It's finally game week in Starkville. Mississippi State football will kickoff the 2024 season this Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium against FCS Eastern Kentucky. With Jeff Lebby's debut season as head coach of the Bulldogs set to begin, MSU released it's initial depth chart for 2024.
Here's your Week 1 depth chart from Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/dxL7K8TMbu
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) August 26, 2024
Kelly Akharaiyi and Corey Ellington out for Mississippi State football vs Eastern Kentucky
Easily the most notable news from State's initial depth chart release is that the Bulldogs will be without a pair of starters when they take the field on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. UTEP-transfer wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi and veteran strong safety Corey Ellington are both out with injury for the season opener.
According to head coach Jeff Lebby, both players have been "dinged up through fall camp". Lebby did not provide a timetable for the return of either, stating that they'll monitor their situations and hope to get them back sooner than later.
State certainly needs both of them to be healthy quickly. Akharaiyi was widely expected to be the top receiver for the Bulldogs this season. While there's good depth at WR and his loss shouldn't impact the season opener, he looks to be the leader in that room and has game-breaking ability as a vertical threat. He's a talent they don't want to be without against better defenses.
Ellington was one of the only Bulldog defenders with starting experience at MSU. He's a veteran they need to be able to lean on with so many new younger players starting on that side of the ball. Outside WRs Jordan Mosley and Trent Hudson will have to step up in Akharaiyi's absence, while safety Hunter Washington will fill in for Ellington.
Jeffery Pittman no longer with Mississippi State program
The other major storyline from Monday's depth chart release was the absence of RB Jeffery Pittman from the lineup. According to Jeff Lebby, Pittman is no longer with the team, stating an "internal matter". No other details were released, and it is unknown whether or not Pittman's absence is permanent.
At the running back spot, Keyvone Lee and Utah State-transfer Davon Booth are listed as co-starters. JUCO-transfer Johnnie Daniels is expected to see plenty of work also, as State will likely take a "RB by committee" approach offensively.
Starting jobs still up from grabs in the Bulldog defense
The Week 1 depth chart makes it clear that battles are still on-going for starting jobs on Mississippi State's defense. Five positions - jack linebacker, both defensive tackle spots, dime linebacker, and cornerback - as listed as having an "OR" for the starting role.
Ty Cooper is still batting Branden Jennings at jack LB. Interestingly, Donterry Russell, who many would've assumed to be starting, sits behind both on the depth chart. Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Trevion Williams, Kalvin Dinkins, and Sulaiman Kpaka could all still start at DT. Either Kelley Jones or Traveon Wright will start opposite Brice Pollock at CB. Perhaps most surprising is that John Lewis is not locked-in to a starting role at dime LB, as Nic Mitchell is pushing him at that position.
There's two ways of looking at this. On the optimistic side, you could say that there's tons of competition on defense and Coleman Hutzler has several great options to turn to. The more pessimistic view, however, is that no one is separating themselves enough to feel confident in naming them a starter.
Hopefully it's more of the former as opposed to the latter.