Mississippi State football: Three players to know from the Toledo Rockets

Mississippi State returns to Starkville hoping for a bounce-back performance after their Week 2 loss. They'll face a Toledo Rockets program that's reloading after losing many of their top players from an 11-win team last season. But there's still plenty of good players on the Toledo roster.

Here are three Rockets for Bulldog fans to know before Saturday...

Wide Receiver Jerjuan Newton

Toldeo's dominant rushing attack is having to be rebuilt this season, but their receiving corps remained intact. And there's some strong talent in that group, the best being WR Jerjuan Newton. Last season he hauled in 52 catches for 696 yards and nine TDs. He's off to a hot start to the 2024 season with 138 yards and two TDs on just six catches. State's corners haven't been tested yet this season, but Newton will provide a legitimate test entering SEC play.

Wide Receiver Junior Vandeross III

Newton isn't the only great WR at Toledo. Slot receiver Junior Vandeross III may be just as big of a threat for the Bulldogs to worry about. Last season he caught 47 passes for 664 yards and four scores. So far he's leading the Rockets in receiving with seven catches for 152 yards and a pair of scores. He and Newton are a dynamic duo, and for as much as talk as there's been about State's run defense, their pass defense will need to be on its game Saturday.

Safety Maxen Hook

Despite suffering some key losses on the defensive side of the ball, the Rockets still have enough big-time pieces to field one of the better defenses in the MAC. One of their best is on the backend in safety Maxen Hook. Hook was named 1st Team All-MAC in 2023 after posting 69 tackles, three interceptions, four passes broken-up, and a forced fumble. He was a preseason 1st Team All-MAC selection going into the year and was named to the Thorpe Award watchlist. We'll see if he can give the Rockets help over the top defending State's dangerous receiving corps.