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Mississippi State Football: 10 players that need to step up

By Josh Barnhill

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; The sun sets before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; The sun sets before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Brandon Holloway (10) dives into the end zone during the second quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Brandon Holloway (10) dives into the end zone during the second quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

There are some really talented players for Mississippi State that need to step up if the 2016 team is going to make a mark.

When you lose the likes of Dak Prescott, De’Runnya Wilson, Chris Jones, Beniquez Brown and Will Redmond among others, you need some talented guys coming in behind them or you’re going to slip off.

While Dan Mullen’s recruiting classes haven’t been in the top half of the SEC, there have been some key players brought in each year with a lot of talent. The hope is that these players are able to step up to fill a major void left by the ones who came before.

I’ve complied a list of 10 players on Mississippi State’s football team who need to step up. The main reason is that they are extremely talented and that needs to translate to the field in order for the Bulldogs to be successful. The secondary season a player would be listed is that success at their position is critical to the team’s success.

First, I’m going to start with three guys on the offensive line: 10. Deion Calhoun, 9. Devon Desper and 8. Jamaal Clayborn. 

You could argue that Jamaal Clayborn is playing just fine so he shouldn’t be included on this list, but he is the leader of the offensive line as a senior Center. As an interior lineman like all three of these guys are, he is getting thrown in the mix because State needs to run the ball better.

I’m not going to include any running backs because ultimately I don’t think Coach Mullen is going to give any of them the carries they need to get into a rhythm. So it’s going to be up to the road graders to create success on the ground.

There have been arguments to suggest that MSU’s offensive line played fine vs. South Alabama. While the Bulldogs did rush for 239 yards in that game, most of them were on runs to the outside. Fred Ross broke a big 46 yard run, Holloway had a few nice rushes towards the sideline, and then there were the QB scrambles and draws.

As far as running backs gaining yards in between the tackles? It didn’t happen. That’s why these three guys need to step up for MSU.

Next: No. 7

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