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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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Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; A general view of Davis Wade Stadium during the Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide game. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; A general view of Davis Wade Stadium during the Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide game. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

New faces in new places

There will be many new faces in new places in 2017 for the Bulldogs. Grantham, a newcomer himself, must completely rebuild the defensive line, which lost four starters and five contributors from last year’s unit. SEC All-Freshman defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is expected to step up, as is Marquiss Spencer who is the only returnee on the D-Line that recorded a sack in 2016.

To help, Mississippi State signed nine junior college transfers as part of the 2017 recruiting class. Expect JUCO transfers Chauncey Rivers and Montez Sweat to compete for a starting spot defensive end, while defensive tackles Deion Pope and Lee Autry are likely to find playing time in the fall. Former Georgia defensive back Johnathan Abram should make an early impact as well.

The offensive line has also looked much different this spring. Starters Justin Senior and Devon Desper, Jamaal Clayborn and backup Jocquell Johnson all graduated. Elgton Jenkins and Deion Calhoun, both projected starters, are out with injuries this spring, opening opportunities for younger players to show what they can do. Martinas Rankin, who played tackle last year, has moved to center to replace Clayborn.

Next: Top 10 college football QBs this spring

Among the high school signees that signed with the Bulldogs in 2017, linebacker Willie Gay is likely to make the biggest immediate impact. Gay, a Starkville native, spurned offers from SEC heavyweights Alabama, Georgia and LSU to sign with his hometown school.

However, Gay won’t be on campus until the summer. The same goes for running back Kylin Hill, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound four-star signee that will likely enter the running back rotation early in the season.

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