STARKVILLE — As Chance Lovertich made his way back toward the practice field after Monday’s media session, Will Rogers stopped him with an urgent question.
“Did they ask you who the best Ping-Pong player was at the house?” Rogers queried.
Not only are the two Mississippi State quarterbacks competing for the starting job during preseason camp, but they’re roommates. Nightly table tennis battles ensue between the duo as well as their third housemate, wide receiver Austin Williams.
And if you ask Rogers, no game in which he holds a paddle is ever close.
“It’s kind of embarrassing the way I do those guys,” Rogers told reporters Monday. “Foot on the throat at all times. No mercy for these guys.”
On the football field, of course, things are wholly different. The friendship between Rogers and Lovertich dates to their high school days in the Jackson area, and with less than three weeks until Mississippi State’s season opener, it’s driving each Bulldog signal-caller to be his best.
“It’s good to have somebody like that competing with me and stuff like that where we can find ways to make each other better,” Rogers said.
Both Brandon natives, the two quarterbacks were reunited in Starkville when Lovertich announced his transfer from South Alabama in January. The former Jackson Prep star said his offer from the Bulldogs came toward the end of the process.
“I wouldn’t say it came late, but it wasn’t early, that’s for sure,” he said.
Lovertich’s grandfather, Doug Hutton, was a three-sport star at Mississippi State in the 1960s and was named the school’s 2015 Southeastern Conference Legend. Lovertich’s parents both attended the school, too.
“We definitely grew up Mississippi State fans,” Lovertich said.
Now, the quarterback who led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to the NJCAA national title in 2019 will compete with a signal-caller two years younger to start for the Bulldogs. Lovertich said he knew of Rogers during their respective high school careers; now, their bond has only grown stronger.
Besides their daily table tennis clashes, the two spend time together on weekends. When they’re back in Brandon, they find time to go out and throw the football around.
While Rogers said he’s learned a lot from Lovertich’s three years of college football experience, the sophomore’s expertise in the Bulldogs’ own system might be just as valuable. Lovertich said he’s a fan of Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, the likes of which he hasn’t quite seen before.
“I’ve kind of done something like it, but definitely not in this regard when it’s almost like you’re wanting to pass every single play,” he said. “It’s definitely nice, and I’m loving it.”
After completing 47 of 86 passes for 619 yards and five touchdowns with the Jaguars, Lovertich has been thrown right into the heat of the Bulldogs’ competition. With Southern Miss graduate transfer Jack Abraham held out of team workouts and Saturday’s scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium, Leach said last week Rogers and Lovertich are “at the top” of what remains an open competition.
Lovertich said his confidence allowed him to expect to compete for snaps right away in Starkville, noting his mentality in practice hasn’t changed.
“You come out here every day and compete the same way,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a first- or a fifth-stringer: You’re coming out here to get better.”
Rogers has done the same, taking strides when it comes to leadership and preparing physically for what his father recently reminded him will be “the longest season of your life.” He and his receivers worked out both with the team and by themselves, running routes and tossing passes on Sundays when no activity was scheduled.
“It’s good just to build team bonding and team chemistry,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the scrimmage on Scott Field was the next step in ramping up for 2021, but he has his sights set on another moment: running out of the tunnel on Sept. 4 with 60,000 cowbells clamoring, a scene he said might just bring “tears of joy” when it comes to fruition.
“It’s all I can think about,” he said. “Going to sleep every night, the only thing I can think about is just running out and just hearing those for the first time.”
Lovertich said that matchup against Louisiana Tech in the season opener will be long overdue.
“I think we’re just ready to play another team,” he said. “We’ve been out here competing against each other for two weeks, and there’s been good plays on both sides of the ball, a lot of good competitiveness on the field.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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