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Only seven starters return for Mississippi State as it tries to build off of last year’s 10-win season.
But some of those players are among the SEC’s best at their respective positions, including Dak Prescott, who many predict to be the conference’s top quarterback .
Prescott won’t be able to do it all by himself against a stacked West Division. He will need a few teammates on both sides of the ball to step up as playmakers.
Luckily for those in Starkville, Dan Mullen and his staff retain plenty of talent. How the team utilizes that talent will determine if the Bulldogs can replicate last year’s historic run.
SDS ranked Mississippi State’s 10 best players:
10. Fred Ross, WR
Ross could be the offense’s breakout player for the Bulldogs. A versatile wideout that can line up in the slot or on the outside, Ross has made the most of his opportunities so far at Mississippi State, averaging 15.5 yards per catch. In 24 career games, including one start, Ross has 39 receptions for 604 yards and five touchdowns. The Texas native has the speed to stretch the field and also possesses solid size with a frame of 6-foot-2, 207 pounds. He should be a nice complement to De’Runnya Wilson and another reliable target for Prescott.
9. Ashton Shumpert, RB
Shumpert might not have backfield responsibilities all to himself in 2015, but he is expected to receive the bulk of the workload in part because he has the body type to withstand it. At 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, Shumpert does an excellent job of keeping his feet moving and creating yards after first contact. The challenge for playing time from two redshirt freshmen — Dontavian Lee and Aeris Williams — might even help light a fire under Shumpert that will propel him to greater heights than most expect. He’s even proven to be a reliable receiving threat out of the backfield. If he can pass block with consistency, Shumpert could have a bright future at the next level.
8. Jamal Peters, S
A true freshman, Peters makes this list on potential. A linebacker in high school, Peters is expected to play safety for the Bulldogs. His arrival couldn’t come at a better time with both of last year’s starting safeties having graduated and senior Kendrick Market suffering an Achilles tear that will keep him out for most of this season. Peters is a solid 6-foot-2, 206 pounds and is said to still be growing, which keeps in play a switch back to linebacker. For now, the freshman gets a chance to make an immediate impact in a talented secondary.
7. Ryan Brown, DE
Mississippi State’s best returning pass rusher, Brown started last season and claims 5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in college. One of the players who reportedly stood out most in spring practices, he and his 6-foot-6, 262-pound frame could become a breakout player for the defense this year, similar to Preston Smith in 2014. His length also allows him to be disruptive by swatting passing down at the line of scrimmage, an underrated trait for defensive linemen.
6. Taveze Calhoun, CB
A starting cornerback since 2013, he brings a veteran presence to the backfield. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Calhoun is a big, physical cornerback. He didn’t go through contact drills this spring after undergoing surgery in January to repair ankle ligaments. But now that fall camp has arrived, Calhoun is healthy. With four career interceptions and three forced fumbles, Calhoun has shown the ability to create turnovers and is also a solid tackler on the outside.
5. Beniquez Brown, LB
Considered the leader of the Bulldogs defense, teammates and coaches rave about Brown’s high football IQ and tendency to be a ballhawk of a defender. Brown led the team in tackles last season and is the only returning starter at linebacker for Mississippi State. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Brown isn’t the biggest linebacker in the SEC, but his intangibles and instincts as a football player could lead to him becoming one of the conference’s leading tacklers this season.
4. Will Redmond, CB
Redmond led Mississippi State last season with three interceptions. Utilized as a reserve on the outside and at nickleback, he’ll get a chance to display his talents in a full-time role as a senior. Redmond also serves as the team’s kick returner, which speaks to his overall athleticism. The 6-foot, 186-pound corner will constantly be matched up against the best receivers in the SEC, which should be good practice for his future in the NFL.
3. De’Runnya Wilson, WR
One of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Prescott throwing to a 6-foot-5, 225-pound bear of a wide receiver hardly seems fair. But that’s exactly what Wilson provides for the Bulldogs offense. He was Prescott’s go-to receiver last year (680 yards, 9 TDs) and will continue to be in 2015. The former basketball player still is learning the nuances of his position. But if Wilson can continue to improve, he could easily end the season as one of the top pass-catchers in the SEC.
2. Chris Jones, DT
After a stellar true freshman campaign in which he made three sacks and seven tackles for a loss, Jones regressed a last season and did not make a single start. That didn’t stop Phil Steele from making him a 2015 preseason All-American. With speed, versatility and a 6-foot-6, 308-pound frame, Jones is poised to have a monster season. Expectations have always been high for Jones as a five-star recruit out of high school, but this is expected to be the year he becomes a household name in the SEC.
1. Dak Prescott, QB
It’s easy to pick a team’s best player when one of them is a Heisman Trophy candidate. It’s even easier when that player is a quarterback — perhaps the most valuable position in all of sports. Prescott set 12 single-season records during his breakout 2014, becoming the first Mississippi State player ever to finish a season with more than 3,000 total yards. Prescott’s 4,470 total yards blew by that mark and led to one of the most successful football seasons in school history. He has less talent around him this year, but Prescott will make his teammates better. Expect Prescott to continue to rewrite the record books.
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
