SEC Preview Mississippi State

'Dogs have bite to back up bark

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott passes against Rice in the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott passes against Rice in the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

HOOVER, Ala. -- If Mississippi State fans sound giddy about their Bulldogs' prospects this fall in the loaded SEC West, don't dismiss them without a second thought.

Not this year.

Mississippi State glance

LAST SEASON 7-6, 3-5 (5th) in SEC West

COACH Dan Mullen (36-28 in sixth year at Mississippi State and overall)

RETURNING STARTERS Offense 8, defense 9, special teams 1

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS QB Dak Prescott, LB Bernardrick McKinney, WR Jameon Lewis, DL Chris Jones, C Dillon Day, RB Josh Robinson

SEC TITLE SCENARIOThe Bulldogs can match roster experience with anybody in the SEC West. If Prescott stays healthy and the Bulldogs play defense as they did late in 2013, they’ll have a chance. The schedule sends them to LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss, where they’ll have to win one or two to have a shot.

MSU schedule

DATE;OPPONENT (TIME)

Aug. 30; Southern Miss, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 6; UAB, 1 p.m.

Sept. 13; at South Alabama, 3 p.m.

Sept. 20 at LSU*

Oct. 4 Texas A&M*

Oct. 11 Auburn*

Oct. 25 at Kentucky*

Nov. 1 Arkansas*

Nov. 8 Tennessee-Martin

Nov. 15 at Alabama*

Nov. 22 Vanderbilt*

Nov. 28 at Ole Miss*

  • SEC game

Not with the Bulldogs bringing back 15 players with starting experience on both sides of the ball. And not with a gifted junior like Dak Prescott emerging from an alternating quarterback role last year to take the job full time, leading an offense with capable skill players like tailback Josh Robinson, receivers Jameon Lewis and De'Runnya Wilson and tight end Malcolm Johnson working behind a line with three returning starters.

Mississippi State brings back nine starters defensively, including its entire secondary and linebackers Bernardrick McKinney and Matt Wells. The Bulldogs have experience back all over the field, plus the momentum of winning their final three games, including a bowl victory, for the first time since 1974.

"There are expectations outside of the room, but we have expectations within the facility and those expectations, I believe, are a lot higher than anybody else's," said Prescott, who completed 156 of 267 passes (58.4 percent) for 1,940 yards and rushed for a team-high 829 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"I think how last season ended ... our team immediately put a lot of expectations on themselves," said Coach Dan Mullen, who is in his sixth season as the Bulldogs coach. "Our expectations are to find a way to get to Atlanta -- that's what we can control -- and compete for that SEC championship this year.

"That's what they're working for from Day 1. I don't think they shy away from it. I think they embrace everything that's going on."

The Bulldogs, with Prescott nursing a nerve problem in his shoulder, had to win their last two games last season to be bowl eligible and they pulled it off. Mississippi State beat Arkansas in Little Rock -- the first time its ever beaten Arkansas in Arkansas -- then outlasted Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl -- both in overtime -- to set up a 44-7 victory over Rice in the Liberty Bowl, the Bulldogs' sixth victory in their last seven bowl games.

The schedule sets up nicely with games against Southern Miss, Alabama-Birmingham and South Alabama before the Bulldogs open SEC play at LSU.

While Mississippi State has a difficult road in the division with games at LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss, their cross-division games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt project as the easiest among West teams.

Keeping Prescott healthy would seem like a key ingredient for the Bulldogs, although Damian Williams operated most of the 24-17 victory at Arkansas.

Prescott needs to improve his passing skills after throwing seven interceptions and only 10 touchdown passes last season.

Mullen said he thinks a healthy Prescott is one of the country's best weapons.

"Dak is a guy that because of his skill set, he can beat you with his arm, with his legs, he can run between the tackles and he can run in the open field," Mullen said. "He has a lot going for him, but most importantly he has that will to win."

Prescott is seen by many as simply an athlete playing quarterback with limited passing skills, an image he hopes to erase this year.

"I'm proven to my team and that's about it," Prescott said. "I feel like I've gotten a lot better on my deeper passes. I think people underrate me.

"We've gotten a lot better at perfecting the passing game and the timing has gotten a lot better. It's just coming with time."

Sports on 07/21/2014

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