Mississippi State Bulldogs Preview 2022: Offense
You know what you’re going to get. The offense is going to throw the ball a bazillion times with short-to-midrange passes, there won’t be any real running game, and the attack will control the clock for what seems like the entire game.
The Bulldogs led the SEC in time of possession, the passing game was fourth in the nation in total yards, it was dead last in college football in yards per completion, and the offense was dead last in college football in rushing.
With eight starters expected to be back and the parts built up over the last few seasons, look out.
Will Rogers took the offense up a few notches in his second year at quarterback, and now he has the upside to be even more efficient. Yes he threw for a record 4,739 yards with 36 touchdowns, yes he carried the offense, and yes he connected on 74% of his throws.
Now he has to push the ball down the field more and the quick passes have to lead to more big plays. He’s going to be terrific, and he has enough good targets back to keep it all going.
104-catch Makai Polk is off to the Baltimore Ravens, and Malik Heath left for Ole Miss, but Jaden Walley is an NFL-caliber receiver who finished second on the team with 628 yards on 55 catches with six scores. Austin Williams is a big 6-3, 200-pound target, and there are more than enough veterans returning to get a nice rotation rolling.
No, Mississippi State doesn’t run the ball, but the backs are effective. Leading rusher Dillon Johnson Is back after rushing for just 485 yards and four scores, and Jo’quavious Marks ran for 416 yards and six touchdowns. However, Marks caught 83 passes and three scores, and Johnson caught 65 passes.
The offensive line loses star OT Charles Cross and also loses right tackle Scott Lashley. However, the interior is good, LaQuinston Sharp is a solid veteran center, and the rest of the parts are good enough to give Rogers and company time to work. Landing JUCO star Percy Lewis to battle at one tackle spot helps, too.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Preview 2022: Defense
The offense gets all of the headlines and attention, but the defense is strong enough to be even better after allowing just 345 yards per game.
There wasn’t enough of a pass rush, and the pass D was just okay, but the defensive front was good, there’s a whole lot of potential NFL talent across the board, and the transfer portal has helped build things up in the secondary.
The defensive front might need to do more to get behind the line, but there’s a whole lot of talent and the run D should be every bit as good as the one that held up against everyone but Alabama and Arkansas – at least before that weird bowl loss to Texas Tech.
Nathan Pickering is a strong all-around veteran on the nose, and now it’s up to Randy Charlton and the end rotation to be more disruptive.
It was a big loss when veteran playmaker Aaron Brule took off for Michigan State, but the linebacking corps gets back the team’s top two tacklers, Jett Johnson on the outside and Nathaniel Watson inside.
Emmanuel Forbes hasn’t been always perfect, but he made a slew of huge plays over the last two years at one corner spot. On the way are Marcus Banks from Alabama and DeCarlos Nicholson from the JUCO ranks to push for time on the outside.
West Virginia transfer Marcus Banks is coming in at safety, but he’ll have to fight for time. Jalen Green and Collin Duncan will once again make a whole lot of tackles in the middle of the secondary.
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