STARKVILLE — Showing poise as a freshman quarterback is rare, especially in the Southeastern Conference.
After all, first-year players have to learn an offense while they adjust to the change in the speed of the game from high school to college.
Dominating defenses with intimidating defensive linemen and linebackers don’t make that transition any easier.
But Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is showing poise beyond his years in his first season. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound native of Channelview, Texas, became Alabama’s starter in the season opener against Southern California and has helped the reigning national champions stay unbeaten and maintain the No. 1 ranking in the national poll and in the College Football Playoff rankings.
“I don’t know if I’m surprised,” Mississippi State defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said of Hurts’ poise. “I guess those guys that play themselves into those roles at the big-time programs, playing as true freshmen, they have some of that innately in them. I don’t think you see many true freshmen that are going to be guys that are going to be really rattled on game day.”
Sirmon and MSU (4-5, 2-3 SEC) will try their best to rattle Hurts and No. 1 Alabama (9-0, 6-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN) when the teams meet at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Hurts is 138 of 222 for 1,656 yards and 11 touchdowns (six interceptions). He is second on the team with 635 yards rushing on 115 carries and 10 touchdowns.
Hurts’ 21-yard ran was the only touchdown last week in a 10-0 victory against LSU last week at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
MSU senior defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson, who has 27 tackles (a team-high 10 tackles for loss), four sacks, two quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery, said Hurts can “bleed” a defense with his feet. He called him the best running quarterback the Bulldogs have faced. He also said Hurts is a great passer who how dangerous he can be in the run game.
Jefferson said the coaching staff has stressed the importance of containing Hurts when he scrambles or when a play is busted and he isn’t down.
“We want to keep rush lanes even, keep it balanced with two on each side,” Jefferson said. “We don’t want to get three-on-one where there’s just an end or a viper on the side by itself and you have the nose or the three tech cross the center and leave the other guy by himself. We’re just going to try to smush the pocket and keep him in that phone booth.”
Former Louisville and East Mississippi Community College quarterback Wyatt Roberts has acted as the scout team quarterback this week. Jefferson said Roberts, who has worked in that role all season, has done a good job of giving the defense a realistic look of what Hurts will do.
“It’s helped a lot because he knows football,” Jefferson said. “He knows what it’s going to look like in a game. He’s a guy that knows how to watch film. He’s just not a freshman quarterback coming in. He knows how to give a good look. He knows what the defense is expecting, so he’s going to do everything he can to give us the best look.”
Senior safety Kivon Coman, who has missed three games with an ankle injury, said Roberts isn’t as fast as Hurts but he has some speed that has helped simulate what the Bulldogs will see Saturday.
“(Hurts is) very dynamic. He’s a great player,” Coman said. “You just have to stay focused and make the plays that come to you. Everybody’s going to make plays. We just have to continue to progress as a defense and play as one.”
Coman has 29 tackles (two-and-a-half for loss), two interceptions, one pass breakup, and three passes defended.
MSU has played against dual-threat quarterbacks (BYU’s Taysom Hill and Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight) this season. Hill was 16 of 28 for 165 yards and three touchdowns and 53 yards rushing and one touchdown in BYU’s 28-21 double-overtime win on Oct. 14 in Provo, Utah. Knight was 5 of 14 for 43 yards and 54 yards rushing and a touchdown in MSU’s 35-28 win last week at Davis Wade Stadium. Knight was injured on a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He didn’t play in the second half.
Sirmon dual-threat quarterbacks aren’t rare and share many similarities. However, he said one attribute sets Hurts apart.
“He does a great job of throwing a nice deep ball,” Sirmon said. “They do a good job of pushing the ball downfield and really utilizing some of the speed they have on the outside part of the field.”
Sophomore wide receiver Calvin Ridley leads Alabama with 45 catches for 527 yards and five touchdowns. Junior wide receiver ArDarius Stewart has 31 catches for 491 yards and three touchdowns, while senior tight end O.J. Howard has 23 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
Although Sirmon hasn’t worked directly with Hurts, he has a feeling he has a resilient attitude.
“I think it takes a unique personality to even give a freshman that opportunity to play,” Sirmon said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
