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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8199eddcea206f7fc3b4e0ab9bd22741c998e6d63f3b5b49630581c7eeb4a1d2.jpg)
Mississippi State Football Returns A Loaded Offensive Line
As was mentioned earlier, the Mississippi State football team is bringing back quite a bit of experience into this season. One particular area is returning almost every single contributor from a season ago.
That’s the offensive line.
Joe Moorhead’s offense will have four returning full time starters on the offensive line. It’ll also have a guy that started roughly one third of the season last year when he was called to do so because of injuries.
Martinas Rankin is moving on to the National Football League to play for the Houston Texans. That leaves a momentary vacancy at left tackle, but it should be filled pretty seamlessly. Greg Eiland started four games last season and should be able to start right in Rankin’s place.
Beyond that, everyone else is back and ready to go.
Darryl Williams returns at left guard. Elgton Jenkins is back at center. Deion Calhoun is still at right guard. Stewart Reese will be the starting right tackle. Every other spot on the offensive line is filled and there are no voids to be found.
The Mississippi State football team will have a loaded front on the offensive side of the ball.