STARKVILLE — After losing its top four pass catchers from last season, the Mississippi State University football team is looking for wide receivers who can contribute.
Enter Jeremey Chappelle.
The 6-foot-2 Chappelle became one of MSU’s coveted recruits after offensive coordinator Les Koenning saw him play last fall at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Chappelle was the sixth-best junior college product when he gave a verbal commitment to MSU on Dec. 12, 2012, according to 247Sports.com.
In the first week of spring practice, or what MSU coach Dan Mullen calls “installation days”, the coaching staff has worked to get six scholarship wide receivers who have never started a Division I college experience. Prior to the spring, Mullen said Chappelle “obviously” was one player who would get an extended look and opportunity to get to the top of the depth chart.
Chappelle will try to develop a rapport with starting quarterback Tyler Russell in an attempt to help MSU overcome the losses of senior wide receivers Chad Bumphis, Chris Smith, and Arceto Clark and tight end Marcus Green. Rising senior tailback LaDarius Perkins is MSU’s leading returner in catches from last season with 19.
“It is strange how myself, Joe (Morrow), and Jameon (Lewis) are guys that players in our group have to look up to,” MSU sophomore wide receiver Robert Johnson said. “There’s a bunch of guys with motivation knowing we can earn a starting spot for next season.”
MSU’s new receivers also must adapt quickly to new position coach Billy Gonzales, a
former colleague of Mullen’s at the University of Utah and University of Florida. Gonzales, the co-offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois last year, was hired in late February to coach the wide receivers. He each receiver has a new slate of expectations and will be given a new evaluation.
“The fresh start begins from earning my respect ,” Gonzales said. “I always go back to them (and tell them) that whatever I know about them right now is your work ethic.”
Chappelle caught 60 passes for 801 yards and nine touchdowns last season for Tyler Junior College. He chose MSU over the University of Hawaii, Louisiana Tech University, and West Virginia University.
Chappelle, who enrolled at MSU on Jan. 8, has become a primary target from Russell in the first week of spring practice. He and MSU’s 2013 recruiting class will get their first chance to play in Davis Wade Stadium at noon Saturday in a scrimmage that is free and open to the public.
At Tuesday’s practice, Chappelle had a pair of nice catches in one-on-one drills and in work against first-team cornerbacks Jamerson Love and Justin Cox.
The MSU coaching staff enjoys utilizing Chappelle early because he has the initial burst speed that can help him get separation at the line of scrimmage and the athleticism to get a jump ball over smaller defensive backs.
“The problem with some of my guys is we’ve got some guys thinking, ‘Can I do this?’ or ‘Can I work this move into this route?’ “Gonzales said. ” I just want them to go. I want mean football players that are aggressive. I can teach you the other stuff, (but) give me toughness that will break that wall down every single day.”
The normal progression for a MSU player recruited out of high school is to redshirt his first season play a season of special teams before he gets a chance to crack the starting lineup. Mullen knows he doesn’t have that luxury with a player like Chappelle.
“The toughest thing is the tempo because coming in mid-year as a juco transfer means things are getting set and installed, so you better be up to speed with it,” Chappelle said. “The easiest thing is the football part, as dumb as that sounds. The catching and running with the football is something that doesn’t change no matter what level you’re at.”
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