STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen responded to talk radio chatter about play calling in the second half of MSU’s 21-3 victory last weekend at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
On the state-wide sports talk show “Head to Head,” co-host and MSU radio color analyst Matt Wyatt said Tuesday it was his understanding Mullen took over the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Les Koenning in the final 30 minutes of the game.
“A fan called in and said he saw coach Mullen with a play sheet in his hands,” Wyatt said. “From what I was told after the game, he took over the play calling but with the same communication with Les.”
Approximately an hour after Wyatt’s comments were made on the radio, Mullen clarified the situation, saying he “made an extra contribution here and there,” but said the conversation on the head set was the same
as in previous weeks.
“Fortunately Les and I have been around each other for so long (our back and forth) flows very naturally,” Mullen said Tuesday. “It never becomes a communication issue.”
Backup quarterback Tyler Russell led MSU (3-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) to 298 yards in the second half and all three of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns at Legion Field.
Mullen has yet to announce a starting quarterback when for MSU’s game at 11:21 a.m. Saturday (WCBI) against the No. 15 University of South Carolina. He said has declined to make quarterbacks Chris Relf, the starter against UAB, Russell, or Dylan Favre available to the media this week.
“When we decide a starter, we’re going to go with who gives us the best opportunity to win the game,” Mullen said. “If it’s one quarterback, we’ll go with one. If it’s two, we’ll go with two. If it’s three, we’ll go with three.”
Johnson making waves at tight end
When Malcolm Johnson arrived at MSU, his teammates thought he was just a big receiver.
They were right, but there was a small problem.
“He just kept getting bigger,” junior wide receiver Chad Bumphis said.
Johnson, a redshirt freshman, was moved last spring to tight end to pair with senior Marcus Green. He said Green knew he would make the transition.
“He kept telling me, ‘You might be a tight end, how big you’re getting,’ ” Johnson said. “He kept persuading me, saying, ‘Tight end’s the fit for you, tight end’s the fit for you.’ I was kind of being stubborn, but it came out to work out well for me.”
It worked out perfectly last weekend as Green and Johnson caught two of the three touchdown passes by Russell against UAB. Green has seven receptions for 100 yards, while Johnson has a pair of catches for 42 yards this season.
“Marcus is a senior, so he’s a little bit more developed physically than where Malcolm is,” Mullen said. “But Malcolm is a guy who can do a lot of the similar things.”
Gamecocks moving offensive lineman around
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has moved defensive tackle Byron Jerideau to offensive guard to add depth to the interior line.
Jerideau recovered a fumble and had one tackle against last week in a 54-3 victory against the University of Kentucky in less than 10 snaps.
“He’s going to stay (at guard) a while,” Spurrier said. “He’s too good an athlete not to be on the field. We probably should’ve had him over there all year. We’ve got a bunch of freshmen trying to block these big defensive guys. Not getting as much movement as we need.”
The maneuvering is due in part to a back injury offensive tackle
Kyle Nunn suffered two weeks ago in a 16-13 loss to Auburn. Spurrier isn’t sure if Nunn will return.
“The trainer said he’s out this week,” Spurrier said. “He had lower back problems that just came on. The trainer says he’s not out for the year, so there’s a chance he could be back.”
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