Mississippi State (1-7) hosts Massachusetts (2-6) on Saturday for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Minutemen.
Quarterback
MSU freshman Michael Van Buren had his highest completion percentage in a game last week against Arkansas, but he did fumble twice on strip sacks and threw two late interceptions. Still, he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, the third straight game he’s had three total touchdowns. For UMass, Taisun Phommachanh is arguably more dangerous with his legs than his arm, but has had trouble staying upright when plays break down. He had three total touchdowns as well in a win last week over Wagner.
Edge: Mississippi State
Running back
Davon Booth is coming off his best game as a Bulldog, with 5.5 yards per rush as well as a 54-yard receiving touchdown on a screen pass. Johnnie Daniels also created a big play catching a pass out of the backfield, and freshman Xavier Gayten showed some promise in limited touches. The Minutemen have a deep backfield led by CJ Hester and Jaylen John, who each are averaging 4.2 yards per carry, but have relied on Phommachanh at times to carry their running game. Brandon Campbell was excellent last week, though, with 63 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Edge: Mississippi State
Wide receiver/tight end
MSU was missing freshman Mario Craver last week, but Kevin Coleman had another 100-yard game, tight end Seydou Traore had five catches for 77 yards and Ricky Johnson even got in on the action. UMass has leading receiver Jakobie Keeney-James (32 catches for 566 yards) as well as deep threat T.Y. Harding, who leads the Minutemen with four receiving touchdowns on 22.45 yards per catch.
Edge: Mississippi State
Offensive line
Both teams have had issues keeping their quarterbacks upright, though the Bulldogs have had more success in run blocking. Luke Work is improving week by week as he takes more playing time away from Makylan Pounders at left tackle. UMass has experience up front, with veterans transferring in from California and Cincinnati, as well as two players with four years of experience for the Minutemen at center and right guard.
Edge: UMass
Defensive line
MSU has been decimated by injuries here, with Kalvin Dinkins, Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Trevion Williams and De’Monte Russell all out against Arkansas. Sulaiman Kpaka, Deonte Anderson and freshman Kai McClendon were no match for the Razorbacks’ front, and the Bulldogs have still not registered a sack in more than a month. UMass has struggled mightily against the run as well and is undersized up front, and its blitzes have rarely found their mark. Defensive end Louce Julien is the Minutemen’s leader with three sacks.
Edge: Even
Linebackers
Nic Mitchell became the latest MSU linebacker to intercept a pass last week, and Stone Blanton recorded double-digit tackles. Other than that, it was another rough day at the office for the Bulldogs. Middle linebacker Jalen Stewart leads UMass in tackles, with Gerrell Johnson not far behind. Tyler Martin, formerly of Arizona, shares snaps in the middle with Stewart.
Edge: UMass
Secondary
MSU continues to struggle in coverage, leaving receivers with huge swaths of open space downfield as a result of leaving quarterbacks all the time they need. Isaac Smith is still racking up tackles, but that’s out of necessity more than anything else. The Minutemen trust their corners in single coverage, and their pass defense has been solid, although safeties Tyler Rudolph and Te’Rai Powell lead the way in pass breakups.
Edge: Even
Special teams
Bulldogs kicker Kyle Ferrie was 1-for-2 on field goals against his home state team last week, continuing in some erratic performances. Nick Barr-Mira remains strong on punts and kickoffs, and Booth had a 42-yard kickoff return to give MSU strong starting field position. UMass kicker Jacob Lurie is just 9-for-15 on field goals this season and 2-for-8 from 40-plus yards. The Bulldogs do need to keep the ball away from Harding in the return game — he took a punt back 58 yards for a touchdown last week.
Edge: Mississippi State
Starters
Mississippi State
Offense
QB 0 Michael Van Buren Fr.
RB 21 Davon Booth Sr. OR 20 Johnnie Daniels Jr.
WR 3 Kevin Coleman Jr.
WR 6 Jordan Mosley Jr.
WR 7 Mario Craver Fr. OR 1 Kelly Akharaiyi Sr.
TE 18 Seydou Traore R-Jr. OR 84 Justin Ball Sr.
LT 66 Makylan Pounders Jr. OR 51 Luke Work Fr.
LG 75 Jacoby Jackson Jr.
C 67 Ethan Miner Sr.
RG 77 Marlon Martinez Sr.
RT 76 Albert Reese IV Sr.
Defense
DT 22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones Jr. OR 23 Trevion Williams R-Fr.
DT 8 Sulaiman Kpaka Sr. OR 90 Kai McClendon Fr.
DE 9 De’Monte Russell Sr. OR 91 Deonte Anderson Jr.
JACK 11 Ty Cooper Jr. OR 44 Branden Jennings Jr.
MLB 7 Stone Blanton Jr.
DIME 40 Nic Mitchell Jr. OR 5 John Lewis Jr.
STAR 2 Isaac Smith So.
FS 10 Corey Ellington Sr.
SS 21 Hunter Washington Jr.
CB 3 Brylan Lanier Jr.
CB 14 Brice Pollock So.
Specialists
K 80 Kyle Ferrie So.
P 82 Nick Barr-Mira Sr.
UMass
Offense
QB 3 Taisun Phommachanh R-Sr.
RB 21 Jalen John R-Jr. OR 23 Brandon Campbell R-Jr. OR 33 CJ Hester So.
WR 11 Jakobie Keeney-James Gr.
WR 4 Sterling Galban Gr. OR 10 T.Y. Harding R-So.
WR 2 Jaquon Gibson R-So.
TE 81 Dominick Mazotti Gr.
LT 63 Brayden Rohme Gr.
LG 66 Wyatt Terlaak R-Jr. OR 55 Benjamin Roy R-Jr.
C 60 Josh Atwood Sr.
RG 72 Ethan Mottinger Sr.
RT 79 Ryan Mosesso R-Jr.
Defense
DE 13 Jaylen Hudson Gr.
DT 10 Tim Grant-Randall Gr.
NT 44 Aaron Beckwith R-Jr.
DE 18 Louce Julien R-Jr.
MLB 23 Jalen Stewart Sr. OR 5 Tyler Martin R-So.
WLB 22 Gerrell Johnson Sr. OR 25 Macklin Ayers Gr.
SLB 15 Derrieon Craig Jr. OR 30 Donovan Dyson R-Fr.
CB 7 Lake Ellis Gr. OR 1 Arsheen Jiles Gr.
CB 2 Isaiah Rutherford R-Sr.
S 21 Te’Rai Powell Sr.
S 4 Tyler Rudolph R-Sr.
Specialists
K 29 Jacob Lurie Gr.
P 95 CJ Kolodziey Sr.
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