HOOVER, Ala. — For the last three years, everything for Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen and quarterback Tyler Russell have been about experiencing firsts.
Only months apart from arriving on the MSU campus, the process of the pupil and teacher relationship has gone through every twist and turn of the expected emotional roller coaster: expectations, rebellion, failure, fear, confidence, trust and now the most important element – mental synchronicity.
And Russell still has two more years of eligibility left at MSU to go through some of those feelings again. Today Russell will be center stage at the Wynfrey Hotel for the second day of 2012 Southeastern Conference media days representing the present instead of the future of MSU’s offense.
“I want the guys to know that Tyler is going to give the team everything his has at everything we do,” Russell said last week. “When the guys see you’re putting in 100 percent then they will want to play for you. I want them to be able to count on me and trust me that even if we are down 20 points in the fourth quarter that Tyler has enough that he isn’t going to give up.”
When Mullen got off the plane in Starkville with then-athletic director Greg Byrne, Russell was the first star quarterback in Mullen’s inherited recruiting class and had to be resold on the new philosophy in the coaching office. Russell, who was the first MSU signee at quarterback since John Bond in 1978 to be a national All-American out of high school, signed with the Bulldogs over the University of Mississippi, University of Alabama and University of South Carolina.
It wasn’t very long for Russell to realize he had a lot to learn, absorb and acquire before he saw the field of play for a Southeastern Conference team.
Two and a half years ago in front of almost 40,000 fans in the stands, Russell’s first forward pass was intercepted and in his first spring football game of his college career as boos could be heard throughout Davis Wade Stadium.
“Tyler Russell is a guy who has been around the program a long time,” Mullen said. “He’s played a lot. It’s really on his shoulders now, but I like the way he’s developed. I like the leadership he showed in the spring.”
So the 6-foot-4 signal caller who had all the projective tools in order to succeed at high level was forced to do something completely foreign to him – sit.
“At first it was a lot of pressure but I redshirted a season, just sat back and learned,” Russell said after his first collegiate game in 2010, a 49-7 win vs. the University of Memphis. “Now I’m finally starting to figure out what I’ve got to do to become a good quarterback.”
The learning process continued for another year as Russell continued to sit behind 2012 Gator Bowl most valuable player Chris Relf for most of his redshirt-sophomore campaign last year. Part of that development was about when and how to take chances down the field as the younger Russell wanted to throw the deep ball on nearly every play after being successful at every other level of football behind center.
“(Tyler) gets to where he wants to take a big play and you just have to be patient,” MSU offensive coordinator Les Koenning said. “It’s about moving the football, getting first downs and taking your shots when you get them. You can’t take a shot every time. If you take a shot every time, it’s feast or famine.”
The season didn’t end on a high note as Russell as he severely sprained his medial collateral ligament of the left knee.
“It wasn’t that hard,” Russell said last week. “You always want to be out there playing but coach Mullen has the best fit for me. He knows what he is doing and I put my trust in him.”
Meanwhile, 2012 marks a change in the relationship dynamic between Mullen and Russell. Nor because either party has suddenly become different people but because they both know the communication has to be solid for the anticipated high-octane passing attack to be fundamentally sound.
When Russell was a youthful backup, there was a lot of more intimidation tactics from the coaching staff to teach the former Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Mississippi that everything he did on the field wasn’t as special as he had been told.
“(Mullen) is not shy about getting in your face and telling you you’re not doing a good job at all,” Russell said. “I think early on in my career I would take that as offensive. Now, I know he’s just trying to make me better and that’s helping me get to where I want to be.”
After an impressive spring game this past April, which included Russell completing 24-of-43 for 312 yards and two touchdown passes, the Meridian native is now an active part of the conversation with his fourth-year head coach in between plays, possessions, drills and games.
“I can tell him what I see on the field, that’s what he wants,” Russell said. “He was telling me the other day to tell him what I like and don’t like. There is no need in running something you don’t like or aren’t comfortable with.”
Mullen’s objective is to shape the offense based on the specific skill set of Russell and to make sure he’s comfortable he’s comfortable making the decision on his own as a veteran college player.
“Tyler Russell is a guy who has been around the program a long time,” Mullen said after the spring game. “He’s played a lot. It’s really on his shoulders now, but I like the way he’s developed. I like the leadership he showed in the spring.”
His leadership skills have developed as well.
“Last year I could sit back and let Chris (Relf) say everything,” Russell said. “Now I have to be the guy to step up and speak up when things aren’t going right. I’ve got to be the one to step up and get in their face to tell them this isn’t easy.”
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