STARKVILLE — Even with an on-going quarterback battle, Dan Mullen was in a good mood Monday.
The Mississippi State football coach joked with the media when the subject of who will be his team’s starting quarterback cam up. Mullen announced that “Nick Williams” will be the starting quarterback, a play on the names of sophomore Nick Fitzgerald and junior Damian Williams.
Mullen didn’t commit to a starter for MSU’s season opener against South Alabama at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium, but he said Fitzgerald and Williams will battle for the job.
“This isn’t deceptive. I was hoping to have complete clarity that there was a defined No. 1, and I don’t think there is yet,” Mullen said at his weekly news conference. “I don’t want to say this guy is going to be the guy and a series later another guy comes in and plays better and mess it up that way.”
Mullen said he plans to play multiple quarterbacks. He said the Bulldogs probably will play more than one quarterback in the first quarter, and that redshirt freshman Nick Tiano probably will play, too. Mullen said experience has set Fitzgerald and Williams apart from the rest of the group, which included Elijah Staley before he opted to transfer to Tyler (Texas) Junior College. Former Louisville High School and East Mississippi Community College standout Wyatt Roberts joined the team as a walk-on earlier this month.
Fitzgerald said he didn’t know who was going to take the first snaps, but he said he isn’t worried because he, Williams, and Tiano will get their chance.
Fitzgerald said consistency has been the key to his rise.
“I worry about myself, go home, watch film, teach yourself, come back the next day, and don’t make the same mistakes again,” Fitzgerald said. “Every day I just try to get a little bit better.”
Although Dak Prescott was the starter, Mullen rotated Prescott and Williams in the first three games of the 2014 season.
In the 2016 preseason, the quarterbacks split repetitions, but Mullen said Fitzgerald and Williams will focus on taking reps with the first and second teams.
“We’ve got guys that are competitive guys, that are continuing to compete, and that are continuing to improve,” Mullen said. “You see guys do some great things and you see them make mistakes. I want to see how guys are going to handle the next two or three days implementing a game plan for this week and see if one guy handles it much better than another guy or if one guy really struggles with it.”
After redshirting in 2014, Fitzgerald acted as Prescott’s backup last season. The Richmond Hill, Georgia, native was 11 of 14 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He had 23 carries for 127 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Williams drew one start as a freshman and was Prescott’s backup as a sophomore in 2014. He redshirted last season. In his two-year career, the Metairie, Louisiana, native is 37 of 70 for 434 yards and three touchdowns (two interceptions). He has 53 carries for 175 yards rushing and one touchdown.
“They definitely have two different playing styles,” MSU senior running back Brandon Holloway said. “Nick likes to run a lot and he can also pass. Damian’s a strong passer and he’s pretty strong body wise, too. I think they’ve improved a lot. I think their leadership role has increased a lot. Knowing that one of them will have to be the starter, that’s helped with their leadership.”
Nick James update
Mullen said he is still gathering information about the arrest of Nick James and won’t make a decision about his status until Friday or Saturday.
The Starkville Police Department arrested James on Sunday morning. He was allegedly arrested for public intoxication.
The senior defensive lineman wasn’t listed on the two-deep depth chart. He was projected to be the starting nose tackle, but Nelson Adams was listed as the starter, with Braxton Hoyett as the backup.
This is James’ fourth arrest at MSU. The Long Beach native was arrested for public intoxication Feb. 15, 2015. He was arrested for driving with a suspended license and disorderly conduct in Oct. 2014 and driving without insurance in 2013.
“When you deal with discipline, every situation is unique,” Mullen said. “You look at where they are, what happened, what the situation is, what they’ve done in the past, how have they reacted to what they’ve done in the past, and how it’s going to affect them in their futures.”
James played as a freshman, but he redshirted as a sophomore in 2014. In his three-year career, James has 43 tackles (three for loss), one forced fumble, and a blocked extra point.
Will Coleman out
Senior defensive lineman Will Coleman is out for two weeks, Mullen announced.
“It was something that happened early in camp. I think (it happened) the second day of practice. Just a little back issue that he’s been dealing with,” Mullen said.
The Tyler (Texas) Junior College transfer had 15 tackles (two-and-a-half for loss) and one pass defended last season.
Mullen said freshman tight end Dontea Jones has practiced some after missing most of training camp. He is coming off shoulder injury.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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