State safeties looking to prove a point in new season

For many, Mississippi State’s lack of experience in the secondary looks like a major concern for the Bulldogs this season.

If one were to take the optimistic approach, it’s more of an opportunity for the players that have been waiting their turn. The Bulldog safety group has especially drawn some positive reviews in spring and training camp, and that’s a unit that will have to be good for State to have success on that side of the ball.

When the Bulldogs hit the field on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky, they will be doing so with two new starters in Isaac Smith and Brylan Lanier. A third, Hunter Washington, started in four games and played in just five a year ago.

Despite there being some new bodies on the field, the group has been prepped for this over the last few months. Now they’re just ready to play another team.

“Everybody is fired up, especially because we get to hit somebody else,” Washington said of the defense. “Everybody is moving fast and executing so that’s great. The communication has gotten better since the first day of fall camp, so everybody is starting to understand the defense and the scheme.”

Trio of starters have the ability to be dynamic

Though the three haven’t played much football together, all of them have been highly touted at some point.

Lanier enters the season playing the STAR for the Bulldogs and has turned some heads since transferring in from East Mississippi Community College. Lanier began his career at Alabama but transferred to Indiana. Last year he was a star on the eventual runners up for the national champions in the Lions.

Smith was a former four-star recruit out of Itawamba AHS and a major win in the recruiting class of 2023 for the Bulldogs. Smith was one of the best athletes in the country and turned down the LSU Tigers to play for State, but he had some lumps he had to take as a freshman last year.

Playing in 12 games, Smith had 15 tackles as a true freshman and admittedly had some learning experiences. It was an eye-opening experience to play in the SEC in year one and made him a better player because of it. Since the spring, he’s been one of the most consistent defensive backs on the field for the Bulldogs.

“Not all things are going to go your way. Even if you have a minor setback, don’t let it determine how you work and how well you prepare yourself for the next game,” Smith said of his first year. “Being behind Shawn Preston helped a lot, seeing him play hard, play fast all the time. It was just a blessing to be behind someone like that and now competing for a starting spot this year.”

The depth behind Smith at the field safety did take a hit a couple of weeks ago when the most seasoned safety went down in Corey Ellington. Dealing with an unspecified injury, Ellington is confirmed out for the season opener and sources believe that injury will keep him out for several weeks.

EMCC transfer Tyler Woodard will be getting the reps in Ellington’s place.

Eastern Kentucky plans to challenge State secondary

At the Nickel position, Washington is looking forward to a healthy year and his best season yet. The Florida State transfer is in year three with the Bulldogs and has flashed some good things. He’ll be challenged in the passing game right away this week  with 6’4 Western Illinois transfer Matt Morrissey.

“They’ve got a new quarterback from a different school that likes to throw it,” Washington said of EKU. “We’ve just got to stick to our scheme and go out there and play.”

Saturday night at 5 p.m. is the first step in the secondary and the entire Bulldog defense to prove that they’re better than most people expect them to be.

For Smith, he’s been waiting for this moment to perform on the big stage. He’s taken what he’s learned over the course of over 12 months and he’s springing it into action in front of the cowbell-clanging Bulldog faithful this week.

“For the most part, I’ve got a bigger chip on my shoulder. I feel like I am having to work a lot harder to prove to myself and to other people that I can fill the shoes of what we had last year and be better than what we had last year,” Smith said. “I’ve held myself to the mindset of working hard and grinding to prove to everybody that I can do this.”