Mississippi State (4-6) hosts Southern Miss (3-7) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles.
Quarterback
Neither team has named a starter for Saturday. Before he was fired Monday morning, Zach Arnett suggested that Will Rogers, who sustained a left shoulder injury on Oct. 7 against Western Michigan and has not played since, could return this week. If so, it would provide a huge boost to an offense that has struggled mightily with Mike Wright and Chris Parson behind center. Billy Wiles has started all 10 games for Southern Miss, but freshman Ethan Crawford provided a spark last week and is a threat with his legs.
Edge: Even
Running back
Despite the best efforts of Seth Davis, Jeffery Pittman and company, MSU dearly misses Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, who has now missed the last three games with various leg injuries. The Golden Eagles’ offense flows through Frank Gore Jr., the son of an NFL legend who will likely eclipse 1,000 yards for the season Saturday. Gore has found a new level in the last three games, rushing for 637 yards and five touchdowns during that span.
Edge: Southern Miss
Wide receiver/tight end
Without Rogers, the Bulldogs have struggled to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers out wide, with the exception of a big game from Zavion Thomas against Auburn. Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin and Justin Robinson could have a chance to break out against an injury-plagued Southern Miss cornerback room. Jakarius Caston and Latreal Jones are the Golden Eagles’ top pass catchers with nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns between them.
Edge: Mississippi State
Offensive line
Despite being chock-full of veterans, MSU’s offensive front has hit a rough patch this month. The Bulldogs have surrendered five sacks in each of the last two games, and pre-snap penalties have also been an issue. Southern Miss has improved in run blocking during Gore’s torrid stretch, but over the course of the season, the Golden Eagles have been susceptible to negative-yardage plays.
Edge: Even
Defensive line
MSU had few answers for the mobility of Texas A&M third-string quarterback Jaylen Henderson last week, as he and a plethora of running backs helped the Aggies rack up 246 rushing yards on the Bulldogs. Southern Miss has also struggled to generate pressure up front, but did make a pair of key goal-line stands last week against Louisiana.
Edge: Southern Miss
Linebackers
Once again, MSU’s Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson are first and second, respectively, in the Southeastern Conference in tackles, and Watson leads the conference with nine sacks. Jalil Clemons leads the Golden Eagles with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, but production has been thin for Southern Miss elsewhere.
Edge: Mississippi State
Secondary
Shawn Preston Jr. is the rock of the Bulldogs’ defensive backfield with three interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss, but nobody else in the secondary has a pick, and top receivers have routinely had big games against MSU. The Golden Eagles have been decimated by injuries at cornerback to the point where two offensive players have switched to cornerback during the season, but safety Jay Stanley has been a standout with three interceptions, three forced fumbles, a recovered fumble and four pass breakups.
Edge: Mississippi State
Special teams
Kyle Ferrie is still enjoying a strong freshman season as the Bulldogs’ kicker, though he did have a 49-yard attempt blocked a week ago. Thomas provided the team’s biggest spark in weeks with a touchdown return on the opening kickoff. For Southern Miss, kicker Andrew Stein and Bryce Lofton have both been solid but hardly perfect, while Tiaquelin Mims took a punt back 82 yards for a touchdown against Old Dominion.
Edge: Mississippi State
Starters
Mississippi State
Offense
QB 2 Will Rogers Sr. OR 14 Mike Wright Sr. OR 16 Chris Parson Fr.
RB 7 Jo’Quavious Marks Sr. OR 25 Jeffery Pittman Jr. OR 23 Seth Davis Fr.
WR 3 Justin Robinson R-Jr. OR 19 Freddie Roberson R-Sr.
WR 5 Lideatrick Griffin Sr.
WR 1 Zavion Thomas So.
TE 88 Ryland Goede Gr. OR 98 Malik Ellis Fr.
LT 69 Kwatrivous Johnson Gr.
LG 66 Nick Jones Sr.
C 57 Cole Smith Gr.
RG 64 Steven Losoya III R-Sr.
RT 58 Kameron Jones Gr.
Defense
DE 91 Deonte Anderson So.
NG 22 Nathan Pickering Sr.
DT 94 Jaden Crumedy Gr.
SLB 36 Donterry Russell R-Fr.
MLB 14 Nathaniel Watson Gr.
WLB 44 Jett Johnson Gr.
CB 3 Decamerion Richardson Sr.
S 7 Shawn Preston Gr.
S 10 Corey Ellington Jr.
S 1 Marcus Banks Sr.
CB 4 DeCarlos Nicholson Sr.
Special teams
K 80 Kyle Ferrie Fr.
P 83 Keelan Crimmins Fr.
Southern Miss
Offense
QB 8 Billy Wiles R-So.
RB 3 Frank Gore Jr.
WR 1 Jakarius Caston Sr.
WR 6 Latreal Jones Sr.
WR 21 Tiaquelin Mims So.
TE 33 Cole Cavallo R-Sr.
LT 61 Gabe Cavazos R-So.
LG 65 Gerquan Scott R-Jr.
C 55 Bryce Ramsey R-Jr.
RG 77 John Bolding R-Sr.
RT 51 Braison Mays R-Sr.
Defense
DE 94 Kristin Booth Jr.
NT 96 Jalen Williams Sr.
DE 95 Quentin Bivens Sr. OR 36 Brodarius Lewis Jr.
SLB 18 Josh Carr R-Sr.
MLB 32 Hayes Maples R-Sr.
WLB 28 Swayze Bozeman R-Sr. OR 35 T.Q. Newsome R-Jr.
STAR 1 Markel McLaurin R-Jr.
CB 11 MJ Daniels Jr.
S 7 Jay Stanley Sr.
S 6 Dylan Lawrence R-Jr.
CB 14 Zay Franks R-So.
Special teams
K 98 Andrew Stein R-Jr.
P 30 Bryce Lofton R-So.
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