STARKVILLE — Matthew Wells was everywhere on the field Saturday before the snap of the football.
Once the play was in motion, the sophomore linebacker was where he needed to be — harassing the Jackson State University player with the football.
In a first half that saw Mississippi State University score the first 35 points, Wells had quarterback Dedric McDonald confused and concerned as to where No. 22 in maroon was lining up.
In two possessions, MSU defensive coordinator Chris Wilson had Wells lined up at his normal linebacker spot, backpedaling to safety, and standing up as a pass-rushing defensive end.
“It’s a matter of getting your best players on the football field at the same time, so it becomes a math problem,” Wilson said. “If Matt Wells can line up and play differently for us on first, second, and third down, that will allow us to mix and match what we show.”
In MSU’s 56-9 blowout of JSU, Wells had a team-high five tackles, a sack, and his first career interception and touchdown on the same play. On a tipped pass in the third quarter, Wells recognized as soon as the football fell into his hands what was waiting for him.
“The second the ball was in my hands I thought touchdown,” Wells said. “There was too much green grass in front of me, and I played offense in high school so I had to score.”
Wells’ return for a score marked the first game MSU had two interceptions returned for touchdowns since Johnthan Banks did it himself three years ago in a loss to the University of Florida.
Wells said after the game he anticipates being used in a variety of ways this season. He said he was excited when MSU linebackers coach Geoff Collins approached him with the idea.
“He’s just very athletic, and one of the reasons we recruited him and like him so much is the fact he can do so many different things well in a given game,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said.
While harassing McDonald in the first half on blitzes off the edge, Wells finally got him on the ground with a crushing hit on his first career sack.
“I realized every time I was standing up blitzing they just weren’t blocking me,” Wells said. “Nobody picked me up at any point I would blitz. I had a free lane at the quarterback every single time.”
Wells had started three games before Saturday’s season opener, but he had only one game in his career with more than five tackles. He said after the game he’d never been as productive in his MSU career.
“I look at this defense and my role in it as fun,” Wells said. “It’s not a burden to know or to learn so much because when you’re out there it just feels like you’re reacting and not thinking.”
Wells was one of seven linebackers who showcased MSU’s depth at the position. The group has less star power plenty of experience Collins and Wilson can rely on.
Wells, a All-Southeastern Conference freshman team nominee last year, understands that while Saturday was everything he could’ve envisioned in an opener, any playmaker defense has the ability to make things happen.
“There’s so many talented guys on our defense that either didn’t play much or at all tonight,” Wells said. “It’s scary the amount of guys you have to pay attention to. Game one was just my night to make those plays.”
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