STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team didn”t waste any time trying to get its playmakers experience in the passing game last year against the University of Memphis.
With only one upperclassmen at that position on the roster one year ago, some would argue the Bulldogs didn”t have much of a choice.
Five of MSU”s first six completions, including two for touchdowns, went to different players. With nearly every receiver returning from last season except for Leon Berry, MSU will attempt to share the wealth again when it opens the season at 7 tonight at Memphis. SportSouth will broadcast the game live.
“We got a lot of guys that can make plays, and none of them are selfish because if we spread the ball around it benefits everybody,” wide receiver Chad Bumphis said.
Bumphis (44 catches, 634 yards, five touchdowns) led the Bulldogs in yards and catches for the second straight season, which is why MSU coach Dan Mullen hopes Bumphis will have a breakout season this year. The Tupelo native said Monday he watched film of himself all summer and saw he needed to run cleaner routes and not rely only on his athletic ability.
Bumphis also missed the second half of the rivalry Egg Bowl game at
Ole Miss and the 2011 Gator Bowl victory against the University of Michigan due to a broken clavicle.
“Chad”s a guy I feel comfortable being all over the field,” Mullen said. “One of the hard things for Chad is he had to start as a freshman and didn”t have that upperclassmen to learn from in terms of development.”
The common thought is Bumphis, a 5-foot-10 junior, will need help to lure defensive coverage away from him. Fans saw that potential talent in the victory against Michigan on New Year”s Day. Quarterback Chris Relf completed passes to seven receivers, three for scores, on his way to being named the game”s MVP.
“I think I got a lot more weapons this season, and it makes it easier for me to have all that talent around me getting better as I get better every day,” Relf said earlier this month.
Not only does Bumphis return from an injury, but senior tight end Marcus Green also returns after season-ending knee surgery three weeks into the 2010 campaign.
“Marcus Green is a great player,” Bumphis said. “People have to account for him, but the thing we want to do is make you have to account for everybody.”
Green”s return as a safety blanket receiver for Relf likely will force defenses to account for the 240-pounder with a safety in coverage over the middle. Green had 27 catches for 306 yards in 2009. He said earlier in camp he”d be “100 percent ready to go” for tonight”s game.
Junior wideout Arceto Clark, who scored the first touchdown against Michigan, continues to get rave reviews from teammates.
“(Clark is) probably the best pure wide receiver on the team (and) a
good route runner,” Bumphis said. “I think Arceto pretty much has made the biggest difference.”
Clark, a 5-10 flanker, had 25 catches for 362 yards last season. He showed consistency by having multiple receptions in 10 of the Bulldogs” 13 games.
“He”s a small guy but he likes to compete, and he”s super fast, so we know in practice we know we have to lock in on Arceto,” MSU junior cornerback Johnthan Banks said. “He”s a challenge for any defense to hold back, including ours every day, and we know what he”s doing.”
After having three catches for 65 yards in the Gator Bowl, sophomore Michael Carr will be asked to get more involved in the offense. Carr, a former athlete of the year selection by The Dispatch out of West Point High School, went the first two months of the 2010 season without a reception. He was showcased on some deep routes early in the preseason camp, and was a top target with the second-string receivers.
The only injury concern at the position is sophomore Ricco Sanders, who is “doubtful” with an unknown condition.
Mullen reiterated Wednesday in his Southeastern Conference media teleconference that Relf”s understanding of the offense should lead to higher numbers for everybody.
“A year ago this time we were going to try to keep things as simple for him to build his confidence,” Mullen said. “Right now I”m comfortable with him doing everything. Now there”s a lot more freedom to make a lot more in-game adjustments.”
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