STARKVILLE — Darrion Hutcherson was just thinking about his team when he decided not to redshirt last season.
The Mississippi State senior tight end could have redshirted if he really wanted to, but the Bulldogs needed him. MSU coach Dan Mullen wanted to redshirt him, but he knew for the team’s benefit Hutcherson needed to play. Hutcherson and the Bulldogs (6-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) have this week off before playing at Missouri (4-4, 1-4) at 8 p.m. next Thursday (ESPN) at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Despite being available, Hutcherson didn’t see much playing time at tight end and he didn’t record any stats.
“I had a couple spots on the special teams that needed to be filled so I wasn’t selfish and helped the team in any way I could,” Hutcherson said. “To benefit myself I probably should have took the redshirt, but to benefit my team, I’m glad I did that.”
Hutcherson said a few of his teammates know the decision behind him not redshirting, but many teammates said he should have taken the redshirt. He’s happy with his decision. The Bulldogs ended up winning the first nine games last season and rose to No. 1 for five-straight weeks. MSU finished with a 10-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in SEC play and finished second in the SEC Western Division. The Bulldogs also made an appearance in the Orange Bowl, losing to Georgia Tech.
Mullen and his coaching staff are looking to the future when they decide to redshirt someone, and Hutcherson would have benefited from the redshirt.
“I think he was done great with that opportunity,” Mullen said. “I’m sure he would love to have one more year to come back and play again.”
Hutcherson transferred to MSU in 2014 after spending two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. And although he went through spring drills, he wasn’t ready for the tight end position.
Hutcherson played sparingly at tight end last season and that was usually late in games when there was no question about the outcome. This season, he has been the backup to Gus Walley, but Walley didn’t play against Texas A&M, Troy, or Kentucky last week. That has opened the door for Hutcherson to get more opportunities.
He has been taking a bulk of the reps in practice and started for Walley in the three games he has missed. Things have been clicking for Hutcherson lately.
“He’s starting to really understand the offense, understand the speed of the game, he’s really making things happen,” Mullen said. “I’m starting to see it the last two or three weeks. He’s getting reps, getting playing time and you’re starting to see him improve.”
Hutcherson has caught three passes in each of the last two games. Against Louisiana Tech two weeks ago, he caught three passes for 41 yards. Against Kentucky last week, he hauled in three catches for 40 yards and his first-career touchdown.
Quarterback Dak Prescott hit Hutcherson for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Hutcherson’s comfort level in the offense has increased over the last few weeks, but he felt good about his understanding at the end of last season. He said he really started understanding the offense in bowl prep.
But in the last few weeks, he’s been really focused.
“I think it’s due to my effort and hard work every day at practice and in the meeting rooms,” Hutcherson said. “I’m locked in at practice, and I’m locked in in the meeting rooms. My experience last year definitely carried over to this season.”
For the season, the Dadeville, Alabama, native has eight catches for 90 yards.
During his senior season at Dadeville High School, he caught 31 passes for 550 yards and six touchdowns.
“I think he’s a guy that’s getting high off of success,” Prescott said. “He’s doing well and he’s enjoying the feeling he’s getting. It’s given him some confidence.”
Hutcherson is MSU’s biggest tight end standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 260 pounds. His body type is a lot like Seattle Seahawk Jimmy Graham and New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski. Graham is listed at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, while Gronkowski is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds.
They are two of the best tight ends in the National Football League.
Moving forward, Hutcherson can become a real weapon for Prescott with just four regular season games remaining.
“He’s very, very dangerous,” Prescott said. “He’s a size matchup versus anybody else on that field. He’s got the confidence to make plays over guys.”
Hutcherson knows with his size he needs to be a bigger part of the offense, and the last two games have given him that confidence. Even with this bye week, he is taking it very serious and getting ready for Missouri.
He’s ready to use that size.
“That’s one of my main goals when I came here was to be a threat in the red zone or just anywhere. I can definitely see that,” Hutcherson said.
n, MSU is using the bye week to rest some veteran players and get some younger players some reps.
But the Bulldogs play in one week. With just one off week this season, Mullen likes a Thursday night game.
“The pro is you almost get two bye weekends if you spread it out that way,” Mullen said on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “It’s a little different deal so that’s kind of the advantage of it.”
n, SEC Nation, SEC Network’s on-campus pregame show, will be live at MSU from the Junction Nov. 14 for the Alabama game.
The show airs live from 9-11 a.m. No game time has been announced.
SEC Nation makes an appearance at all 14 SEC schools throughout the season. It started last season with the launch of the SEC Network. SEC Nation was on hand for MSU’s 48-31 win over Texas A&M last season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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