Are Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State coaching staff afraid of commitment?

A quick look at the 2015 roster indicates they might be, at least as it pertains to assigning a player to a position.

The Bulldogs have listed “athlete” as the primary position for 16 players.

In the recruiting world, athlete typically means that a high school player is capable of playing multiple positions at the next level, and that it’s up to the coach and the scheme as to what position he fits in college.

Once a player is in college, the word “athlete” often becomes a description for a guy that coaches can’t seem to find the right fit for on their roster.

Needless to say, having 16 guys on the same team that fit that description seems unlikely.

Digging a little deeper into the individuals who have received the athlete designation for the Bulldogs, 10 of the 16 are redshirt freshmen. So, perhaps it is more about making players earn their spot within a position group than it is about not knowing what to do with them.

Another observation is that many of these players fit the mold of a wide receiver and defensive back in size and playing history, which, along with offensive and defensive line, are two of the most commonly interchanged positions.

Below is the list of players that are listed as athletes on the Mississippi State website, as well as their potential positions based on a spring game roster posted by The Clarion-Ledger.

Mississippi State “Athletes”

Henry Jones, DB
Nathan Gieb, QB/WR
Josiah Phillips, LB
Wyatt Anderson, WR
Hampton Howard, QB
Zak Neary, DB
Taylor Henry, WR
Boderick Oliver, DB
Hayes Walker, DB
Bryce Brown, K
Chase Jones, TE
Lawrence Brown, TE
Nick Proby, OL
Jefferson Teel, TE
Aaron Hamaker, TE
Brian Houston, DL