Mississippi State Football: are they really that “young”

Dan Mullen has said Mississippi State is a “young” team at least 674 times in the last two months. So is it true?

The players on this team exhibit very little leadership and they don’t know how to “strain” properly. Is this really a function of youth and inexperience? Why is MSU perpetually young? Let’s breakdown the roster:

Senior Class

Devon Desper (OG) – two year starter
Nick James (DT) – two year starter
Nelson Adams (DT) – mostly a backup but has played a lot
Joquell Johnson (OG) – backup as juco transfer
Jamaal Clayborn (C) – two year starter
Justin Senior (OT) – three year starter
Will Coleman (DE) – backup as juco transfer
Torrey Dale (DE) – career backup
A.J. Jefferson (DE) – two year starter
Richie Brown (LB) – two year starter
Ashton Shumpert (RB) – mostly a backup but has played a lot
DeAndre Ward (LB) – backup as a former walk-on
Johnathan Calvin (DE) – one year starter as juco transfer
Kivon Coman (S) – two year starter
Brandon Holloway (RB) – two year starter
Fred Ross (WR) – two year starter
Tolando Cleveland (CB) – would be a one year starter but out with injury
Cedric Jiles (CB) – career backup mostly due to injuries

That’s 18 seniors on this team. It’s not like 2013 when there were only 11 so that was part of the reason for going 6-6 – and you knew the team was primed for success in 2014 because of it. This group of seniors is a fully-loaded class despite the departures of De’Runnya Wilson, Beniquez Brown, Fred Brown, Gus Walley and Chris Jones. They feature 10 starters – nine of whom have been starting for at least two years.

The problem with this class isn’t in numbers or experience. It’s the lack of leadership. Dak Prescott was an Alpha Dog – for at least the last two years everyone looked to him and it stunted the growth of future leaders. I’m not saying that was an excuse, but it appears that it’s what happened.

Junior Class

Traver Jung (LB) – backup as juco transfer
Gabe Myles (WR) – one year starter
Donald Gray (WR) – one year starter as juco transfer
Jamoral Graham (CB) – one year starter
Damian Williams (QB) – career backup
J.T. Gray (LB) – two year starter
Lashard Durr (CB) – one year starter as juco transfer
Westin Graves (K) – two year starter
Logan Cooke (P) – three year starter
Dez Harris (LB) – career backup but mostly due to injuries
Martinas Rankin (OT) – started half the games this year as juco transfer
Jordan Thomas (TE) – backup as juco transfer

That’s a junior class of 12 players, two of which are the punter and kicker. This won’t be like the 2013 small senior class that featured Nickoe Whitley, Tyler Russell, Deontae Skinner, Gabe Jackson, Denico Autry and LaDarius Perkins. This group does not have the key play-makers outside of perhaps the two Grays.

The problem here is the 2013 recruiting class was complete hit or miss…

Hit: Bear Wilson, Chris Jones, Fred Ross, Justin Cox, Kivon Coman

Miss: Jahmere Irvin-Sills, Artimas Samuel, Cord Sandburg, Shelby Christy, Kent Flowers, Jake Thomas, BJ Hammond, Trent Simpson, Jeremey Chappelle, Brandon Wells.

All of those misses – all TEN – are no longer enrolled at MSU. Add in Wilson, Jones and Cox and you’ve got THIRTEEN of the 21 that were signed who didn’t make it to their 4th year in the program!

Plus the fact that guys like Ross and Coman were not red-shirted, so we’re essentially left with Gabe Myles, Damian Williams and Dez Harris as juniors from the 2013 recruiting class.

Sophomore Class

Brandon Bryant (S)
Jamal Peters (S)
Gerri Green (LB)
Nick Fitzgerald (QB)
Malik Dear (WR)
Chris Rayford (CB)
Aeris Williams (RB)
Dontavian Lee (RB)
Cory Thomas (DT)
Mark McLaurin (S)
Deion Calhoun (OG)
Ronald Cochran (OG)
Elgton Jenkins (OT)
Justin Johnson (TE)
Jesse Jackson (WR)
Grant Harris (DT)
Braxton Hoyett (DT)

These 17 guys are the future of Mississippi State football. If this program is going to get its feet back under it, it’ll be with these guys plus a handful of jucos (six are currently committed).