5 Mississippi State Players To Watch In 2023

With the beginning of the 2023 season just days away for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, here's a look into five players to watch.

After a long offseason, it is officially game week for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Under new head coach Zach Arnett in his first year at the position since he was promoted from defensive coordinator after the passing of Mike Leach, the team will open the schedule against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 2.

Here's a look into five players to watch ahead of what could be Jan exciting season for the Bulldogs:

1. QB Will Rogers

This is obvious. Throughout his entire Bulldog career, Rogers has been called a “system quarterback.” However, with new offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, he will get to prove his doubters wrong. Rogers will be asked to do less in this offense than prior, but this new scheme is more complex than the notoriously simple Air Raid and will require him to do things a bit differently behind the lineof scrimmage after he put up video-game numbers in the former passing attack.

2. The left tackle position

Junior Percy Lewis seemed to have grabbed the momentum at that spot as of late. However, the depth chart MSU released showed senior "Dollarbill" Johnson as the blindside tackle. That depth chart should be taken with a grain of salt but the importance of this position cannot be understated. Offensive success starts up front.

3. DT Jaden Crumedy

The SEC is a physical league so having a dominant interior defensive lineman is of the utmost importance. Crumedy is returning for his final season and the Bulldogs need him to have a big year. When he was on the field last year it was a completely different defense. His impact needs to be felt in order to compete with top schools in the SEC.

4. S Marcus Banks

All three safeties could have made this list but we will narrow it down to a guy making the transition to safety. Banks, former Alabama transfer, arrived in Starkville as a corner and after a year with limited playing time he is moving to safety. The Bulldogs are replacing all starting safeties. Banks will need to hold up in the back end especially with the blitz-heavy 3-3-5 scheme.

5. RB Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks

Marks will have more on his plate this year with a new offensive scheme under coordinator Kevin Barbay, something that could increase his draft stock with number of touches. After playing in the Air Raid with a lot of versatility, he will be able to prove himself as more of a traditional back. A two-way back is essential in the modern NFL, so with a big year he will find several suitors.