Mississippi State Mid-Season Review

Sep 13, 2014; Mobile, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jamerson Love (5) and defensive lineman Preston Smith (91) hit South Alabama Jaguars quarterback Brandon Bridge (7) as he throws a pass in the third quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mississippi State defeated South Alabama, 35-3. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

MVP
Preston Smith: Just like Dak was a no-brainer for offense, this was a no-brainer for the offensive MVP. Preston Smith has been causing havoc on the opposing team’s quarterbacks and backfield since game 1. He was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week the first three weeks of the season, and he kept the pressure on once the SEC slate got here. Smith was a fringe late round draft pick, but he is quickly playing his way up the board.

Unsung Hero
Matthew Wells: You haven’t heard much about Matthew Wells, but he has been quietly having a great season for the Bulldogs. The best thing about Wells is that he may be the most versatile player on the team. He has 4 Tackles For Loss with 1.5 Sacks. He also has 5 Pass Break Ups and 5 Passes Defended, plus 2 Quarterback Hurries. Solid numbers for a guy that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention.

Who Needs to Step Up?
Chris Jones: Chris Jones has had a good year.He has 2 Tackles For Loss and 2 Sacks along with 3 Quarterback Hurries. The one thing you don’t see that we did last year is Jones just blowing up the opposing offensive lines. A lot of it can be attributed to the way the Bulldogs sub out players, especially on the defensive side. I think he might be ready to step up and dominate like he did last year. The game clinching interception was caused by Chris Jones getting pressure and tipping the Nick Marshall pass.