Mississippi State Football: Positional report card for Week 3 win over ULL
Quarterback
Nick Fitzgerald was very effective running and throwing the ball. He scored six total touchdowns, four running the ball and two through the air.
There were a few miscommunications though, and his backup Keytaon Thompson did throw an interception when he came in late in the game. Still, six touchdowns and leading your team to a blowout win is always impressive.
Grade: A
Running Back
The Bulldogs have two very solid running backs with Kylin Hill and Aeris Williams both getting a number of carries this weekend. Williams was the starter last season, but Hill has taken over the starting role this season.
In 2017, Williams was one of the top rushers in the SEC, finishing the season with 1,107 rushing yards and six touchdowns. In comparison, Hill rushed for only 393 yards last season.
The change in starter was mainly due to new head coach Joe Moorhead, who has opted to start the shorter Hill, who has been very effective in the new system for Mississippi State.
On Saturday night, Hill averaged 5.3 yards per carry and Williams averaged 9.2 yards per game. The running game was incredibly effective for the Bulldogs.
Grade: A+
Wide Receiver
Due to the effectiveness of the running game, the Bulldogs did not have to lean on the passing game, but Fitzgerald did throw for 243 yards. Keith Mixon finished with four receptions and 80 yards as the leading receiver last night.
The big play was key to the Bulldogs’ passing game. They had six receivers with at least one reception over 20 yards. Nine different receivers caught a pass in the game.
Grade: B+
Offensive Line
The offensive line for Mississippi State played very well, allowing Mississippi State to have over 600 yards of total offense. Williams and Fitzgerald both had over 100 rushing yards due to the big holes they had to run through all night.
Also, the offensive line protected Fitzgerald and Thompson fairly well in the passing game. They only gave up two sacks the entire game.