SEC Kickoff Preview: Mississippi State

Thanks to our good friends at Kroger, the KSR crew is in Nashville covering SEC Media Days in the most in-depth and, at times, ridiculous manner possible. Kroger is your hometown, community spot for all your shopping needs. Kroger is proud to support local schools through Kroger Community Rewards. This includes up to 3.5 million in quarterly gifts to the non-profit of your choice. Sign up using your Kroger loyalty card at Kroger.com/communityrewards.

I am a documented Starkville aficionado and respect the Bulldog football program. Additionally, I loved the Pirate, may he rest in sweet peace. 2023 could be an emotional season for Mississippi State. It could also be a transition year with a new head coach. 

Former MSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett takes over for Mike Leach following his untimely and tragic passing. The Bulldogs finished the 2022 season with a 9-4 record. Last season’s success was driven by top-level quarterback play from Will Rogers. The signal-caller has thrown for over 10,000 career yards and 82 touchdowns. MSU is traditionally physical up front and features a defense that likes to attack and play bully ball. Things have changed in Starkville at the top, but all indications are that players, coaches, and administrators are determined to honor the program’s past as well as Mike Leach’s legacy. Let’s get into it. 

OFFENSE

Offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay comes to Starkville after one season of calling plays at Appalachian State. He was at Central Michigan for three years prior to his move to Boone, North Carolina. It appears that MSU will no longer deploy an Air Raid system in order to become more of a balanced scheme that runs the football with more frequency. Play-action passing will also be a focus. 

Early transition pains may occur, but coaches would like for the veteran two-deep to quickly adapt. Quarterback Will Rogers is one of the best in the SEC and has played a great deal of college football. He’ll be playing behind a veteran offensive line led by tackle Kameron Jones. 

RB Jo’quavious Marks has registered 191 career receptions. That number ranks second in school history. Marks could see an increase in run-game production due to scheme change. The old saying stands tall with the RB, “There’s no ability like availability.” The experienced back has started 23 games while only missing one contest in his career. 

Best Offensive Player: Quarterback Will Rogers

Will Rogers could be a better quarterback in 2023 than he was in 2022 but his numbers may not reflect positional growth due to scheme change. The 6’2, 210-pound senior was a finalist for national awards last season after throwing for 3,974 yards and 35 touchdowns. New coordinator Kevin Barbay is likely shifting from the Air Raid to a more conventional attack that can be seen at Appalachia State, Missouri, and Cincinnati. 

Rogers is considered to be an NFL prospect. He’s started 32 career games, totaled 10,689 passing yards, and thrown 82 career touchdown passes. He’ll be counted on to lead the Bulldog’s new attack and to be a steady leader during the transition. 

Most Important Offensive Player: Offensive Tackle Kameron Jones 

Jones sets the tone for the offensive front and is the Bulldogs’ most NFL-ready lineman. The 6’5, 325-graduate student has started over 30 games and has been a key piece to MSU’s offensive success that’s rolled up huge numbers over the years. Again, much like Rogers, the Dogs need stability during the transition. A steady, mature force like Jones makes him invaluable for Zach Arnett. 

DEFENSE

Matt Brock was elevated from linebacker’s coach to defensive coordinator. Brock called the plays against Illinois in the bowl game and limited the opponent to just 22 rushing yards. That marked the first time that Illinois had been held under 100 yards in the season. 

The MSU defense is experienced and should seamlessly transition to a new play caller that will maintain the current scheme. It also boasts the SEC’s top two returning tacklers in linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson. The duo combined for 228 tackles in 2022. State was a Top-5 SEC defense in 2022 and has several returning players. This will bode well for Brock in year one.

Best Defensive Player: Linebacker Jett Johnson

Johnson led the SEC with 115 tackles in 2022. He also registered 8.5 tackles for loss, 2 QB sacks, 2 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries, and 2 fumble recoveries a year ago. The graduate student from Tupelo has started 19 games in Starkville. Johnson’s LB running mate Nathaniel Watson finished last season with 114 tackles which gave the Dogs the number one and number two tacklers in the league. Zach Arnett will need Jett Johnson to be a consistent leader in a transition season. 

Most Important Defensive Player: Defensive Tackle Jayden Crumedy 

Jayden Crumedy certainly has Stetson Bennett IV vibes. It seems like the 6’5, 315-pound defensive tackle has been in Starkville for well over a decade. Crumedy will be entering his sixth year of college football in 2023. In fact, Crumedy has played in 41 career games including 35 starts. The MSU is known for its attacking, physical demeanor. That all starts up front whose leader is Jayden Crumedy. 

Schedule Preview

Mississippi State’s schedule is strange. This especially applies to non-conference contests. The Dogs open with S.E. Louisiana before flying across the country to face Arizona on the following Saturday. Western Carolina follows later in the year. In-state foe Southern Miss goes to Starkville on November 18. 

MSU gets LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, and Ole Miss at home. That has to be considered as a positive. League road trips to South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, and Texas A&M could be somewhat manageable. 

2023 PREDICTION: SEC West, 6th

What Does All This Mean?

First and foremost, rest in sweet peace, Coach Leach. Respect. 

I still can’t believe we lost the Pirate. I will miss him on the sideline and in front of the camera. I was an enormous Leach fan at all of his stops along the way: Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State. 

I had an enormous amount of respect for Zach Arnett the defensive coordinator. Can he experience the same amount of success as a head coach that he did as a defensive play caller? We’ll see. Arnett is in a tough spot for a first-year head coach. Replacing a legend is never easy. It seems as if Arnett is keeping most of Leach’s sayings and traditions. 

Just like most seasons, MSU is talented and tough. The Dogs play defense as it was intended and adapt an offense to fit personnel.  I’ve had a great deal of respect for that program for many years. 2023’s schedule sets up nicely. Success could hinge on an unusual road trip to a rising Arizona team. 

I give State and Arnett a pass in 2023. I can’t imagine what the Bulldog family went through when Coach Leach passed and the emotions that will accompany this season. I’ll be pulling for them in 11 games this fall.