Editor’s note: This is the 11th installment of our “Scouting the schedule” series, which breaks down every game on Mississippi State’s 2022 football schedule. Part 10 detailed Georgia’s visit to Starkville, while Part 12 will examine the annual Egg Bowl rivalry game with Ole Miss.
Bulldogs, beware: Just last year, East Tennessee State took down a Southeastern Conference program.
Yes, Vanderbilt counts in that category. Technically.
The Buccaneers opened the 2021 campaign with a somewhat surprising 23-3 takedown of the Commodores in Nashville, and it wasn’t really a fluke. ETSU went on to an 11-win season, going 7-1 in league play and reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
Of course, the Southern Conference and the Southeastern Conference are separated by a lot more than those four letters.
And Mississippi State isn’t Vanderbilt.
The Bulldogs will be hard pressed not to at least think about the following week’s rivalry game at Ole Miss, but they should handle the season’s lone FCS foe.
Mississippi State hosts East Tennessee State on Nov. 19.
East Tennessee State quick facts
2021 record: 11-2 (7-1 Southern Conference)
Coach: George Quarles, first year
ESPN Football Power Index: N/A (FCS)
All-time series: 0-0
Last meeting: Never
History
Mississippi State has never played East Tennessee State before. Nov. 19 will mark the first meeting between the two schools. MSU is 8-1-1 against SoCon schools, with the loss and tie coming respectively against Samford in 1909 and 1922, the last time the two teams met. Mississippi State is 3-0 against Chattanooga and 1-0 against Mercer.
2021 season
Not only did East Tennessee State begin its 2021 campaign by taking down Vanderbilt, but the Buccaneers got off to a scorching start.
ETSU won its next five games, including SoCon contests against Samford, Wofford and The Citadel before being handed its first loss by Chattanooga.
But the Bucs won four more in a row to make the FCS playoffs. They won their first game against Kennesaw State in the second round before losing to powerhouse North Dakota State in the quarterfinals.
Quarterback Tyler Riddell returns after throwing for 2,464 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. His top receiver, Will Huzzie (798 yards, five touchdowns) also returns.
Quay Holmes ran for 1,553 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Bucs in 2021 but has exhausted his eligibility. Jacob Saylors, who added 1,019 yards and 10 scores behind Holmes, does return.
On defense, outside linebacker Jalen Porter returns after putting up team-high marks in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (six). ETSU’s leaders in tackles — Donovan Manuel (124) and Jared Folks (94) are both gone.
Key additions
East Tennessee State’s recruiting class checks in at No. 159 nationally, per the 247 Sports composite rankings.
That puts the Buccaneers in the upper echelon of FCS programs, though they only have two commits listed on the site.
Tommy Winton of Knoxville Catholic is a three-star recruit, while Georgia safety Tyree Rainey is unranked.
In the transfer portal, ETSU landed three-star Marshall offensive lineman Chris Everhart.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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