STARKVILLE — Torrey Dale has a good feeling about this season.
With a new defensive coordinator and new schemes, the Mississippi State football senior feels like his production will increase and he will be an anchor for the defensive line.
Playing in the shadow of Ryan Brown, Chris Jones, and current defensive end A.J. Jefferson, Dale often has been overlooked. A projected starter, Dale is expected to get a chance to shine at 11 a.m. Saturday when MSU plays host to South Alabama at Davis Wade Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
“When you’re on your last year, you know you want to accomplish all the things that you set out (to accomplish) before you got here and while you were here,” Dale said. “You’re building towards it every year as you get older, mature, learn this, take this from this coach and that from that coach. It’s a lot of pressure because I know what I can do, and I just want to be able to go out there and do everything I’ve set out for myself.”
First-year defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon brought a 3-4 base defense from his last job at Southern California to MSU. He said the Bulldogs also will use a 4-3 look and other defenses to utilize his players’ versatility and athleticism.
Dale, who is listed as the starter at defensive tackle, has caught the eye of Sirmon. He was asked if Dale was poised for a breakout season, but he said he doesn’t believe in breakout seasons.
“Torrey’s gotten a lot better,” Sirmon said. “He’s got good technique. I’m looking for those guys to play to the best of their ability. I’m happy that he’s playing on our defense and he’s a valuable guy to our team. I hope he keeps improving.”
In his three-year career, Dale has 15 tackles (one-and-a-half for loss) and two passes defended in 26 games. He redshirted as a freshman in 2012.
With a new scheme, those numbers could increase.
“I know the outside, the inside, and tackle. I know it all,” Dale said. “I feel like knowing the defense at any position really just gives me a better chance to play to my full potential.
“I’ve never done a 3-4 before. When he first said that, I didn’t know what to expect. I like the 3-4 and the 4-3. They’re both good depending on who you’re facing and what you’re seeing.”
Coming out of John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana, Dale received interest from Auburn, Arkansas, and others. LSU came in late, but he decided to attend MSU. During his senior year, Dale had 72 tackles (21 for loss), 16 sacks, and one safety.
Along with a new defensive coordinator in Sirmon, MSU has a new defensive line coach. David Turner took the same job at Texas A&M and MSU football coach Dan Mullen hired NFL coaching veteran Brian Baker to replace him.
Baker likes the way Dale fits into the system and said he does everything he is supposed to do.
“He’s working on being fundamentally sound every snap, and he really understands what we’re doing,” Baker said. “I’ve challenged him, ‘Hey, I just want to see you be more productive. Instead of being where you’re supposed to be all the time and just doing that, now do that plus make plays.’ ”
Baker coached 19 seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers (1996), the Detroit Lions (1997-2000), the Minnesota Vikings (2001-05), the St. Louis Rams (2006-08), the Carolina Panthers (2009-10), the Dallas Cowboys (2011-12), the Cleveland Browns (2013), and the Washington Redskins (2014). His knowledge and experience have excited the defensive linemen, and many are getting a glimpse of what it would be like to play at the next level. Dale hopes to play in the NFL, so he has been listening carefully to Baker.
“Everything he says you have to soak up because he knows what it takes to get to the league, he knows what it takes to stay in the league, and he knows what coaches in the league are looking for,” Dale said. “He has a lot of wisdom and knowledge about the game. Everything he says, I just try to write down and soak up.”
Dale has high hopes for his final season and is excited about the potential to be a bigger contributor. If he realizes that goal, his status as an unknown might end, but Dale said that’s not why he plays the game.
“I don’t play to get attention. I feel like they’re going to know who I am real soon if they don’t,” Dale said.
n In other football news, Mullen said Wednesday on the Southeastern Conference teleconference that he has a “no weapons” policy.
The question was prompted after Auburn defensive back Stephen Roberts was arrested last week on charges of attempting to elude an officer and for possessing a firearm without a license.
“I don’t think there’s any need for our guys to carry weapons, but also, we live in Mississippi and we have a lot of guys that go hunting on the weekend or when they have a day off in the fall,” Mullen said. “I try to separate the two.
“Obviously it’s a felony crime to possess a weapon on a college campus. We make sure they understand that. We explain to our guys that if they’re in a situation where they’re carrying a handgun, they probably need to try and avoid those situations.”
Mullen said that has always been his stance since he arrived at MSU in December 2008.
He understands that those that hunt are going to have guns, but he wants them to keep them with their other hunting supplies and not bring them on campus.
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 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.