STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team has completed its coaching staff.
On Thursday, Bulldog coach Dan Mullen announced the hiring of Maurice Linguist as safeties coach.
“Maurice is a very sharp person with a bright future in the coaching profession,” Mullen said in a statement released by MSU. “His knowledge of the game is exceptional, while his teaching and communication skills will resonate well with our players. We are happy to have him in Starkville and look forward to the impact he will make on our team.”
Mullen had to hire three defensive coaches after safeties coach Tony Hughes left MSU to become head football coach at Jackson State, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz took the same job at Miami, and cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend was hired by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Former Southern Cal coach Peter Sirmon was hired to replace Diaz. Former Louisville coach Terrell Buckley was hired to replace Townsend. Buckley also will serve as the recruiting coordinator, a job Hughes held.
Linguist comes to MSU after serving as the defensive passing game coordinator for two seasons at Iowa State. After earning MVP on defense as a senior in 2006 at Baylor, he became a graduate assistant for the Bears. He spent the 2008 season as the defensive backs coach and special teams coach at Valdosta State.
Before he went to Ames, Iowa, the Mesquite, Texas, native spent two seasons as the defensive passing game coordinator at Buffalo.
“I am excited to be a part of the tradition coach Mullen has established in his tenure here at Mississippi State,” Linguist said. “It’s a privilege to be a Bulldog, to coach in the Southeastern Conference and to mentor the dynamic safeties we have on this team.”
n In other football news, MSU announced spring practice will begin March 9.
The Maroon and White spring game will kick at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at Davis Wade Stadium as part of Super Bulldog Weekend.
n Also, a school-record six former Bulldogs will participate in the 2016 NFL Combine on Feb. 26-29 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The six invitees eclipse the previous MSU single-combine record of five in 2000.
Linebacker Beniquez Brown, cornerback Taveze Calhoun, defensive tackle Chris Jones, quarterback Dak Prescott, cornerback Will Redmond,and wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson have been invited to the event.
The players will go through six measurable drills — 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, and shuttle run — in front of representatives of all 32 league teams. Several also will attend MSU’s Pro Timing Day on March 10.
Brown, Jones, and Wilson declared for the NFL draft following their junior seasons last fall. Brown ranked second on the squad in tackles with 99 and was second in the SEC in blocked kicks with two. Jones was a second-team All-America selection by Pro Football Focus following a 2015 campaign in which he produced 44 tackles, including seven-and-a-half for loss. Wilson is the first Bulldog wide receiver to receive an invite since Justin Jenkins in 2004.
Prescott was named most outstanding player of the Senior Bowl last month. He has been training in Orlando. The owner of 38 school records, Prescott is considered one of the draft’s top five quarterbacks.
The cornerback tandem of Calhoun-Redmond combined for 40 passes defended in three seasons. Redmond’s senior year was cut short after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Oct. 20. He has had surgery and is working to get back to full strength.
All six helped MSU to its highest two-year win total (19) in school history, including a 10-3 campaign in 2014 and a 9-4 mark in 2015.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.