Mississippi State Football: Quarterback battle will dictate 2019 success

Bulldogs should have a solid rushing attack

Mississippi State is coming off a year where quarterback Nick Fitzgerald accounted for a lot of the team’s rush yards himself. This season, the Bulldog backfield should carry more of the load.

Junior Kylin Hill is ready to be the top option in the running back rotation. Last year, he led the running backs with 734 yards and four touchdowns. He added another 176 yards in receptions and four receiving touchdowns. With the offense’s focus more on running with the backs this season, Hill has a chance to surpass 1,000 yards on the ground this season.

Spelling Hill will be senior Nick Gibson. He has not seen the field a lot the past three seasons, eclipsing just over 500 yards and a pair of touchdowns. However Gibson should be a good change of pace back and see his most touches this season. The offensive line will be shuffled some on the outside, but the interior is solid and should help tremendously in run blocking.

The quarterback situation did not appear to be a question this past spring. Junior Keytaon Thompson seemed to be next in line until Tommy Stevens transferred this past spring. When subbing in for Fitzgerald during three games, Thompson threw for six touchdowns and only one interception. However he struggled to be accurate, completing under 50 percent of his passes.

Stevens played in 23 games at Penn State, throwing for 304 yards and four scores but contributing more as a runner, adding 506 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has the experience of playing under Joe Moorhead when he was the offensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions.

No matter who wins the starting quarterback job, the receivers must be improved. Pretty much all return from a unit that under performed last season. The talent and skill is there, but they need to work on their consistency in gaining separation from defenders and in catching the ball.