STARKVILLE — In Dan Mullen’s seven seasons leading the Mississippi State football program, 30 Bulldogs have played as freshmen.
Some have played because of a lack of depth, while others have played because of their talent.
The ability of Mullen and his coaching staff to develop talent has helped raise the profile of the program and pushed it to the fastest ascent from unranked to No. 1 in college football history, the winningest two-year stretch at the school, and a school-record six-straight bowl appearances.
Mullen hopes the knack for finding and nurturing talent will pay off this season, as the Bulldogs have depth at almost every position. With a talented freshmen class joining the program for the 2016 campaign, how many of those players will play?
“There’s opportunity for them,” Mullen said. “Like with any freshman, it’s how fast they can learn and adjust. Size or not, if they don’t know the plays and if they don’t have the technique, they’re not going to be there.”
Last season, four freshmen earned playing time. Safeties Jamal Peters and Mark McLaurin played in part because of a lack of depth. Justin Johnson was moved from wide receiver to tight end and saw action because of depth issues. Wide receiver Malik Dear, who went through spring drills, often was used because of his athleticism.
Dear, who had 22 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns and 110 yards rushing and one touchdown, said the key to him playing was retaining and building on the information he learned every day.
“Coach always talks about straining,” Dear said. “It’s tough coming from high school to college and learning how to do that, that extra straining. Those guys just have to learn how to strain and give it all they’ve got on every play and everything that they do.”
The Bulldogs lost two starters (Fred Brown and De’Runnya Wilson) and another letterman (Joe Morrow) at wide receiver. Senior Fred Ross returns as a starter. Along with Ross and Dear, MSU returns junior lettermen Donald Gray and Gabe Myles and sophomore Jesse Jackson. The Bulldogs also add redshirt freshmen Keith Mixon, Jonnas Spivey, and Deddrick Thomas.
Even with some skilled and experienced upperclassmen, three freshmen wide receivers could find their way onto the field. Phenix City, Alabama, native Jamal Couch has stood out. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Couch has the size to play right away.
“He’s picked up the offense pretty quick, so that’s been a pretty big surprise to me,” MSU co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. “He’s a big, strong kid. But he still needs to learn to play big and strong. He is a guy that’s got great athletic ability that still needs to learn how to play strong.”
Gonzales would feel better if Wilson had returned and Brown, who was dismissed from the university, was still in school. Their absence could force the three freshmen to play.
Osirus Mitchell and Reginald Todd were late additions to the singing class. They signed in the summer and didn’t arrive until June.
“They’re trying to play catch up learning the system,” Gonzales said. “You’ve got to be able to know your formations and be able to pick everything up fast. They really don’t know how to work hard yet, but they see it when they watch film and they realize it. Each day, they’ve gotten a little bit better.
“The biggest thing is just teaching young kids how to play fast. They’ve got to learn it, but the energy and the effort level. That’s something that’s got to be there.”
Other than getting repetitions in practice, Gonzales said the biggest teaching tool is breaking down those reps on film.
MSU’s signing class was highlighted by former Noxubee County High School standout Jeffery Simmons. As a senior, the 6-4, 310-pound defensive lineman led the Tigers with 20 1/2 tackles for loss, 18 1/2 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, three blocked field goals, and two blocked punts. He led the Tigers to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State championship.
Simmons ran into trouble in the offseason after a video surfaced of him striking a woman. He pled no contest to simple assault and was found guilty of malicious mischief — both misdemeanors. Simmons is suspended for his first career game, whenever that happens to be. First-year defensive line coach Brian Baker said Simmons has shown a high maturity level and has put his troubles in the past.
“He’s been able to grind. You talk about a competitive and intense kid,” Baker said.
Simmons wasn’t the only defensive lineman signed. The Bulldogs picked up former Starkville High standout Kobe Jones and Greenwood native Marquiss Spencer.
MSU lost starters Ryan Brown and Chris Jones from its 2015 defense. The Bulldogs return seniors A.J. Jefferson and Nick James as starters. Including Jefferson and James, MSU returns seven lettermen (senior Nelson Adams, senior Johnathan Calvin, senior Will Coleman, senior Torrey Dale, and sophomore Cory Thomas). Redshirt freshmen Fletcher Adams, Kendell Jones, and Anfernee Mullins will be in the rotation.
Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said the coaches are preparing Simmons, Jones, and Spencer to play.
“We will make decisions on who is prepared, who is taking the appropriate steps of development, and who is really producing,” Sirmon said. “We will not play guys who are not ready, but if guys can contribute and have the mental disposition (they will play).”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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