STARKVILLE — After February’s signing period and the loss of three wide receivers, Mississippi State’s Billy Gonzales feared a lack of depth.
The Bulldogs signed three wide receivers (Jamal Couch, John Michael Hankerson and Dontea Jones). Jones is sitting out the fall with an injury, but is listed as a tight end and Hankerson is listed as a safety. Couch, who was listed as an athlete, was going to be the lone wide receiver addition until MSU got fortunate in the summer.
MSU signed wide receivers Reginald Todd and Osirus Mitchell in the late signing period.
“When you start talking about numbers, it balances out for me to get more depth,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Gonzales said. “They give me depth and hopefully we can develop some of that depth and allow me to move some players around.”
Todd originally committed to play basketball at New Mexico State, but he changed his mind. In his senior year, he hauled in 45 passes for 1,308 yards and 11 touchdowns for Blount (Ala.) High School.
Coach Dan Mullen said the the 6-foot-4, 192-pound Todd was high on their board last year, but they felt like he was going to play basketball. The addition was a welcomed surprise and they can’t wait to see him on the field.
“Reggie’s another great player that I think’s going to have an opportunity to help us out,” Gonzales said.
Mitchell was previously thought to be a non-qualifier, but he was cleared academically in the summer and chose MSU over Minnesota and Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Mitchell had 900 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns as a senior at Booker (Fla.) High School.
He enrolled in July and has already began to transition into the college game.
“He’s already gained 10 pounds from the time he enrolled here in July,” Gonzales said. “You talk about a great program and how you develop your players, it all starts downstairs with the conditioning.”
Rock-paper-scissors
As the first practice got underway Tuesday, all eyes were on who was going to be the quarterback to take snaps with the first string.
Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald took the snaps, but it didn’t have anything to do with the depth chart.
“I won rock-paper-scissors. If anything, my confidence in that game is pretty high right now,” Fitzgerald said with a laugh.
Fitzgerald said he beat junior Damian Williams by throwing rock and called it a “cutthroat” game.
Williams, sophomore Elijah Staley and redshirt freshman Nick Tiano took the second, third and fourth snaps, respectively, in the early goings. But all four got to take snaps with the first team. Mullen wants to give them equal reps and to give them an equal chance of winning the job.
Fitzgerald felt like that happened on day one.
“Coach Mullen’s doing a great job of splitting it up evenly,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s giving everyone a chance to show what they’ve got and win this job. I think it’s the same as the spring, everyone’s getting the same amount of reps until someone starts pulling forward.”
Injury update
Senior defensive lineman Will Coleman and sophomore running back Dontavian Lee were in the rehab pit.
“Dontavian still has a little foot issue,” Mullen said. “Will was cleared to practice, I just think he tightened up.”
Lee wore a boot on his left foot and did a lot of upper body work during practice.
Freshman tight end Dontea Jones isn’t listed on the 105-man roster and Mullen said he is in camp as a “rehabber.” Not having him on the 105-man roster opens the door for another player.
“He won’t be cleared for any practice until after school would start,” Mullen said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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