Ke’Travion Hargrove already has another nickname.

The freshman running back from Ruston, Louisiana, is known as “Bull,” but he was issued a different moniker along with his No. 21 jersey when he signed with Mississippi State this offseason.

Since sophomore Jo’quavious “Woody” Marks took on No. 21 last season, Hargrove was soon dubbed “Little Woody” by the Bulldogs’ more experienced rushers. 

To running backs coach Eric Mele, it’s a light-hearted example of how Mississippi State’s running backs room is already coming together with four days to go until the Bulldogs’ Sept. 4 opener.

“You’ve got to let it eat a little bit,” Mele said.

The relationships among the Bulldogs’ rushers might just be predicated on those nine words, and new nicknames like Hargrove’s are just a small piece of things as the preseason gives way to MSU’s 2021 campaign.

Hargrove and fellow freshman Simeon Price join Marks, sophomore Dillon Johnson and junior college transfers J.J. Jernighan and Omni Wells in what portends to be a talented group of backs. 

Mele said a preferred walk-on will soon become the seventh member, but as for now, he’s happy with the players at his disposal.

“The six guys we have in our room right now, I feel good about all those guys playbook-wise and the effort that they’re giving,” he said.

Marks and Johnson, as expected, were listed as co-starters at running back on the depth chart Mississippi State released Monday. But Mele said anyone who’s mentally and physically ready to go will get a chance to play.

“The ones up there — those jobs aren’t permanent, either,” he said. “If you’re up there and you’re not performing, you’re taking plays off, that’s an easy ‘OK, we’re going to swap you back and forth.’”

That’s why it’s fundamental for the freshman backs to know the offense, and Mele said they’ve done all they can to pick up things so far in camp.

Price and Hargrove each take the time to sit down with Mele, ask questions and go over the plays for the team’s “Thursday Night Football” full-pad scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium. There, each player is evaluated, so the Bulldogs know the importance of playing their best.

“I’ll make some time where I meet with them, make sure they know the game plan and what the playbook looks like so they don’t lose the grasp they’ve gained at this point,” Mele said.

Both young backs are willing to put in the time to get better, taking advantage of as much time as they can to pick their coach’s brain. Price in particular has stood out, Mele said.

“Simeon’s really a high football IQ guy, so he stays late in meetings, asks a lot of good questions, picking it up,” Mele said. “Now it’s just a matter of doing it fast on the field.”

Hargrove, a speedster by nature, has no problem picking up the pace. Earlier in camp, Johnson and Marks had words of praise for the high school track star, who was clocked below 4.4 seconds on a 40-yard dash.

And even the two starters have made the necessary improvements. In somewhat of a role reversal, Marks “packed on the pounds” while Johnson shed them to become the slasher he hoped to be.

“Woody looked like he got stung by a bee a little bit. He kind of swole up,” Mele said. “Dillon, all of a sudden we started putting the pads back on, and he’s kind of outrunning some people, or guys are coming up with air on the tackle.”

On the second string behind Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin at kickoff returner, Marks is the only Bulldogs back listed on the depth chart on special teams, but Mele said all of his running backs have practiced at either primary or off returner.

“Those guys with the ball in their hands are good players, and they’re good blockers,” Mele said. “I encourage that. Hopefully all six of my guys are on the bus playing special teams.”

The final piece toward becoming the rushers Mele wants his players to be is pass protection, and he knows it’s not easy to stand up a big linebacker coming in with a head of steam. But in practice, even Hargrove and Price have held their own in the backfield against the likes of Aaron Brule or Tyrus Wheat.

“Our linebackers are pretty good blitzers themselves, so if they can block them, I’m pretty confident,” Mele said.

Improving execution on blocking is just one of the things the Bulldogs have been able to emphasize with normal practice time. Mele said there’s “no comparison” between the current offseason and 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated spring football and shortened fall camp.

“Instead of just understanding that’s the guy you have to block, now we’re actually trying to put him on his back,” Mele said.

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.