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Mississippi State Spring Football Game 2017: 5 things to watch for

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs players celebrate with the Egg Bowl trophy after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs players celebrate with the Egg Bowl trophy after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Donald Gray (6) catches a pass for a touchdown against Samford Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Donald Gray (6) catches a pass for a touchdown against Samford Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Building depth at wide receiver

The defense has an uphill battle ahead of it, but 2016 proved that Mississippi State can win in a shootout. The rushing attack is in good hands with Nick Fitzgerald and Aeris Williams, but for the passing game to take the next step, the Bulldogs must find more playmakers at receiver and build depth at the position.

Fred Ross led MSU in receiving in both 2016 and 2017, and left Starkville as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (199) and receiving yards (2,528). That leaves Donald Gray as the top returning pass catcher. Gray had 41 receptions for 709 yards and five touchdowns, ranking second in each category, but his 17.3-yard average led the team, and his 74-yard touchdown catch against Samford was the longest of the year for the Bulldogs.

Malik Dear is a uniquely talented 5-foot-9, 220-pound receiver that caught 23 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns and added 124 rushing yards, including a 45-yard touchdown. Keith Mixon, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound sophomore, caught 19 passes for 228 yards and two scores and also gained more than 100 yards on the ground. Senior Gabe Myles caught eight passes for 63 yards.

Sophomores Jamal Couch and Deddrick Thomas and redshirt freshmen Osirus Mitchell and Reggie Todd are all likely to see playing time in 2017. Couch earned 113 receiving yards on eight receptions last season while Thomas gained 44 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Couch, Mitchell and Todd are all listed at 6-foot-4, which would give Fitzgerald a few big targets to choose from – a necessity given the lack of size among the veterans.

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