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Mississippi State Football: Penn State OC Joe Moorhead to be next head coach

By Shane Lunnen

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Mississippi State Bulldogs fans cheer during the second half of an NCAA football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Mississippi State Bulldogs fans cheer during the second half of an NCAA football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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Mississippi State football has their man to replace Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs are set to hire Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.

It was only this past Monday when Mississippi State lost perhaps their most successful head coach in program history when Dan Mullen agreed to become the next head coach at Florida.

The Bulldogs did not waste any time and found their guy. Penn State’s offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead has agreed to become the Bulldog’s next coach, according to college football insider Brett McMurphy.

This is a great hire for Mississippi State. While some may look at Moorhead’s ties to the north as somewhat of a mismatch, it should not matter. The man can coach and turned around Penn State’s offense in two seasons.

Before Moorhead arrived in Happy Valley, Penn State’s offense averaged 348 yards per game in 2015 which was ranked 105th in the nation. In 2016, the Nittany Lions jumped 432 yards per game, good for 49th in the nation and also won the Big Ten. This season, the Lions have been even better, ranking 28th in the country and averaging 453 yards per game.

Coach JoeMo, as he is known around the team, also has head coaching experience at FCS Fordham. He inherited a 1-10 team in 2011 and turned them into a 6-5 team in 2012. In his remaining time as head coach, the Rams went 32-8, making the FCS playoffs all three years.

While the SEC West is a tough place to cut your teeth as a first time FBS head coach, Moorhead knows about tough competition in the Big Ten East. There is no doubt he will make an immediate impact on the team and in the conference.

We will throw one more tidbit out there. Current Penn State backup quarterback Tommy Stevens should be graduating early this spring and clearly wants to be a starting quarterback. If starter Trace McSorley is staying, perhaps Stevens would consider joining Moorhead in Starkville.

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Overall though, this is one of the better moves this coaching carousel season. Mississippi State just showed Tennessee how it is done.

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