Mississippi State (1-2) hosts Florida (1-2) on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Gators.
Quarterback
For all of MSU’s offensive struggles, Blake Shapen has played well through three games. He padded his stats a bit late last week against Toledo, finishing 28-of-39 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Florida has used both veteran Graham Mertz and true freshman DJ Lagway, and while Lagway sparkled against Samford, he struggled against Texas A&M while Mertz played fairly well. It’s unclear what the Gators’ plan is this week regarding how they distribute the snaps.
Edge: Mississippi State
Running back
The Bulldogs again struggled to untrack their running game, though junior college transfer Johnie Daniels impressed in the second half and could be in line for more playing time. Keyvone Lee and Davon Booth have yet to pop a big play on the ground. Florida’s Montrell Johnson Jr. had 106 yards in the season opener against Miami but was limited to minus-7 yards last week, while Treyaun Webb and Ja’Kobi Jackson ran well with limited carries.
Edge: Florida
Wide receiver/tight end
MSU did a nice job getting the tight ends involved last week, with Seydou Traore and Justin Ball combining for seven catches and 70 yards on nine targets. Speedsters Kevin Coleman, Jordan Mosley and Mario Craver remain focal points for every defense the Bulldogs will face. The Gators will be without Eugene Wilson III, which is a big loss, but they still have impact transfers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, who each caught a touchdown pass against Texas A&M.
Edge: Mississippi State
Offensive line
For as much experience as MSU has up front, none of the linemen had played together before this year, and it showed against Toledo, with the Bulldogs allowing five sacks and looking overwhelmed by the Rockets’ pressure packages. Florida has returners at the most important spots, with Austin Barber at left tackle and Jake Slaughter at center, plus Damieon George and San Diego State transfer Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson at guard.
Edge: Florida
Defensive line
Kalvin Dinkins missed his second straight game last week and is out again Saturday, with Kedrick Bingley-Jones listed as questionable. That means De’Monte Russell, Sulaiman Kpaka and Trevion Williams may have to play nearly every snap for MSU. The Gators have three defensive linemen out but still have Tyreak Sapp, who has 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks through three games as well as three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Edge: Even
Linebackers
It was a rough week for the Bulldogs’ linebacking corps, though Stone Blanton did finish with 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Branden Jennings was not nearly as effective as he was the first two weeks. Florida’s linebackers are the strength of the Gators’ defense, with Grayson Howard, Jaden Robinson, Shemar James and R.J. Moten among their leading tacklers.
Edge: Florida
Secondary
MSU safety Isaac Smith is tied for the national lead in tackles, though that is partially a byproduct of the Bulldogs’ struggles up front and their defense spending so much time on the field. With Kelley Jones coming back opposite Brice Pollock at cornerback, Brylan Lanier can move back to safety, where he is more comfortable, and Corey Ellington could make his season debut as well. Jordan Castell leads Florida in tackles and has two pass breakups, but the Gators have had some miscommunications in the back end.
Edge: Mississippi State
Special teams
Teams have started angling punts away from Coleman, who is as dynamic as it gets as a returner. Kyle Ferrie made his lone field goal attempt last week from 23 yards, and Nick Barr-Mira is averaging an impressive 48 yards per punt. Florida’s Jeremy Crenshaw has landed seven of his 11 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and Trey Smack is 2-for-2 on field goals. Dike and Jadan Baugh have been solid but not spectacular on returns.
Edge: Florida
Starters
Mississippi State
Offense
QB 2 Blake Shapen Sr.
RB 24 Keyvone Lee Sr. OR 21 Davon Booth Sr.
WR 3 Kevin Coleman Jr.
WR 6 Jordan Mosley Jr.
WR 7 Mario Craver Fr. OR 1 Kelly Akharaiyi Sr.
TE 18 Seydou Traore R-Jr. OR 84 Justin Ball Sr.
LT 66 Makylan Pounders Jr.
LG 75 Jacoby Jackson Jr.
C 67 Ethan Miner Sr.
RG 77 Marlon Martinez Sr.
RT 76 Albert Reese IV Jr.
Defense
DT 22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones Jr. OR 23 Trevion Williams R-Fr.
DT 8 Sulaiman Kpaka Sr. OR 90 Kai McClendon Fr.
DE 9 De’Monte Russell Sr.
JACK 11 Ty Cooper Jr. OR 44 Branden Jennings Jr.
MLB 7 Stone Blanton Jr.
DIME 40 Nic Mitchell Jr. OR 5 John Lewis Jr.
STAR 3 Brylan Lanier Jr.
FS 2 Isaac Smith So.
SS 21 Hunter Washington Jr.
CB 1 Kelley Jones R-Fr.
CB 14 Brice Pollock So.
Specialists
K 80 Kyle Ferrie So.
P 82 Nick Barr-Mira Sr.
Florida
Offense
QB 15 Graham Mertz R-Sr. OR 2 DJ Lagway Fr.
RB 1 Montrell Johnson Sr.
WR 6 Elijhah Badger R-Sr.
WR 17 Chimere Dike R-Sr.
TE 89 Hayden Hansen R-So.
TE 8 Arlis Boardingham R-So.
LT 58 Austin Barber R-Jr.
LG 77 Knijeah Harris So.
C 66 Jake Slaughter R-Jr.
RG 70 Damieon George R-Jr.
RT 75 Kamryn Waites R-Jr.
Defense
DE 94 Tyreak Sapp R-Jr.
NT 21 Desmond Watson Sr.
JACK 19 T.J. Searcy So.
WLB 10 Grayson Howard So.
MLB 6 Shemar James Jr.
SLB 34 George Gumbs R-Jr.
LCB 28 Devin Moore Jr.
SS 12 DJ Douglas R-Sr.
FS 14 Jordan Castell So.
RCB 3 Jason Marshall Sr.
STAR 0 Sharif Denson So.
Specialists
K Trey Smack Jr.
P 26 Jeremy Crenshaw Sr.
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