Mississippi State football: 7 Bulldogs make 2023 Phil Steele preseason All-SEC

The Mississippi State football team is pretty well represented on the 2023 edition of the Phil Steele preseason All-SEC teams.

Heading into the 2023 Mississippi State football season, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are doing pretty well in terms of being represented in Phil Steele’s All-SEC teams. A grand total of seven Mississippi State football players earned their way into getting spots on Steele’s notable and prestigious preseason list.

The players listed on those All-SEC teams are as follows:

• Will Rogers, quarterback
• Cole Smith, offensive line
• Nathaniel Watson, linebacker
• Jett Johnson, linebacker
• Jaden Crumedy, defensive line
• Tulu Griffin, kick return
• Zavion Thomas, punt return

Mississippi State had this nifty graphic made to celebrate the occasion:

7 Mississippi State football players on 2023 Phil Steele All-SEC teams

It makes sense to have these names here. Rogers has been rewriting SEC records and has a real shot at claiming several more this season. Smith has shown to have some really solid potential and will be instrumental in keeping Rogers upright this year.

Meanwhile, Watson and Johnson probably make up the best linebacker duo in the country. They’re dynamic, physical, all over the place, and will regularly record numerous tackless seemingly with ease. With guys like Crumedy up front, Zach Arnett can form a robust defensive front with relative ease.

Both Griffin and Thomas have demonstrated that they can be electric playmakers and are ready to score touchdowns, be that on special teams or in the passing game.

This is a huge celebration of what these players have been able to accomplish. This is a really notable recognition of all these players have done during their careers up to this point and it sets expectations for what they should accomplish this season.

For Zach Arnett, this is a great opportunity to build some buzz running ahead of the 2023 MSU season. This is also a great recruiting tool for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as Arnett and his coaching staff continue to try to build their 2024 recruiting class. This sort of media buzz is nothing but good news for MSU.

Now, as State and these seven players head into 2023, the Bulldogs will need these guys to play well. If history is any indicator, they should. And here’s to hoping that they continue to play up to their potential this season.