1. Will the stage be too big for Mississippi State freshman quarterback Damian Williams?
Williams’ 25-yard touchdown run on a designed quarterback draw in the overtime helped lift MSU to a 24-17 victory against Arkansas last weekend in Little Rock, Ark. Fifth-year senior Tyler Russell is battling a severe shoulder injury and is considered “day-to-day.” Williams, who originally committed to Southern Miss., chose MSU in January over offers from Nebraska and Kansas State.
2. Can MSU’s defense continue to create turnovers?
Against Arkansas, MSU forced three turnovers, marking the fifth time it collected two or more miscues this year. Against Alabama, the defense created four turnovers. In the last three contests, MSU has forced 10 turnovers after not having any in the previous two games. Of those 10 turnovers, six have been interceptions. Senior safety Nickoe Whitley leads the way in creating turnovers with 14 interceptions for his career, which is tied for the most among all active Football Bowl Subdivision players. He had a critical fumble recovery at Arkansas last week to turn the momentum and preserve the victory.
3. Can Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace have another solid performance to clinch a second Conerly Trophy?
Wallace played through flu-like symptoms last week, which came on Friday and forced him to receive IV fluids throughout the day before the loss to Missouri. Wallace said his fever broke Monday, and he has practiced without any health issues.
Wallace, who led East Mississippi Community College to a national championship as a freshman, is third in the Southeastern Conference and 24th nationally in total offense (286 yards per game) and fourth in the SEC and 24th nationally in passing (264.4 ypg.). He is third in school history with 6,530 total yards, fourth with 5,902 passing yards, fourth with 39 touchdown passes, and second with seven 300-yard passing games. A strong performance could help him become the first back-to-back C Spire Conerly Trophy recipient in the history of the annual award, which goes to the player voted Mississippi’s most outstanding player.
4. How will the MSU special teams roller coaster ride finish?
MSU experienced another 60 minutes of highs and lows Saturday against Arkansas. Sophomore kicker Devon Bell missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of regulation and had a 28-yard kick blocked in the third quarter. Bell, who had lost the field goal job to walk-on Evan Sobiesk, had missed three field goals in a row before making a 24-yarder into a stiff wind in the first quarter. MSU freshman defensive back Tolando Cleveland forced his second career fumble that was recovered by freshman linebacker Beniquez Brown. MSU also stopped a fake punt on a rollout by junior Sam Irwin-Hill.
5. Which five-star DL recruit will perform better Thursday night: Robert Nkemdiche or Chris Jones?
The careers of Nkemdiche and Jones will be connected for as long as their at each of the in-state schools because of them being No. 1 and No. 2 in 247Sports.com’s Class of 2013 recruiting rankings. Jones has been a disruption in the backfield the last five games, with five quarterback hurries. Nkemdiche leads all SEC freshmen with 0.78 tackles for loss per outing. He is second on the team with seven tackles for loss. He has missed two games with a strained hamstring and Ole Miss coaches aren’t using the defensive tackle on all three downs of plays in the last month.
Players to Watch
MSU
Junior WR Jameon Lewis
Lewis leads MSU with 43 catches, and is the only player in the country with more than five receiving touchdowns, more than three rushing touchdowns, and three or more passing touchdowns. He also is one of only four Football Bowl Subdivision players to have four or more receiving touchdowns and three or more rushing touchdowns, joining Tre Madden of Southern California, Arizona State’s Marion Grice, and Illinois’ Josh Ferguson.
Sophomore CB Taveze Calhoun
In a 20-7 loss to No. 1 Alabama, Calhoun intercepted quarterback A.J. McCarron twice as the Bulldogs forced four turnovers. Last week, his interception on fourth down preserved a 24-17 overtime victory against Arkansas. He probably will face off against wide receiver Donte Moncrief, who had three touchdowns on Jim Thorpe Award winner Jonathan Banks last season.
Ole Miss
Junior WR Donte Moncrief
Moncrief is fifth in SEC in receiving (72.8 yards per game), seventh in receptions (4.5 per game), and tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns (five) this season. He is fourth in school history in career receiving yards (2,234), fourth in receptions (147), third in receiving touchdowns (19), and second in 100-yard receiving games (eight). Moncrief has four 100-yard games this year: Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Missouri. Last season in the Egg Bowl, Moncrief paced the Ole Miss offense with three touchdown catches.
Junior DB Cody Prewitt
The semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back, returned from an injury last week to make 12 tackles. He leads the Rebels in tackles (66), interceptions (five) and passes defended (11). The 220-pound free safety has the strength and size to walk up and be a fourth linebacker in the run game and still protect the middle of the field in the passing game.
Numbers of the game
1
Number of Mississippi State coaches who started their career 4-1 against Ole Miss. Allyn McKeen (1939-44) won four of his first five Egg Bowl games. With a win, Dan Mullen will join him.
438.0
Yards MSU is averaging on offense, which would shatter the school record of 422 set in 1982.
110
The game will be the 110th meeting between the rivals, which is the 15th most-played Football Bowl Subdivision rivalry.
10
Years since the Egg Bowl game was played on Thanksgiving Day.
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