Can the Mississippi State Bulldogs Reach 10 Wins in 2014?

Offense

Prescott is back to run the Bulldogs offense at quarterback this year as he enters his junior season, and a few internet blogs have already mentioned him as a dark-horse Heisman contender. I won’t go that far, but with 1,940 passing yards and 829 rushing yards to go with 23 total touchdown, he will definitely be the centerpiece of Mullen’s unit. Fair warning, Prescott could be overhyped due to his superb bowl game performance against Rice in a classic prisoner of the moment for the media, but make no mistake, he’s very valuable to the offense. He’ll have to remain healthy, though. If he doesn’t, all indications point to sophomore Damian Williams taking his back-up role seriously and prepared to step in at anytime.

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The running game will pretty much remain intact for the Bulldogs, even with LaDarius Perkins gone. Obviously, Prescott is the centerpiece of the running game anyway as well as the passing game, but as far as an actual running back goes, Josh Robinson is probably better than Perkins. Robinson is entering his junior year after picking up 459 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns last year on only 78 carries. This year he could take the lead role in the running game, even ahead of Prescott. Sophomore Ashton Shumpert and senior Nick Griffin will also both have roles in the running game. There’s plenty of depth and experience here to the point that Perkins shouldn’t be missed.

The Bulldogs are loaded at receiver. Jameon Lewis was the biggest playmaker on offense outside of Prescott last year, and he’s back for his senior season. This is huge for Mullen’s system, after Lewis put up 923 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns to go along with 117 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Sophomore De’Runnya Wilson is the exciting, potentially breakout star, at this position after putting up 351 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns last year as a freshman, and standing at 6’5″ there aren’t many people in the country who can guard him. Senior tight end Malcolm Johnson is back after catching 30 passes for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns last year, and to round out the receiving corp., senior Robert Johnson should help to keep this pass offense in the delta from feeling the blues after he had 34 catches for 389 yards last year. With three senior receivers and a sophomore with lots of raw talent, Prescott’s passing numbers could explode this year.

Nov 2, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs 34-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The offensive line for Mississippi State returns most players, but All-SEC left guard Gabe Jackson was the best player in the unit last year, and he’s gone after starting for four years. Tackle Charles Siddoway, who was a two-year starter, is also gone. Luckily for the Bulldogs, the most important positions on the line have returning starters, and veterans at that. That includes Senior center Dillon Day, who has 34 career starts and stands at 6’4″ 300 pounds, and senior left tackle Blaine Clausell, who stands at 6’7″ 315 pounds. Both players are overachievers who still play with a chip on their shoulder, which is a scary thought going into the year. The other returning starter, guard Ben Beckwith, is also a senior who saw regular full-time action for the first time last season. He is also an overachiever and stands at 6’3″ 305 pounds. Filling in for the other two departing players is a bit of a question, but let’s start with Siddoway. You heard it here first: fifth-year senior Damien Robinson will fill that position and turn into an unlikely star on the line. Standing at 6’8″ 320 pounds, Robinson almost won the job last year, and let’s not forget he was once highly recruited out of high school. This is his year to shine, and he and Clausell should have any outside pass rush locked up. At guard, Jackson’s replacement will most likely be Jamaal Clayborn, who played seven games as a freshman last year. Clayborn is 6’4″ 315 pounds and is another guy who was overlooked in recruiting and might play with a chip on his shoulder. But he’ll be pushed by redshirt freshman Kent Flowers. This is the one part of the line where you can expect a drop-off. Behind the first team, expect tackles Justin Malone and Justin Senior, Center Archie Muniz, and Devon Desper and Cole Carter to all have regular roles on the line and in the rotation. Another guy who will be playing and could perhaps squeeze into a starting position is junior college transfer Jocquell Johnson, and redshirt freshman tackle Jake Thomas will provide depth. As a whole, this unit will struggle replacing Jackson, but the amount of experience, depth, and potential here is enough not to expect any drop-off. The line will be fine.

Last year was Prescott’s first full season on the jobs. This year, fully healthy and fully experienced with almost all of his weapons back, Prescott could have a breakout season. The passing game should be much better this season, as should the running game. Mullen has playmakers all over the field to run his spread offense, so it could be explosive.