(Photo Credit: Matt Bush/USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Will Rogers, RB Dillon Johnson, RB Jo’quavious Marks, WR Malik Heath, WR/PR Austin Williams, OC Cole Smith, OG Kwatrivous Johnson, OT Charles Cross, DE Jaden Crumedy, LB Aaron Brule, LB Nathaniel Watson, LB Tyrus Wheat, CB Martin Emerson, CB Emmanuel Forbes, NB Shawn Preston, FS Collin Duncan, SS Londyn Craft, KR Lideatrick Griffin, PK Brandon Ruiz, and PT Tucker Day.
Key Players Departing:
WR Osirus Mirtchell, OG Greg Eiland, OG Dareuan Parker, DE Kobe Jones, DE Marquiss Spencer, LB Erroll Thompson, SS Marcus Murphy, and PT Reed Bowman.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: QB Sawyer Robertson (Lubbock, Texas), LB John Lewis (Madison, Mississippi), WR Theodore Knox (The Woodlands, Texas), WR Antonio Harmon (Kosciusko, Mississippi), RB Ke’Travion Hargrove (Ruston, Louisiana), and WR Jamire Calvin (Washington State transfer).
3 Star Recruits: DE Deonte Anderson (Ft. Meade, Florida), ATH Simeon Price (Pensacola, Florida), WR Jacobi Moore (Gulfport, Mississippi), and WR Rodarius Thomas (Eufaula, Alabama).
2020 Results:
G01 at #6 LSU W 44-34
G02 ARKANSAS L 14-21
G03 at Kentucky L 2-24
G04 #11 TEXAS A&M L 14-28
G05 at #2 Alabama L 0-41
G06 VANDERBILT W 24-17
G07 at #13 Georgia L 24-31
G08 at Ole Miss L 24-31
G09 AUBURN L 10-24
G10 MISSOURI W 51-32
BOWL vs. #24 Tulsa W 28-26
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 4-7 (7th in SEC West)
Home: 2-3
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 1-0
SEC: 3-7
Non-SEC: 1-0
Head Coach: Mike Leach
Mississippi State: 4-7
Career: 143-97
Bowls: 8-8
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Will Rogers (239-346, 1976 yards, 69.1 avg., 5.7 avg., 11 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Jo’quavious Marks (70 car., 312 yards, 4.5 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving: Jo’quavious Marks (60 rec., 268 yards, 4.5 avg., 0 TD)
TD’s Scored: Dillon Johnson (4)
Sacks: Tyrus Wheat (5)
Tackles: Aaron Brule (74)
Interceptions: Emmanuel Forbes (5)
Pass Deflections: Martin Emerson (11)
Tackles For Loss: Aaron Brule (8)
Forced Fumbles: Tyrus Wheat (2)
Kick Returns: Lideatrick Griffin (7 ret., 261 yards, 37.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Austin Williams (8 ret., 48 yards, 6.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Brandon Ruiz (10-12 fg/fga., 83%, 24-24 xp/xpa., 54 pts.)
Punting: Tucker Day (29 ret., 1244 yards, 42.9 avg., 6 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 2 Will Rogers (SO)
RB: 7 Jo’quavious Marks (SO)
WR: 4 Malik Heath (SR/TR)
WR: 10 Makai Polk (JR/TR)
WR: 6 Jamire Calvin (GR/TR)
WR: 85 Austin Williams (RS SR)
LT: 67 Charles Cross (RS SO)
LG: 58 Kameron Jones (RS JR)
OC: 63 LaQuinston Sharp (SR/TR)
RG: 69 Kwatrivous Johnson (RS JR)
RT: 78 Scott Lashley (GR/TR)
KR: 5 Lideatrick Griffin (SO)
PK: 8 Brandon Ruiz (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 5 Randy Charlton (RS JR/TR)
NT: 93 Cameron Young (RS JR)
DE: 94 Jaden Crumedy (RS JR)
LB: 2 Tyrus Wheat (SR/TR)
LB: 14 Nathaniel Watson (RS JR)
LB: 3 Aaron Brule (RS JR)
NB: 38 Fred Peters (SR/TR)
CB: 1 Martin Emerson (JR)
CB: 13 Emmanuel Forbes (SO)
FS: 19 Collin Duncan (JR)
SS: 00 Jalen Green (SR/TR)
PR: 85 Austin Williams (RS SR)
PT: 37 Tucker Day (RS SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/04 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | Mississippi State leads the series 11-3. The Bulldogs are 4-0 since 2011, and they won (45-3) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 NC STATE WOLFPACK | The series is tied 3-3. The Bulldogs won (51-28) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/18 at Memphis Tigers | Mississippi State leads the series 34-10. The Bulldogs won (59-14) the last meeting between schools in 2011.
09/25 LSU TIGERS | Mississippi State trails the series 38-73-3. The Bulldogs are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-36) was In 2019.
10/02 at Texas A&M Aggies | The series is tied 7-7. The Bulldogs are 4-5 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (28-13) was in 2018.
10/16 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE | Mississippi State trails the series 17-85-3. The Bulldogs are 0-10 since 2011, and their last series win (17-12) was in 2007.
10/23 at Vanderbilt Commodores | Mississippi State leads the series 14-7-2. Last season’s 24-17 win was the first meeting between schools since 2014.
10/30 KENTUCKY WILDCATS | Mississippi State leads the series 25-23. The Bulldogs are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (28-13) was in 2019.
11/06 at Arkansas Razorbacks | Mississippi State trails the series 13-17-1. The Bulldogs are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (54-24) was in 2019.
11/13 at Auburn Tigers | Mississippi State trails the series 29-62-3. The Bulldogs are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (23-9) was in 2018.
11/20 TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS | First meeting between schools.
11/25 OLE MISS REBELS | Mississippi State trails the series 48-63-6. The Bulldogs are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (21-20) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (6th in SEC West)
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