MSU Football Completes Fifth Spring Practice

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics) – Five spring practices are complete for the Mississippi State football team as head coach Dan Mullen put his group through a 2.5-hour full pads workout Saturday afternoon at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex.

All three of the Bulldogs’ practices this week featured full pads and the pace has picked up considerably.  Next week, MSU will hit the field three times, culminating with a Friday morning scrimmage in Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.

“Our effort is good,” said Mullen. “Today was really a review of the first four days and you saw some separation with the older and younger guys. The attitude, the scheme, everyone is doing a good job with it all.”

The Bulldogs must replace three starters on the defensive line from the fall. Ryan Brown, Chris Jones, Nelson Adams and A.J. Jefferson have experience, and Mullen said he expects a certain level of play out of them this spring.

“There are a lot of guys who have played on the defensive line and we expect a certain level out of them,” he said. “There are a lot of repetitions available. When you look at a Preston Smith, Kaleb Eulls, P.J. [Jones], Curtis Virges and all of those guys walking out the door, there are a lot of reps available in those spots. People need to jump up and take it.”

Safety Kendrick Market, who suffered an Achilles injury in the Egg Bowl last November, is not participating in contact. With Market sidelined, it has enabled several young faces, including Brandon Bryant, Deontay Evans and Kivon Coman, to take the reins in the secondary.

“Guys are having to lead,” said Mullen. “By Kendrick Market not being out there, it’s forcing people into some mental strain, not just in learning the system but in making all of the calls and checks.”

Quotes from QB Dak Prescott

On first two weeks of practice …

“It has been good. I like the tempo that we are moving at, we are moving fast maybe even faster than what we did during the season. Young guys are stepping up and making plays all over the field. The practices have been great and I love the attitude and everything we have going on out on the field.”

On his final spring season…

“It is weird, five years ago I was just now starting off and it is special. Coach [Dan] Mullen made a comparison the other day as a true freshman that just came in to a seventh grader and to think I am that old is a little surreal, but I am enjoying every moment of it and trying to make sure I lead guys and put everyone in the position they need to be in.”

On leading younger quarterbacks…

“I think when I teach them in all the basic fundamentals and getting better as a player, it only makes me better. Teaching them makes me sharp on my knowledge of the game and I just try to make sure I know every aspect to be able to teach it to all the other guys like it is nothing.”

On spring break…

“I learned that anything can happen no matter what you are doing or what position you are in, but I have moved on and now I am worried about spring football.”

On not being a regular college student-athlete…

“There are perks and negative things that come with it, but it is life. I just want to be the best person I can be and live the life that is handed to me and make the most out of it.”

On new receivers…

“We have a lot of great guys, we do not quite have Bear, De’Runnya [Wilson], yet, but we have Donald [Gray], who is making a lot of plays coming in from a junior college; Fred [Ross], who is looking smooth and great as ever; Fred [Brown] and Joe [Morrow]. I could name everyone who is making plays, but it is great to have a lot of guys who bring versatility to the team.”

On Fred Ross…

“He has gotten a lot better. The mentality and everything he learned from the off season has just transferred over to spring football. He has been working very hard which has been paying off. I know he is doing a great job and he is a great player and a great receiver.”

On Jamaal [Clayborn] at center…

“Clayborn worked on it a little bit during bowl practice and we have worked on it all during the off season. Just a repetition of snaps and making sure he is getting a running knowledge of the game. We have been good so far and I like the line and I like everyone around me.”

On Nick [Fitzgerald]…

“Fitz is doing well. He has learned a lot from the film room and applying it out on the field.”

On young running backs…

“Those young guys refer to themselves as thunder, Dontavian [Lee], and lightning, Aeris [Williams], and they are every bit of it. They are very talented and getting a knowledge of the game and soaking everything up. They are getting better and it is up to Brandon [Holloway] and Ashton [Shumpert] to lead them. It is great to have a great group of receivers and running backs that you can count on. “

Impression of Lee and Williams…

“They are great running backs and run the ball very naturally. Lee is big and he runs a powerful route. Williams runs it similar to Shumpert and has some moves here and there. They learned from Josh [Robinson] while he was here last year and I am sure they picked up a few things watching him.”

On talking to the line during practice…

“I just want to make sure we are all on the same page and figuring out what they think about the plays we are running.”