It wasn’t all bad and it wasn’t all good for Mississippi State’s special teams in 2015. The Bulldogs were fourth in field goal percentage, though on only 19 attempts, tied for fourth-fewest in the SEC. They were middle of the road, finishing eighth in yards per punt and yards per punt return.

In coverage, the Bulldogs allowed a league-low average in yards per kick return (18.23).

There is plenty of talent returning on either side of the ball on special teams for a team that shouldn’t take the units for granted. Just three years ago, fans had to watch a team that made 10 of 21 field goal attempts.

2015 Stats

FGM-FGA: 15-19
Longest: 44
Punting average: 41.2 (8th)
Kickoff return average: 21.5 (6th)
Kickoff return TDs: 1 (tied for 2nd)
Punt return avg.: 11.3 (8th)
Punt return TDs: 1 (tied for 6th)
Kickoff/punt return TDs allowed: 1

THE KICKER

Mississippi State returns a reliable leg in Westin Graves. The junior was good for 15 of 18 field goals last season, two of the three misses from 49 and 50 yards away.

Graves was reliable but not the most used in the SEC. His team’s 1.5 attempts per game ranked only 11th in the conference. Only LSU, Arkansas and Florida attempted fewer field goals per game. With a new quarterback and a defense that has the potential to be stingy, Graves could see a good bit more action, and in the process be a good bit more important in 2016.

Fellow junior Logan Cooke is set to handle kickoffs, taking over for two-year kicker Devon Bell. Cooke had only four of the Bulldogs’ 85 kickoffs last season but averaged better than 49 yards and landed two of them for touchbacks.

THE PUNTER

Cooke handled the punting last season with 44 of the team’s 54 punts. He averaged 42.2 yards per punt with 7 touchbacks, 20 fair catches, 16 punts inside the 20 and 12 punts of 50 or more yards.

Stat-wise, there is room to grow. The Bulldogs ranked right in the middle of the SEC at No. 8 in average yardage (41.2). That said, there could be extra opportunities this season early on as the offense finds its way. Only two teams (Ole Miss and Arkansas) had fewer than the Bulldogs’ 54 punts a year ago.

THE RETURNER

Seniors are back to return punts and kicks in receiver Fred Ross and back Brandon Holloway. Last season, Ross returned 15 punts for 157 yards and a touchdown. Holloway had 24 kick returns for 567 yards and a touchdown, so both are dangerous.

Another guy to keep an eye on is sophomore Malik Dear. After a year in school, the explosive Dear, who had only one punt return and five kick return chances last season, has the tools to be one of the most dangerous return men in the SEC. Junior Gabe Myles got a little action with two kick returns. Holloway averaged 23.6 yards per kick return, sixth in the SEC, to go with his 100-yard touchdown.

Mississippi State ranked eighth and sixth overall in punt and kick return average, respectively. Dear’s production could raise that.

COVER TEAMS

The Bulldogs ranked first in the SEC on opponent kick return average (18.2). Only Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt allowed less than 19 yards per kick return.

Punt return was a different story. The Bulldogs were 12th, allowing 12.5 yards per return. Only Vanderbilt and LSU had worse averages.

SPECIAL MOMENT

The Bulldogs were 7-3 a week after a humbling 31-6 loss to Alabama in Starkville. A week later in Fayetteville, they were a 29-yard field goal away from back-to-back losses and a dismal finish in Dak Prescott’s final season.

But Beniquez Brown leapt into the trajectory of Arkansas kicker Cole Hedlund’s game-winning attempt with less than a minute to play to preserve a 51-50 win and give the Bulldogs their eighth win of the season.

It was huge at the time, keeping Mississippi State above .500 in the conference. As Thanksgiving passed and Ole Miss beat the Bulldogs in the Egg Bowl, Brown’s block loomed larger. The home loss to Ole Miss could have been a three-game losing streak to end the regular season.

ONE STAT THAT MUST IMPROVE

Missed extra points are a coach’s nightmare. It can be the difference in a field goal with no time on the clock beating you or tying you.

The Bulldogs missed two last season. It doesn’t look on paper like a big deal, but if it wasn’t a big deal, 10 of the 14 SEC teams wouldn’t have made every single attempt. It wasn’t the five extra points Florida missed, but one of the two the Bulldogs missed came in the 51-50 win at Arkansas. One point can make a big difference.

BETTER/WORSE IN 2016?

Things could have been worse in 2015, but they weren’t all bad. Returning Graves at kicker and Cooke at punter leaves those duties on solid feet. Ross and Holloway are dangerous in the return game, and an expanded role for Dear makes the Bulldogs more dangerous. Mississippi State will be better on special teams in 2016.