The Dispatch continues its overview of Mississippi State’s roster by shifting focus to the unit that bore much of the blame for last season’s shortcomings: the defense.
The Bulldogs were statistically one of the worst defenses in all of Division I in 2024, allowing 30 or more points in nine games and allowing 216.9 rushing yards per game.
Head Coach Jeff Lebby approached the issue by targeting more depth and experience at every position, including one of the few relative strengths: safety.
The unquestioned leader of the defense is Issac Smith, who shined as an expert run-stopper from safety last year. While he’ll still move around the back end, Smith is expected to play closer to the box, and the offseason additions appear to support that with several options to play behind Smith in the defensive backfield.
Key Returners
Issac Smith
6-0, 220 pounds
Junior from Fulton, Mississippi
Smith returns as one of the only known quality pieces on the defense. He started all but one game for the Bulldogs a year ago and earned Second Team All-SEC honors after leading the team and the conference in tackles.
It’s not a good sign when your safety is your leading tackler, but it is a credit to Smith for stepping into a necessary role to help where the team needed it most: stopping the run.
Now that he has a little more help both in the front seven and at safety, Smith is expected to play a versatile role somewhere between his original position and linebacker. He’s bulked up a bit to build off of his reputation as a hard-hitter over the middle of the field, too.
Smith has garnered several preseason honors, including All-SEC Third Team from coaches and media, but his presence in front of the microphone is that of someone who is still hoping to prove a point after a disappointing 2024 for the defense as a whole.
Brylan Lanier
6-1, 190 pounds
Redshirt senior from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Lanier returns after starting 10 games for the Bulldogs last year. He spent his first two seasons between Alabama and Indiana before transferring to East Mississippi Community College in 2023 and became a highly rated defensive back in the JUCO ranks. He showed his stuff last year for the Bulldogs and will be another versatile contributor on the back end of the defense this year.
Hunter Washington
5-11, 200 pounds
Redshirt senior from Katy, Texas
Washington started all 12 games last year after two years as an understudy for the Bulldogs. While his partner at safety, Smith, is moving closer to the box, there is still plenty of competition at safety, and Washington is one of several players who offer experience to a position group and defense as a whole that lacked depth last year.
Tyler Woodard
6-2, 210 pounds
Redshirt junior from Memphis, Tennessee
Woodard returns after playing four games last year. He missed much of the season due to injuries, but gained another year of eligibility in the process. With his experience at the JUCO level, Woodard offers a lot as a veteran with a chance to contribute over his final two years.
Key Transfers
Jahron Manning
5-11, 195 pounds
Senior from New Orleans, Louisiana
Manning is a former JUCO standout who got his Division I chance at Old Dominion and made the most of it.
Manning started 11 games in 2024, finishing second on the team with 85 tackles and leading the team with three interceptions while adding 5.5 tackles for loss. He turned heads in a game against South Carolina with seven tackles as the Gamecocks went to the wire against the underdog opponent.
Manning has impressed his coaches and teammates so far in fall camp, and the expectation is that he is an established starter going into Week 1.
Tony Mitchell
6-1, 215 pounds
Junior from Alabaster, Alabama
Mitchell is the latest arrival from the storied East Mississippi Lions program. He was the second-ranked JUCO player in the country last year after a standout year with the Lions.
Mitchell originally joined the Crimson Tide, and made seven appearances as a freshman in 2023 before transferring.
Rising talent
Stonka Burnside
6-0, 200 pounds
Sophomore from Starkville, Mississippi
Burnside made a name for himself at Starkville High School as a two-way player, and though he was recruited as a receiver, he has found a path to potentially contribute at safety after an impressive freshman year on special teams.
There is no guarantee of regular playing time yet, but his contributions and playmaking ability were not unnoticed by Lebby last year.
Tanner Johnson
6-0, 185 pounds
Redshirt junior from Kyle, Texas
Johnson has 13 appearances under his belt with no starts. Saw action in all 12 games last year off the bench with 16 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Cyrus Reyes
6-1, 200 pounds
Sophomore from Katy, Texas
Played in all 12 games as a true freshman, primarily working on special teams.
Vic Sutton
6-3, 215 pounds
Redshirt Sophomore from Madison, Mississippi
Sutton returns for his third year with the Bulldogs having yet to appear in a game.
Freshmen
Boogie Johnson
6-2, 200 pounds
Freshman from Hooks, Texas
Lo’Kavion Jackson
6-1, 200 pounds
Freshman from Reddick, Florida
Sekou Smith Jr.
6-0, 180 pounds
Freshman from Miami, Florida
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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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
