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15 Reasons To Be Excited For The 2018 Mississippi State Football Season

By Ethan Lee

STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 21: Garrett Johnson #9 of the Kentucky Wildcats catches a pass as Maurice Smitherman #31 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tackles him during the first half of a NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 21: Garrett Johnson #9 of the Kentucky Wildcats catches a pass as Maurice Smitherman #31 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tackles him during the first half of a NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 03: Malik Dear #22 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes for touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter on October 3, 2015 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 03: Malik Dear #22 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes for touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter on October 3, 2015 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /

Malik Dear Is Finally Back From Injury

Mississippi State football has absolutely missed Malik Dear. Dear, built to be the perfect running back in the SEC with a frame that is stocky and a center of gravity that is low to the ground, has become a unique receiving threat for the Bulldogs while still running the ball from time to time.

The 5-9 and 220 pound wide receiver tore his ACL a year ago and didn’t play throughout the 2017 season. Instead, Malik Dear redshirted, got healthy, and was able to fully rest as he prepared for the 2018 season.

Before his injury, Dear was used at multiple places on the field and was capable of making explosive plays routinely. In 2015 and 2016, Dear ran the ball a total of 28 times. However, he averaged 8.4 yards per carry and scored a pair of touchdowns in the process.

During that same timeframe, Dear caught the ball a total of 45 times for 481 yards and four touchdowns.

He’s never been the primary target or the main running threat. However, Malik Dear definitely brings explosiveness back to the table for the Mississippi State offense. That’s something the Bulldogs needed a year ago and will be happy to have back this season.

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