STARKVILLE — The plans for college football’s new redshirt rule — allowing players to play in four games and still receive a redshirt — have been varied. Some have elected to divide the season into thirds, allowing one group of redshirt candidates to play in the first third, some in the second third and some in the final third. Some have held all freshmen back until they were needed for depth due to injury, using their four games only when absolutely needed.
Joe Moorhead’s plan was simple. To date, it’s working as planned.
Moorhead’s plan was to identify four games in which freshmen could get an opportunity to play — Stephen F. Austin, UL Lafayette, Louisiana Tech and the bowl game — and hope the game situation gave them an opportunity to enter. With another one of those opportunities coming up 6:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network), MSU is right on pace with the plan.
Moorhead saw some benefit to the plan working as it was supposed to in the past, when No. 21 MSU (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) got some redshirt candidates into its season opener against Stephen F. Austin.
“The way we put the plan together regarding the redshirts and the four games, this is one game we earmarked where the freshmen will be green lights and the freshmen will be able to play if the situation dictates and warrants, and it did,” Moorhead said at the time. “I think it was a great opportunity to get their feet wet, go look at the film. Going forward, some may continue to play, some may redshirt, but those that continue to play have valuable experience.”
The rule was intended to help freshmen gain some extra development in their first year with a college program, and that intent has come to fruition for MSU. Seventeen Bulldog freshmen are on pace to utilize the rule in this fashion. Linebacker Aaron Brule, tight end Brad Cumbest, wide receiver Cameron Gardner, wide receiver Cason Grant, quarterback Jalen Mayden, cornerback Jaylon Reed and running back Robert Rivers all played in MSU’s wins over Stephen F. Austin and UL Lafayette.
The following freshmen only played in one of those two games, thus still on pace to utilize the redshirt: defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy, cornerback Esaias Furdge, linebacker Jett Johnson, offensive lineman Kwatrivous Johnson, defensive lineman Fabian Lovett, safety Shawn Preston Jr., defensive lineman Devon Robinson, safety Joshua Short, tight end Geor’quarius Spivey and linebacker Nathaniel Watson.
The three freshmen that won’t be using that redshirt are wide receiver Devonta “Whop” Jason, West Point native safety Marcus Murphy and kicker Scott Goodman. Goodman has been MSU’s kickoff specialist all season alongside Murphy, a consistent fixture on special teams units who is now getting some reps on defense with Brian Cole out for the season; Jason played some special teams early and has seen more time on offense as the season’s progressed.
The freshmen were not the only ones in Moorhead’s mind.
“The first thing you have to do is look at your existing roster and look at guys that have taken redshirts and guys that haven’t taken redshirts, maybe some of those non-first year guys that you can play in four games and save a year of eligibility,” Moorhead said.
That could have applied to quarterback Keytaon Thompson, but Moorhead said in the beginning that was not the plan and he has followed through, having now played Thompson in six games. A non-freshman that could be redshirting is long snapper Paul Blackwell, the newcomer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College who has not played while Joel Baldwin has taken that position.
“It’s huge. Any time you get an opportunity to get under the lights in that stadium, that’s huge,” offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Luke Getsy said. “That rule has been really beneficial in helping the development of the young guys. In the wide receiver room, (Gardner) has grown tremendously and this being a big reason why.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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