Maroon and White Nation
Fansided

Mississippi State football: 5 coaches primed for a rebuild

By Ethan Lee

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 04: Mascot Bully of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs out on to the field prior to their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 04: Mascot Bully of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs out on to the field prior to their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
head coach Jon Sumrall of the Troy Trojans
TROY, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 2: head coach Jon Sumrall of the Troy Trojans takes the field prior to kickoff against the South Alabama Jaguars at Veterans Memorial Stadium on November 2, 2023 in Troy, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images) /

Jon Sumrall’s early success makes him intriguing option for Mississippi State football

As Mississippi State finds itself looking for a new head coach once again, one intriguing candidate for the Bulldogs’ football program is Troy’s Jon Sumrall. While he’s young, Sumrall has shown tremendous promise and could be ready to help the Bulldogs rebuild.

Consensus seems to be that Sumrall is ready for the SEC, so maybe MSU should be the school to give him that shot.

In less than two full seasons at Troy, the 41-year-old Sumrall has found a way to win a Sun Belt Conference Championship, a bowl win, and amassed a rather impressive 20-4 overall record. He’s quickly turned Troy into a Sun Belt power and the Trojans have a stellar defense that stymies opponents regularly.

While some may be concerned about hiring another defensive minded coach to lead the Bulldogs, it’s worth considering that Sumrall has already shown the ability to adapt and adjust. His first Troy offense left much to be desired and was unimpressive. Year two has been much more enjoyable to watch on that side of the ball.

  • Troy’s record before Sumrall: 5-7
  • Record since: 20-4
  • Notable achievements: Sun Belt Conference Championship, 12-2 season in 2022, 11-game winning streak in 2022

The ability to acknowledge deficiencies and adjust with necessary changes would be great to have in Starkville.

On top of all of that, while Sumrall hasn’t exactly built an extensive head coaching resume, he’s won immediately and he does have roots in the SEC, having played and coached at Kentucky earlier in his career.

Home/Mississippi State Football