FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Dak Prescott*
RB Brandon Holloway
WR Fred Brown
WR Fred Ross
WR Joe Morrow
TE Gus Walley
LT Rufus Warren
LG Justin Malone
C Jamaal Clayborn
RG Devon Desper
RT Justin Senior
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE Ryan Brown
DT Chris Jones
DT Nelson Adams
DE A.J. Jefferson
LB Zach Jackson
LB Beniquez Brown
LB Richie Brown
CB Will Redmond
CB Tolando Cleveland
S Deontay Evans
S Kivon Coman
* indicates an All-SEC selection
As you can see, there are a number of new faces in the starting lineup on both sides of the ball. Dak Prescott returns for his senior season as the reigning first-team all-conference quarterback, but Brandon Holloway is now the starting tailback in place of Josh Robinson, who’s headed to the NFL, and three new wideouts claim starting jobs as well.
De’Runnya Wilson, projected to be the team’s top receiver as of the end of last season, was left off the initial spring depth chart after suffering an arrest on drug charges during MSU’s spring break last week. He spent Mississippi State’s first practice of the spring working out on the exercise bike while awaiting his fate.
Fans will also notice the slew of new offensive linemen in the starting lineup, including Jamaal Clayborn, who has moved positions to center after the Bulldogs bid farewell to their top two centers from 2014 in Dillon Day and Archie Muniz.
On the defense, Chris Jones, Beniquez Brown, Richie Brown and Will Redmond are familiar faces, while a number of other players who got their feet wet on the second team last year will get their first crack at the starting lineup. These players include Ryan Brown, A.J. Jefferson, Deontay Evans and Kivon Coman.
One interesting absence from the first-team is cornerback Taveze Calhoun, who was a starter last season and will be a senior in 2015.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB Nick Fitzgerald
RB Ashton Shumpert
WR Jesse Jackson
WR Deddrick Thomas
WR Gabe Myles
TE B.J. Hammond
LT Cole Carter
LG Kent Flowers
C Jocquell Johnson
RG Deion Calhoun
RT Damien Robinson
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE Torrey Dale
DT Nick James
DT Cory Thomas
DE Will Coleman
LB DeAndre Ward
LB Gerri Green
LB Quadry Antoine
CB Jamoral Graham
CB Chris Rayford
S Brandon Bryant
S Jahmere Irvin-Sills
The most popular man in town is often the backup quarterback, and while no one in Starkville is itching for Mullen to replace Prescott under center, it’s good to know it’s Nick Fitzgerald who’s serving as the team’s insurance policy at the position. Fitzgerald was a three-star 2014 signee who has yet to take a college snap.
Many expected for Damian Williams to be the team’s No. 2 just as he was last year. For what it’s worth, Williams was with Prescott when the two were attacked on a spring break trip to Panama City Beach, Fla., last week.
It’s also worth noting tailback Ashton Shumpert was listed as the No. 2 back behind Holloway, even though the two split carries nearly evenly last season as co-backups to Robinson (Holloway totaled 45 carries for 294 yards; Shumpert amassed 47 carries for 274 yards).
There are a ton of new faces on the second-string defense, and knowing how Mullen loves to rotate players on defense, it’s likely MSU faithful will get to see most of those faces on the field during the early season non-conference schedule.
