Thompson leads unit ready to make impact
Mississippi State is going to have to play catch up after missing the entire spring ahead of Mike Leach’s first season in Starkville, but the Bulldogs are back to work in the weight room and going through summer workouts.
With its third coaching staff in the last four years, several Bulldog players will have to adjust yet again to a different style. The offense will have to implement the Air Raid and the defense a 3-3-5 alignment. It all makes for a hectic few months leading up to a football season that has already been in question.
Before the fall practices arrive later next month, it’s time to start looking at where players might fall on the depth chart under Leach’s direction. It’s hard to map out some of it without the benefit of watching a spring under the new staff, but here is the best observation.
Linebackers are next on the list and its a talented group that should be solid on the top end.
Despite losses some talent still in the fold
There’s a dynamic part of the defense gone at linebacker in the Kansas City Chiefs’ new defender and former Starkville High School linebacker Willie Gay Jr., but the Bulldogs have players ready to step up and others that they’ve added to the fold that should make an impact.
Erroll Thompson is the reliable linebacker returning to the team after turning down a chance to go pro as a junior last year. It wasn’t nearly as productive a season as it was the year before when Thompson had help in the form of defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons,
Montez Sweat and others.
Thompson still led the team with 84 tackles as a junior and added 3.5 tackles for loss though he had just 0.5 sack. He was the defensive captain and is poised to be the leader of the crew once again this year. State will need him to have a huge season to have success on that side of the football and his leadership will also be key for his unit.
Behind him is sophomore Nathaniel Watson who could play either outside or inside for the Bulldogs. Watson has a nice mixture of size and athleticism that makes him a versatile fit in the 3-3-5 scheme. He only played in seven games last year and most of his time was spent on special teams, but this should be a year where he takes that next step because the Bulldogs will be losing Thompson in the offseason.
Another sophomore looking to get more reps in the middle is Jett Johnson. He didn’t play last year during his redshirt freshman campaign, but the lack of numbers at linebacker should make for opportunity as Johnson hopes to move up the ranks.
The WILL outside linebacker spot looks to be a great battle for fall camp looming. Sophomore Aaron Brule showed off his athleticism in the Outback Bowl two years ago in his freshman year on a special teams play and as a redshirt freshman last year he had some moments on special teams and defense as he made 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in his initial letter year, but this season is the biggest of his career to this point and Brule will have to make a move, especially with a talented junior college player coming in to compete with him.
Copiah-lincoln linebacker Tyrus Wheat comes from tough roots in Amite, Louisiana., and he had two solid years with the Wolfpack. Last year, he was selected the No. 1 inside linebacker recruit in junior college football and the No. 33 player nationally by 247Sports Composite rankings. He made 102 career tackles in two years at Co-lin with eight tackles for loss and last year he showed off his playmaking ability with three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns. Between Brule and Wheat, State has two incredibly gifted linebackers. Either one should be a difference maker this year if not both.
At the SAM spot, there is more junior college talent ready to get their chance. Co-lin defensive end Jordan Davis was an Alabama signee out of high school and he committed to Tennessee during his time at Co-lin, but MSU was always a constant from his high school days to his time in Wesson and that meant something to him, so the Bulldogs got his commitment in the end.
While Davis played defensive end at Co-lin and was the nation’s second best junior college product according to 247Sports, he’s a great fit for a hybrid linebacker role in the 3-3-5 with his 6’5, 250-pound frame. He’s almost certainly the Bulldogs’ starter at the SAM for game one and he’s coming off a productive JUCO career where he had 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks.
There’s no Southeastern Conference experience from Davis or from those behind him at this position. Former Florida State defensive end Tre Lawson looks like he’s a contender for second team reps after playing with Gulf Coast Community College last year. He made 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks with the junior college national champions.
Watson could also be a candidate to share reps at this position and would get him on the field more. If not, there are two freshmen that could play in year one though the coaches would probably rather them both redshirt. Alabama linebacker Rodney Groce has been in Starkville since the spring, but the inability to practice in the spring months canceled out much of a head start for him that would have been beneficial.
Initially, Florida native Jamari Stewart looks to be a talented pass-rushing linebacker, but he arrived to Starkville late. Any playing time for either in year one likely means bad news for MSU rather than good.