State tailback Davon Booth feeling more comfortable entering second season in Bulldog backfield
It’s not always about how you start but more importantly, how you finish. Such was the case with Mississippi State running back Davon Booth last season.
The former Utah State transfer back didn’t arrive in Starkville until last June due to entering the spring transfer portal window. So it took Booth some time to get up to speed in the SEC but once he did, he became a consistent offensive weapon for the Bulldogs.
Booth ended the season with a team-best 759 rushing yards and five touchdowns while also hauling in 184 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns, which ranked second on the team. Booth was also a factor on special teams, averaging 25.7 yards on 12 kickoff returns a year ago.
Due to the recent NCAA ruling on former juco transfers, Booth opted to return to Mississippi State for another season and wants to take advantage of that opportunity:
Q: You seem to be slimmer and quicker than last year. Any changes in your weight?
Booth: I’m about the same. Coach Jaws (Jarwarski Beckum) and the speed training has been getting us right. So I’m looking a little faster.
Q: How much more comfortable are you with the offense this spring after not enrolling until last June?
Booth: It’s a big difference. Last year I came in the summer so I was kind of late. But now I started fresh in January with everybody else. So I don’t have to play catch up.
Q: What has spring ball been like for you this year?
Booth: It’s been very physical and my body is hurting. But it’s good. The defense is very physical and the offense is matching the physicality.
Q: Sometimes Xavier Gayten gets lost in the running backs’ talk. How is he progressing this spring?
Booth: From last season to now, it’s an amazing change in the way X has been playing. What we see from him, he looks totally different and he looks very smooth.
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Q: What do all of the running backs bring to the game?
Booth: Johnnie, Johnnie Daniels is just different and he can do a lot of things. Fluff (Bothwell) is very physical. Xavier is open field and really quick. Kolin (Wilson) is like Saquon Barkley and looks like Barry Sanders out there. So we all do different things.
Q: And Seth Davis is working his way back?
Booth: Oh yeah, Seth is really good. He’s been getting a lot of reps. Watching him play, he didn’t play last year so I didn’t see him before then. But people talk about the things he did (before the injury).
Q: How advanced do you see this offense becoming this next season?
Booth: We’re not at the peak yet but we are getting there day-by-day.
Q: What’s the comfort level with the offense this spring?
Booth: Yeah, for sure, we are getting very comfortable with the ins and outs and knowing what everybody is doing.
Q: What have you seen from KaMario Taylor?
Booth: He’s that guy. He’s going to be that guy when his turn is up, for sure. He’s looking good. He’s getting comfortable day-by-day, knowing the ins and outs of the offensive playbook, as well.
Q: How are the running backs meshing with the offensive line?
Booth: It’s all about having that connection. You got to know what they see and just read off the blocks.
