Who Will Step Up for Mississippi State in November?

Oct 17, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Malik Dear (22) carries the ball away from Louisiana Tech Bulldogs safety Lloyd Grogan (11) during the first half at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Malik Dear

Malik Dear has unique talents. He isn’t a prototypical receiver since he is heavier than most other receivers, but he isn’t exactly a running back either. But his athleticism is unmistakable, so the coaching staff has tried to be creative in getting the ball to an obvious playmaker.

Dear has a total of 24 touches for 243 yards. That’s a first down every time he gets his hands on the football. He has shown he can make a difference in the offense. And considering the fact he is a true freshman and the reluctance which Dan Mullen has to play true freshmen, this says a lot about the potential of Dear.

Malik Dear caught the attention of Mississippi State fans when he had a 52 yard touchdown run against the Texas A&M Aggies. The play led to Bulldog fans crying out for him to be the primary running back on the team. But if that one run is taken away, Dear has 7 rushes for 28 yards. It’s pretty average. But that one run demonstrated the explosive capabilities Dear brings to the table.

The coaching staff needs to find ways to get the ball to Dear and exploit his explosiveness. Good things seem to happen when Dear gets the football.

Next: Candidate #3