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Mike Leach downplays Mississippi State’s experience, talks Arizona QB Jayden de Laura
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Mississippi State opened its 2022 season with a 49-23 home win over Memphis on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs will now hit the road the next two weeks for games at Arizona and then LSU.
Mike Leach’s team has a lot of key players back from a year ago.
But on Wednesday during the weekly SEC coaches teleconference, he downplayed the idea that his team’s experience would equate to an advantage on the road the next two weeks
“I don’t know how veteran we are exactly,” Leach said. “We’ve got some guys who have played in the past, but we’re still kind of young.”
Leach was also asked to offer his thoughts on Wildcats sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura, a player with whom Leach has plenty of familiarity.
“I recruited him and signed him at Washington State, so I think a lot of him,” Leach said. “He’s a good player. … I think he has quick feet and the ball comes off his hand real quick and he’s real competitive.”
Leach was also asked what he expected to see out of Arizona’s defense on Saturday and if what the Wildcats do on that side of the ball falls into line with what Leach would expect from a Pac-12 defense.
“I think they’re kind of similar,” Leach said. “This group at Arizona is a little harder to tell. It’s a group of quality defensive coaches and it’s kinda the first time they’ve worked together. We’ll see what they come out with.”
The Bulldogs and Wildcats are set for an 11 p.m. (ET) kick off on Saturday night.
The game is being televised by FS1, and Mississippi State is currently an 11-point favorite.
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
