With just over a week to go until its season opener, some of Mississippi State football’s most important players continue to receive all-conference recognition.
Senior linebackers Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson, wideout Lideatrick Griffin and quarterback Will Rogers were all named to preseason Southeastern Conference All-Coaches teams, headlined by Watson, who was selected to the second-team defense.
Rogers was selected to the third-team offense and Johnson was selected to the third-team defense. Griffin was selected as a second-team all-purpose player and third-team return specialist. He was also named Tuesday as a Sporting News preseason All-America.
Rogers is one of the SEC’s all-time great passers, having thrown for 10,689 yards, the eighth-most in conference history. Rogers is less than 2,500 yards away from becoming the conference’s all-time leading passer.
Griffin was one of college football’s top special teams players last season, leading the nation in kickoff return yards (613) and one touchdown. He also tallied career-highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (502) and touchdowns (4).
Watson, who was named to the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award preseason watch lists, was also named a second-team preseason defensive player by the media. Last year Watson finished with 113 tackles, which only trailed Johnson for most in the SEC.
Johnson, from Tupelo, led the SEC in tackles last season with 115. In his career, Johnson has tallied 206 total tackles for the Bulldogs, including 15 tackles for loss.
The Bulldogs open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at home against Southeastern Louisiana.
Justin Frommer is the Mississippi State sports reporter 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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.