STARKVILLE – For every authoritative run by freshman Aeris Williams, there was a pinpoint pass from freshman quarterback Nick Fitzgerald.
For every decisive cut from running back Dontavian Lee, there was a tackle from redshirt freshman linebacker Gerri Green.
And with every snap during a Friday morning scrimmage on Friday morning at Davis Wade Stadium, the future of Mississippi State football was on display.
During a two-hour scrimmage that was free to the public, MSU coach Dan Mullen and his coaching staff sent the Bulldogs through an extended workout that leaned heavily toward the offense.
Fitzgerald, a freshman quarterback from Richmond Hill, Georgia, was especially efficient, completing 23 of his 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. A 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, it has been Fitzgerald who has emerged as the primary backup to starter Dak Prescott this spring, taking advantage of an injury to previous backup Damian Williams.
In working with the second team and first team periodically on Friday, Fitzgerald was sharp and led his offense on five touchdown drives.
“Right now he’d be a snap away from being in the first team offense,” said Mullen. “We want to give him an opportunity to roll with that crew and just see how it went, how he performed.”
The spotlight didn’t belong to Fitzgerald alone. Prescott, a known commodity, completed 15 of his 28 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown.
Continuing the theme of young players taking advantage of opportunities, however, was a pair of standout showings from two young tailbacks. Williams, the former Mr. Football for Mississippi from West Point, and Lee, a three-star recruit from North Forrest High, each redshirted in 2014. On Friday morning, both players looked ready to make an impact this fall.
Lee rushed 12 times for 74 yards and scored twice, the first time from four yards out and the second from seven yards away. Williams, meanwhile, looked every bit the workhorse he was at West Point High, as the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder led MSU with 97 yards rushing on 19 carries.
“They ran the ball hard,” said Mullen. “Again, I want to go look at some of the reads, make sure they’re on it. It looked like they were a little hesitant at times, and they probably could have some things a little bit more full-speed.”
Also turning heads for MSU was true freshman Malik Dear, who enrolled at MSU in January in order to go through spring practice. A 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back, Dear has practiced mostly at slot receiver in Starkville. On Friday, he caught seven passes for 65 yards.
“Again, with the young guys like that, they’ll do one great thing and then they’ll have a couple of bad plays,” said Mullen. “I don’t want that. I want a great play every time.”
Newcomers weren’t the only offensive stars on Friday. Returning wide receiver Fred Ross, a junior-to-be, led the way with eight catches for 119 yards while fellow junior Fred Brown caught three passes – all from Prescott – for 101 yards.
For his part, Prescott, who wasn’t allowed to be tackled, led a 10-play 97-yard drive and tossed in a 10-yard touchdown run.
Freshman wide receiver Jesse Jackson posted six catches for 104 yards and a 25-yard touchdown from Fitzgerald.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Gerri Green stood out. A 6-foot-4, 230-pound middle linebacker from Greenville, Green registered a team-best total of eight tackles. That included four tackles for loss and two sacks.
MSU’s spring game is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Davis Wade Stadium. It will be shown live on the SEC Network alternate channel.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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