe Jones (6-4, 270) had a solid freshman campaign last season. And while Fletcher Adams (6-2, 275) has only shown flashes of why he was heavily recruited by Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, and Ole Miss out of high school, he might just be ready to put it all together for a huge junior season in 2018. Get ready, y’all. This defensive line is going to suffocate opponents.
Linebacker: Leo Lewis. The man has the background and drama only the SEC could appreciate. Lewis was considered to be the top or one of the top linebacking recruits in the entire country in 2015. Recruited by all the big-time programs, Lewis decided to stay in the state of Mississippi and play for the Bulldogs. But it doesn’t end there. Lewis then was dragged into the ongoing Ole Miss NCAA investigation saga, where he admitted that Ole Miss had gifted him thousands of dollars in an attempt to land his commitment on National Signing Day. Then in the spring of 2018, Lewis was arrested for disorderly conduct at 1 AM on a Friday morning. So why keep this guy around? Because he hits hard, that’s why. Lewis paired with Willie Gay (6-2, 235) and Erroll Thompson (6-1, 250) should help Mississippi State have a decent linebacking corps in 2018. This isn’t one of the best position groups on this roster, but it’s still talented enough to play really good football.
Leo Lewis steps on the field again despite all the drama. Image from Getty Images.
Defensive Backs: Mississippi State finished last season in the top 15 in passing defense. Gone, though, are both starting cornerbacks from last season in Tolando Cleveland and Lashard Durr. Will Jamal Peters (6-2, 220) finally play like the elite high school prospect that he was and put together a strong senior season? If he does, this secondary will be just fine. The safeties both return in seniors Johnathan Abram (6-0, 210) and Mark McLaurin (6-2, 215). Both are tackling machines, leading the Bulldogs in that category last season, and both are playmakers. McLaurin led Mississippi State in interceptions last season with six. If the cornerback position is locked down, this position group will be good enough to be considered one of the best in the SEC.
Mark McLaurin returns for another season. Image from Starkville Daily News.
Special Teams
Placekicker Jace Christmann returns after kicking 12 field goals last season and making every single extra point. Tucker Day will handle punting duties, and the dude has a heck of a leg. Look for Deddrick Thomas (5-9, 190) to return kicks. Thomas is a utility-type player who can catch passes, run the football, and most especially return kicks.
Coaching Staff
Joe Moorhead has a lot of pressure on him. He is following possibly the greatest coach in Mississippi State history, and the fans know just how talented this 2018 roster is. I think he is ready for it. He is a Pittsburgh-tough guy, and he has a lot of experience calling big-time plays in big-time games. Moorhead brought along Bob Shoop, another Pittsburgh guy, as his defensive coordinator. Shoop is a great recruiter and he understands the SEC after coaching at both Vanderbilt and Tennessee previously. I think Chad Morris at Arkansas might be the most underrated coaching hire, but Moorhead might be the most under-appreciated coaching hire.
Biggest Strength: Line of Scrimmage – The line of scrimmage is where you win or lose games in the SEC. Luckily for Mississippi State, the Bulldogs have probably one of the nation’s five best offensive line/defensive line combinations.
Biggest Weakness: Depth – This is what is going to lose them a few games. The starters for Mississippi State are really good, but besides the defensive line and the quarterback position, there is not a ton of proven, battle tested depth on this roster.
Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year
Offensive: Stephen Guidry (WR). He enrolled early and participated in Spring practice. He is big, extremely athletic, and catches a ton of balls. If Guidry receives for over 800 yards and over 8 touchdowns, this offense will be unbelievable.
Guidry will make a significant impact for the Bulldogs this year. Image from Daily Journal.
