The SEC Football Media Days kicked off yesterday in Hoover. Dan Mullen and Mississippi State had the opportunity to meet with the media today.
Dan Mullen and Mississippi State are coming off a disappointing 6-7 season. Sure, there were some bright spots — specifically with the emergence of Nick Fitzgerald — but the Bulldogs won a total of 19 games the previous two seasons prior to 2016. Thanks to State’s impressive APR, though, Mullen and company went bowling for the seventh consecutive season.
As the football season approaches, many in the media are wondering how the Bulldogs will perform. Will Nick Fitzgerald take the next step and make the Bulldogs a threat in the West? Or will the lack of returning receivers and unfamiliarity on defense catch up?
Speaking of the unfamiliarity on the defensive side of the ball, Mullen made his best defensive coordinator hire since taking over in Starkville. Back in January, news broke that Mississippi State and Louisville basically traded defensive coordinators.
The Bulldogs hired long time successful defensive mind Todd Grantham, and the Cardinals took on Peter Sirmon. Sirmon struggled in his first season as a defensive coordinator. The Bulldogs had trouble wrapping up ball carriers, putting heat on the offense, and preventing touchdowns. Mississippi State gave up 35 to UMass, 38 to Auburn, 40 to Kentucky, 41 to Samford, 51 to Alabama, and 58 to Arkansas. Yeesh.
Meanwhile, Todd Grantham has built the reputation as one of the smarter defensive minds across the land. His aggressive playing style made both Louisville’s and Georgia’s secondaries feared by quarterbacks everywhere. With players such as Jeffery Simmons, Leo Lewis, and Jamal Peters returning and JUCO products Chauncey Rivers, Johnathan Abram, and Brian Cole incoming, the Bulldogs are looking to rebound.
SEC analyst and former LSU defensive end Marcus Spears is high on Mullen’s hiring of Grantham.
Marcus Spears likes the fit for Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator at MSU
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) July 11, 2017
"It's confusing as hell to play offense against his defense."
The majority of the questions thrown at Mullen surrounded Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald. But when asked, Mullen made sure to talk about his defensive unit, too.
Mullen said it was great to get someone of Todd Grantham’s caliber. Mullen said that the defense will have a “different personality” under Grantham during his first season calling shots on that side of the football in Starkville.
When talking about the players, Mullen mentioned that there are no seniors on his defensive line. Mississippi State does bring back Freshman All-American Jeffery Simmons to the trenches. Simmons is expected to make another huge leap. The 2016 five-star signee was named to Athlon Sports All-SEC second-team.
Mullen said that Leo Lewis and Dez Harris will take on the leadership role in the linebackers. Lewis, a redshirt-freshman, was selected to the All-SEC Freshman team last season and is becoming one of the best at his position around the league. Harris is coming off a third knee surgery, but will likely start this fall. He represented the Bulldogs at media days and looks to make an impact in 2017.
In the secondary, Mississippi State is expected to be much improved. The Bulldogs bring back Jamal Peters and Brandon Bryant to the defensive backfield. Mullen and company signed a highly talented JUCO class that features former Georgia DB Johnathan Abram, former Michigan Wolverine Brian Cole, and Co-Lin product Jaquarius Landrews.
Mullen also says the return of corner Tolando Cleveland is “huge”. Cleveland was expected to be the team’s top corner last season, but he suffered a season-ending injury during fall camp. Now back and healthy, Cleveland gives Grantham another option to play with in the secondary.
Next: Mullen on Dak, Fitz, and more
Add in Cam Danztler — who starred in Mississippi State’s spring game — and Maurice Smitherman, the Bulldogs have the potential to improve greatly in the back-end. Todd Grantham’s aggressive playing style should only improve the Bulldogs’ defense this fall.
Mississippi State kicks off against Charleston Southern in Starkville in just 53 days.