STARKVILLE — Anxious to return to the field, members of Mississippi State”s football team reported to campus Monday.
Players unanimously agree maintenance to sustain the team”s intensity and work ethic wasn”t needed despite new-found success and accolades after a 9-4 season and a top-25 ranking.
Senior quarterback Chris Relf, arguably the team”s most improved player last season, said last year is “behind the team.”
“Every summer, it turns up,” he said. “Last year, we was good and we”re trying to be great this year. I think more this summer, we did a lot more football stuff on our own just because we know what to do now. I think we”ve got more of the mental part of the game down.”
Sophomore running back LaDarius Perkins knows the Bulldogs will have to maintain that mind-set because life in the Southeastern Conference is unforgiving.
“You can go almost undefeated one year and almost lose every game the next,” Perkins said. “You never know because the SEC is so talented and competitive. We know we got to stay hungry, stay focused, and stay humble the whole time. That”s what we”ve been doing. You”ll fall off if you don”t work hard.”
MSU will begin practice Thursday. It will be the first of three straight workout sessions that will be open to the public.
Strength coach Matt Balis did his best to make sure the Bulldogs didn”t miss a beat during the summer, incorporating more running and conditioning to the workout regimen.
His goal was to increase the team”s mental toughness, especially for home games against LSU, the University of Alabama, and South Carolina.
“Balis is a monster,” Perkins said. “He”s a great guy, a great strength coach. I think he”s the best in the nation. No matter what, he”s pushing you through anything.”
Perkins said Balis” stamp on the team can be explained by wide receiver Chad Bumphis” twitter handle “I”mso_BalisMade1.”
“Basically, he”s made you into a machine,” Perkins said. “The things we do and the things we go through, we are machines, and everybody is Balis-made on the whole team.”
Perkins noted freshmen P.J. Jones, Zach Jackson, and Taveze Calhoun for quickly adapting to the intensity of MSU”s workouts.
Perkins increases speed
After showcasing his blazing speed and quickness on a handful of long gains late last season, Perkins still heard about the carries that didn”t go all the way.
There was a 70-yard screen pass against the University of Mississippi that saw the speedster hawked down just short of the goal line. Then, there was the check-down pass that went for 80 yards in the Gator Bowl, only to see Perkins caught around the 5-yard line.
“I hear about this a lot,” Perkins said, “but you got understand, like the Ole Miss game, I was kind of winded and I got caught from behind. The Michigan game, I didn”t know that guy was coming behind me like that.
“I worked on that this offseason, and that has gotten better. You will not see that this season.”
Already one of MSU”s fastest players, Perkins said much of his work in the offseason was dedicated to getting faster, not only to benefit MSU”s fast-tempo offense, but also to compete with seniors Vick Ballard and Robert Elliott for carries.
“I worked on my long speed and getting more of a lift when I get to 40 or 50 yards to keep my speed up,” Perkins said, “(and to) make sure I don”t get caught from behind this season.”
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