WATCH: Mississippi State defensive back Brylan Lanier comfortable in new surroundings
Playing Power 5 football is nothing new for Brylan Lanier. But the Mississippi State junior defensive back is experiencing new scenery this spring in Starkville. Lanier made previous Power 5 stops at Alabama and Indiana before spending this past season at East Mississippi Community College.
Lanier enrolled at Mississippi State in January and is now looking to make his mark in the Bulldogs’ secondary. Earlier this week Lanier talked with the media about his first spring with the Bulldogs among other topics:
Q: How’s the spring been for you so far?
Lanier: It’s been great. The coaches, I have a really good relationship with Coach (Matt) Barnes. Coach (Jebb) Lebby has been great and Coach (Coleman) Hutzler brings a lot of experience to the program, different formations and difference defenses. It’s been a great experience so far.
Q: What are your impressions of Coach Hutzler as a defensive coordinator?
Lanier: I was actually with him at Alabama. His energy, he is the same person every day. He’s got great energy. He brings great experience to this program and it’s been great with him.
Q: What’s your impression of the defense so far?
Lanier: I think we are going to be a defense that scores the ball. We are going to bring the energy. We are going to get the ball out. Coach Hutzler preaches that, get the ball out every day. We’ve got a lot of different formations, just to mess up the QB’s eyes. I think we are going to be an aggressive defense this year.
Q: What position do they have you working at?
Lanier: Nickel.
Q: How’s that adjustment going to nickel?
Lanier: That’s been great. I came from corner at Bama and Indiana but at Scooba (East Mississippi) I played a little nickel. So it’s been a great adjustment. Still trying to get adjusted to it from learning more.
Q: People have talked about this defense having to replace a lot of guys, especially in the secondary. But the safeties room still appears to have a lot of talent. Your thoughts?
Lanier: I think we’ve got a great group. Everybody can play with the 1s. Everybody can play different positions and Coach Hutzler preaches that. We are all trying to learn the different positions and we can all play with the 1s.
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Q: You also have former East Mississippi teammates here with you with Tyler Woodard, Marcus Ross and Ashun Shepphard. How easier has the transition been for you having already played with those guys?
Lanier: That was a big reason why I came here. Just being confident and it made me comfortable being with people I was with at the juco level. When you are all at a juco, it is small and everybody knows each other. So you are bringing that bond and that experience and that relationship to get adjusted.
Q: A lot of people talk about the improved offensive production this year with Lebby. You sound confident the defense can score points, too.
Lanier: We are definitely going to get some points. Coach Hutzler preaches the ball out. Today I think we had two pick sixes and a couple of fumbles. That’s an every-day thing.
Q: How have the scrimmages gone so far?
Lanier: They are going good. The defense has been ballin’. Coach Hutzler is calling some aggressive calls. We are getting the ball out, getting stops, getting big stops. I feel like it’s going to be a great season.
Q: Your thoughts on the receivers on this team?
Lanier: I ain’t gonna lie to you. It’s a great group of receivers. Me seeing a great group of receivers at Bama to seeing some great receivers coming here, it’s the same type of mentality they got. Same mentality as dogs, they compete. So that is making me better and making a lot of defensive backs better, too.
