STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University freshman kicker Devon Bell knew he would feel pressure.
Bell also realized part of the challenge of being MSU’s kicker was how he responded to missing kicks in a sold-out Davis Wade Stadium.
Bell didn’t have to worry about that Saturday night.
Coming off an 0-for-3 start to the season, Bell hit three field goals, including two 42-yarders, to help No. 23 MSU beat the University of South Alabama 30-10. The three kicks helped the Vicksburg native improve to 4 of 7 on the season. His first made field goal was a 37-yarder two weeks ago in a 30-24 victory at Troy University.
“It was mainly because of technical stuff: over-rotating, my plant foot being in the wrong place, dipping my shoulder, little things like that,” Bell said. “Getting that field goal at Troy really got the monkey off my back and gave me some confidence.”
Bell helped an offense that had just one first down and was forced to punt four times in the first 30 minutes. After a stalled drive inside the USA 30-yard-line, Bell still had the confidence of his head coach.
“All of his misses were little easy misses,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “It wasn’t like he shanked one into the student body.”
Bell, who is known for having a strong leg, also is being used on kickoffs.
“Coach tells me after every single kick, ‘I know you can make that,’ ” Bell said. “He knew that as a true freshman coming in and kicking that I was going to struggle a little bit, but he is patient with that, and now I’m good.”
MSU ranked No. 19 in USA Today Coaches’ poll
MSU is ranked No. 21 and No. 19 in the latest The Associated Press poll and USA Today Coaches’ poll.
Los Angeles Daily News reporter Scott Wolf has MSU (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) the highest on his AP Top 25 ballot at No. 17.
MSU received 246 points and was ranked in 49 of the 60 AP
voters’ ballots. It received 349 points in the USA Today Coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs haven’t been ranked in the Top 20 in the USA Today Coaches’ poll since the preseason of last year.
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