WATCH: Assistant Mike Schmidt talks freshman Malik Ellis, Texas A&M and transfer Seydou Traore

In his first season as Mississippi State’s tight ends coach, Mike Schmidt was dealt a difficult hand. Before the season even started, the Bulldogs learned that former TCU transfer Geor]quarius Spivey would not be eligible for the 2023 season. Over the past couple of months, Schmidt and his group have worked through inexperience and the younger guys in his room have made progress.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Schmidt met with the local media to discuss his group along with Saturday’s visit to Texas A&M:

Q: How do you feel like practice has been this week?
Schmidt: It’s been good. The guys have bounced back with good energy. We got a lot of excitement running around out there. Watching (Texas) A&M, first couple of thoughts are talented, athletic, quick and they do a great job running to the football.

Q: Texas A&M has one of the biggest defensive fronts in the SEC. Kentucky had one, too, so is there any carry over from last week with that?
Schmidt: There will be some. They play an open front similar to Kentucky. They will mix in a little four-down stuff. At this time of the year we’ve seen those fronts from a targeting perspective. It is going to be about fundamentals, execution, our intent on contact and how we can sustain blocks in order to create in the run game.

Q: Freshman Malik Ellis had to play tight end this year but is expected to be an offensive lineman in the future. How has this year’s experience helped him with that future?
Schmidt: I think from a physical and maturity standpoint it is really helping him out. With offensive linemen and coaching the position for so long, the biggest jump you see is the first time they are out there on Saturday afternoon to that next year. If you are sitting on the sideline your first year, your second year, you never know what it feels like. But you get instant feedback when you are out there on the field from a physical understanding, from understanding the work you got to put in the offseason in order for your body to mature so you are ready for that next fall.

Q: How was that conversation when y’all first approached Malik about playing tight end?
Schmidt: It was no big deal. He came in in the spring and saw an opportunity and kind of put his best foot forward. We just keep adapting to his strengths, and really trying to spell the other guys in that room with the lack of depth.

Q: When you are breaking down your room and roster of tight ends, how much goes into who plays on the line or split out?
Schmidt: I think that is the No. 1 thing we try to do. The downside to it is you do create certain tendencies and you got to go in and try to break them week in and week out. But finding stuff, that is one advantage we have as an offense. We control the personnel. We control those matchups and try to put those on the field. So we are trying to get those guys in the right situations that they can have success in. That is really what we are looking to do.

Q: How is transfer Seydou Traore progressing on the scout team while he sits out this year?
Schmidt: He’s got the skills set that you want from that flex position. He’s shown a lot of good things. He’s done some receiver stuff to help out scout numbers and all that. But we do see him as an inside receiver, flex H, flex Y. He is the guy that we thought he was. Real athletic, can go up and get the ball. Does some good things, run after catch and all that. We got to continue to build some toughness in him around the box for him to play at this level. But he is as advertised from a skills set perspective.

Q: How do you feel your guys have handled the depth chart and changes this season?
Schmidt: I think they’ve stepped in and put their best foot forward. I talked about the tight ends position and getting the right guy doing the right thing. The hit we took with (Geor’quarius) Spivey, Spivey was a guy that could do everything for us early in the year and then losing him late in camp. We are having to adapt to that and it has been the biggest challenge. But for the most part, I think these guys see an opportunity to play SEC football and get out there on a Saturday. They’ve answered the call and that is all you can ask.

Q: Your thoughts on Texas A&M’s defense and front?
Schmidt: Yeah they do a good job. They come from all over the place. Not only are they talented, they don’t just sit in front of you. There’s going to be some movement that we are going to have to deal with. There’s going to be some late rotations we have to be able to understand. We have to make sure the plan protects itself.