58 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
MISSISSIPPI STATE Starkville, MS
HEAD COACH: Zach Arnett OC: Kevin Barbay DC: Matt Brock
2022 RECORD: 9-4 (4-4) FOUNDED: 1878 STADIUM: Davis-Wade (61,337)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
There is no doubt that Mississippi State and the entire college football world will miss Mike Leach. As an individual and coach, he was truly remarkable. Now the Bulldogs must carry on his legacy. Enter offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay to try to pick up where Leach left off last season. Most of the offense returns, beginning with triggerman Will Rogers. Over three seasons, Rogers has completed 70.7 percent of his throws for 10,689 yards and 82 touchdowns. Lideatrick Griffin and Rufus Harvey will continue to be primary targets, but expect this edition of the Air Raid to throw down field much more. That’s where Justin Robinson and Jaden Walley come in. Another change will be the use of tight ends. Geor’quarius Spivey, Ryland Goede and Seydou Traore will all rotate in the offense. The offensive line is a group of experienced seniors led by Kameron Jones.
Once again, the front six should be strong for the Bulldogs, but there are some huge losses in the secondary. Mississippi State coaches don’t ask the linemen to worry about getting in the backfield as much as primarily holding the line of scrimmage. Nathan Pickering, Jaden Crumedy, De’Monte Russell and Jordan Davis understand that well and know how to build a wall. Most of the tackles and pressure come from the linebackers. Nathaniel Watson, who has been in Starkville for 10 seasons it seems, is incredibly productive behind the line and sideline to sideline. Jett Johnson is a similar player and tallied two more tackles than Watson last season. Decamerion Richardson is the lone returnee in the secondary, and he is quite a playmaker. But the unforgiving September schedule is no time to be breaking in inexperienced defensive backs.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO PLAYER POS HT WT CLASS 2 Will Rogers QB 6-2 215 SR 7 Jo’Quavious Marks RB 5-10 210 SR 5 Lideatrick Griffin WR 5-10 185 SR 3 Justin Robinson WR 6-4 220 JR 11 Jaden Walley WR 6-0 190 SR 8 Geor’quarius Spivey TE 6-5 240 SR 75 Percy Lewis LT 6-8 345 SR 66 Nick Jones LG 6-3 300 SR 57 Cole Smith C 6-3 310 SR 64 Steven Losoya III RG 6-4 320 SR 58 Kameron Jones RT 6-5 315 SR 14 Mike Wright QB 6-4 195 SR 22 Simeon Price RB 6-0 215 SO 82 Rufus Harvey WR 5-10 165 JR 18 Jordan Mosley WR 6-0 190 SO 1 Zavion Thomas WR 5-11 190 SO 88 Ryland Goede TE 6-6 260 SR 69 Kwatrivous Johnson LT 6-7 325 SR 52 Grant Jackson LG 6-6 325 JR 72 Canon Boone C 6-4 310 SO 79 Jakson LaHue RG 6-5 310 FR 76 Albert Reese IV RT 6-7 320 SO
NO PLAYER POS HT WT CLASS 9 De’Monte Russell DE 6-4 280 SR 22 Nathan Pickering DT 6-4 305 SR 94 Jaden Crumedy DE 6-5 305 SR 37 John Lewis LB 6-3 240 SO 14 Nathaniel Watson LB 6-2 240 SR 44 Jett Johnson LB 6-2 235 SR 3 Decamerion Richardson CB 6-2 190 SR 2 Esaias Furdge CB 6-0 180 SR 1 Marcus Banks S 6-0 190 SR 10 Corey Ellington S 6-3 200 JR 12 Shawn Preston Jr. S 6-0 205 SR 6 Jordan Davis DE 6-4 270 SR 35 Kalvin Dinkins DT 6-2 305 FR 91 Deonte Anderson DE 6-3 260 SO 26 J.P. Purvis LB 6-1 250 SR 40 Nic Mitchell LB 6-2 235 SO 0 DeShawn Page LB 6-2 235 SR 4 DeCarlos Nicholson CB 6-3 190 SR 21 Hunter Washington CB 5-11 190 SO 27 Chris Keys S 6-0 190 JR 17 Jordan Morant S 6-0 210 JR 15 Ja’Kobi Albert S 5-11 180 SO
82 83
SPECIAL TEAMS
Nick Barr-Mira Keelan Crimmins
K P
6-0 6-3
185 220
SR FR
2023 SCHEDULE S.2 .......................SE Louisiana
O.21 .................... at Arkansas
S.9 ................................Arizona
O.28 ....................... at Auburn
S.16 .....................................LSU
N.4 ............................Kentucky
S.23...........at South Carolina
N.11 .................at Texas A&M
S.30 .......................... Alabama
N.18 ...............Southern Miss
O.7 ..........Western Michigan
N.23 ...........................Ole Miss
5 1
SPECIAL TEAMS
Lideatrick Griffin Zavion Thomas
KR PR
5-10 5-11
185 190
SR SO
NEWCOMERS Creed Whittemore, WR — The freshman played quarterback in high school, so his first experience at receiver was in spring practice where he impressed coaches with his quick study. Geor’Quarius Spivey, TE — Spivey returns to Mississippi State after suiting up for the Bulldogs in 1019-20 before spending the last two seasons at TCU. The tight end will be a large part of the passing game. He had 11 catches last season including one in the national championship game. Ryland Goede, TE — The tight end brings experience of a national champion at Georgia last season.
