Mississippi State Football: Looking At What The Safeties Bring To The Table

Within a defense that returns a lot of experience, there will be three new starters at the safeties.

Mississippi State football will be looking for a brand new safety trio this year as it replaces Jalen Green, Colin Duncan, and Jackie Matthews.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, they still have veterans with playing experience in the fold who are now ready to start. One potential starter will transition from a corner in former Alabama transfer Marcus Banks.

Banks, a senior, appeared in 13 games last year for MSU, mainly in special teams and to provide depth. With to the Zach Arnett 3-3-5 scheme, the Bulldogs will always have a nickel on the field, and Banks will be the nickel, so while there will be a transition he will still find himself covering often.

The next projected starter is Shawn Preston, a senior. Preston has had 14 starts in his career dating back to 2020.

He will be the leader of this largely inexperienced group. He will take over the Dog safety spot where he will have lots of linebacker responsibilities against a heavy box.

Corey Ellington is the final projected starter to look at for the Bulldogs. Ellington has made one career start and has largely played just special teams.

He will be the boundary safety which is a good fit, and at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds he will be asked to play centerfield in the secondary. Ellington is the youngest of the starters but has shown flashes early in his career. MSU also added safeties from the portal and high school ranks.

These portal additions are Jordan Morant (Michigan), Ja’Kobi Albert (Kentucky), and Chris Keys (Indiana), who will all take part in the battle to be in the upper part of the depth chart at the position.

And while true freshman typically need time to develop before they take on. a large role at any position, don't be quick to rule out Issac Smith and the potential he brings to the table. The Fulton native was the highest-rated recruit in last year's class and was out during spring due to injury but will be back for fall camp.

If the Bulldogs can get solid production from their safeties, it will help a lot in this blitz-happy defense that could make noise within the SEC when the season gets rolling in September.