STARKVILLE — Mason Miller makes no secret about what the Mississippi State offensive line still lacks.
“We’re still looking for two tackles,” Miller said Thursday. “That’s what we’re looking for around here.”
It’s no small feat to fill the holes left by Charles Cross and Scott Lashley on the Bulldogs’ line. Cross will be a first-round pick in the NFL draft on April 28, while Lashley exhausted his collegiate eligibility. They leave Mississippi State’s offensive line solid on the interior but lacking on the edge.
“Somebody’s got to step up,” Miller said. “Something’s got to happen.”
Mississippi State should have the bodies to replace Cross and Lashley, but it won’t be easy to make up for their production — particularly Cross, a likely top-10 pick.
“He’s gifted,” Miller said of Cross. “He’s a gifted kid.”
But the two players in the lead to take over at tackle are gifted in their own right.
Six-foot-eight Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College transfer Percy Lewis is receiving first-team reps at left tackle. Lewis is down more than 30 pounds but is still listed at 345, giving him the size to handle opposing pass rushers.
“He’s lost quite a bit of weight, which he needed to do,” head coach Leach said of Lewis on March 24. “He’s got naturally good feet. If somebody comes right at him, he just flat out stops them. He’s still kind of getting the scheme of things, so there’s some growing pains there.”
On the right side, sophomore Albert Reese IV is the leading candidate to supplant Lashley at right tackle. Reese played some down the stretch last season for the Bulldogs.
Defensive lineman Randy Charlton praised Reese’s “Canadian strength” Tuesday, and the young player has earned mostly praise.
But Reese still needs to learn how to “bend,” according to Miller.
“He’s such a big guy; he’s got to learn how to get that butt down,” Miller said. “He gets walked into the quarterback a little too much right now.”
On the inside, Kwatrivous “Dollar Bill” Johnson returns for his redshirt senior year after playing in 11 games last season. Starkville native Kameron Jones is also a redshirt senior this year, as is Cole Smith — who is sitting out for now.
Redshirt junior Nick Jones and redshirt freshman Gabe Cavazos are also getting work at guard after sitting out last year.
“Those guys are young, and they’re getting in there, but at some point you’ve got to start going,” Miller said.
Miller said he hopes to have three-man rotations on each side of the line, featuring reserves who can play either guard or tackle depending on need.
In the center, there’s little question. Columbus native LaQuinston Sharp announced he would return for his final year of eligibility, providing much-needed stability on the line.
Quarterback Will Rogers said Tuesday he was “very happy” to see Sharp return — happier even than to hear about the additions of some new wide receivers.
“The center’s a huge role for our offense,” Rogers said. “He’s making all the calls, and he’s the leader up front.”
Miller lent credence to that Thursday, saying Sharp was directing traffic with his offense in a goal-line situation during practice.
The former East Mississippi Community College lineman can help teach younger players like Reese, Cavazos and redshirt freshman Canon Boone. Middle Tennessee transfer Steven Losoya, the Bulldogs hope, can provide similar assistance.
Losoya came over in the offseason and will compete for a guard position during his redshirt junior season.
“I think he’s going to end up being an interior guy, which is going to help us, and then create some competition with those guys and then eventually take somebody’s job,” Miller said.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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