STARKVILLE — There was a look of legitimate surprise in Tommy Stevens’ eyes.
Just minutes after walking off the field following last Saturday’s win over Louisiana, he was informed he had targeted junior receiver Osirus Mitchell nine times that afternoon.
“Really?” he said, almost puzzled. “Honestly, I didn’t know. I’m shocked.”
The number shouldn’t have come as a major surprise. Mitchell was among a corps group of receivers who practiced with Stevens after-hours in the Palmeiro Center during the offseason.
And though high target and catch rate was encouraging, it was more an indictment on Mississippi State’s inclination to find favorable matchups in employing their deep receiving corps.
In MSU’s 38-28 season opening win, nine receivers caught a pass from Stevens — who finished the afternoon 20-of-30 with 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Of note, Mitchell finished the day with six catches on nine targets, while senior Stephen Guidry notched four receptions on seven targets. Sophomore Austin Williams also accrued three catches on four chances — including a 12-yard touchdown catch with 13:07 left in the fourth quarter — and senior Deddrick Thomas caught two passes of his own.
“I trust whoever is running the route,” Stevens said. “I’m trusting them to get open and give them a chance to make a play.”
Prior to his arrival, Stevens was around plenty of wildly productive receivers at Penn State. DaeSean Hamilton, tight end Mike Gesicki and Chris Godwin are all playing the NFL. Juwan Johnson — who transferred to Oregon this season — could join that contingent in the spring.
And though Stevens has been surrounded by diverse talents and skillsets in the past, this year’s MSU receiving corps is different.
It’s been a sticking point that Moorhead’s receivers learn multiple positions since he arrived in Starkville. He concedes a few are locked at certain spots given their measurements but weapons like Williams, Thomas, JUCO product JaVonta Payton and Kansas State transfer Isaiah Zuber are all capable of playing any of the three receiver spots.
Given this versatility, Moorhead is able to exploit mismatches along the defensive front.
“I guess that’s kind of the way the system rolls,” Stevens said. “Obviously we have matchups that we like to see and go after during situations, but a lot of talent in that room and there’s a high expectation for everyone that’s out there.”
Further, given the versatile nature of MSU’s receivers, there’s expected to be a level of variance in who garners the most targets or receptions game-to-game.
Stevens and Mitchell both expressed postgame they thought Saturday’s results were a product of game planning. Moorhead doubled down on the stance.
“The thing you cannot get caught up on is which specific person,” he said. “It is about the position to me. How many catches or touches did the Z have, did the slot have, did the X have, did the tight end have.”
A piece to the improved production is new receivers coach Michael Johnson. A long-time West-Coaster, Johnson has spent time at Oregon, UCLA and Oregon State in the Pac-12 and coached another decade bouncing between the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
A former Akron and Arizona State quarterback, he has brought a renewed vision to a unit that desperately more production this year.
“We’re trying to establish an identity in the wide receiver room being physical and making sure that we don’t take any plays off,” Johnson said. “And I think that’s starting to show a little bit.”
After a season of decided mediocrity, receiver was a noticeable question mark for this year’s offense. Guidry and Mitchell were the team’s leading returning receivers — though neither totaled more than 450 yards on the year.
Thomas showed occasional flashes out of the slot, but inconsistent quarterback play and Nick Fitzgerald’s running ability limited his and the rest of the group’s opportunities.
Now armed with a capable quarterback and a new position coach, the MSU receiving corps is prepared to shoulder an added load — no matter who receives the targets.
“I think we’re really deep,” Williams said. “We can roll guys in and out. Everyone can make plays and step up.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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