Gospel of Hal.

[Soapy]

looks like a good blend of skillsets in the QB room. any plans to use more than Carlisle?

we shall see, haven't gone into the #lab yet

liking the sounds of that RB group too

go out into the flats and catch this check down

rb2 seems like a weapon for that

yeah he won't get the volume that carlisle did but i could see him having a 500/500 season

[Soapy]

Roster Review: Mississippi State tight ends
Cotton returns as a proven weapon in a room that's grown up quickly
By Jacoby Klein • August 7, 2028

Mississippi State tight end Allen Carlson catches a ball over the middle during the Spring game at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS. Austin Frayser/Special To The Clarion Ledger

Unlike some of the other position groups The Dispatch has broken down this offseason, Mississippi State's tight end room enters 2027 with something rare: a proven, established starter.

The starter

Zayion Cotton – junior

Cotton is coming off the best season of his career, hauling in 59 receptions for 625 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs' primary tight end target a season ago. At 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, Cotton pairs that size with real athleticism, showing enough speed and change-of-direction ability to threaten the seam rather than just working underneath. He's not the most polished blocker in the room, but as a receiving threat, he's firmly established himself as one of the focal points of this offense.

The backups

Kyle Rushing – junior

Rushing gives the Bulldogs a second legitimate receiving option out of the tight end spot. At 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, he's undersized for the position but compensates with quickness and burst that make him a tough cover in space. His blocking remains a work in progress, but as a move piece in the passing game, he's carved out a real role in the room.

Seth Clifton – redshirt sophomore

Clifton might have the best hands in the entire tight end room. At a well-built 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, he's shown reliable ball skills throughout his time on campus, though his overall athleticism trails behind Cotton and Rushing. He remains a developmental piece as a blocker as well.

Also on the roster

Allen Carlson – redshirt freshman

Carlson rounds out the group as the least experienced tight end on the roster. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he's still developing across the board, athletically, as a pass-catcher, and in the run game, as he continues to adjust to the college level.

[djp73]

"also on the roster" is a rough group to be in.

so far your tight ends have been a middling part of the offense with low 40s receptions each season, do you think having a guy like Cotton there will make the position more of a focus in the offense?

[Soapy]

Roster Review: Mississippi State offensive line
A retooled front five with Phil Loadholt's continued rebuild in the trenches
By Jacoby Klein • August 8, 2028

Mississippi State quarterback Jelani Strange looks to connect with tight end Kyle Rushing at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS. Austin Frayser/Special To The Clarion Ledger

Mississippi State's offensive line room enters year four under offensive line coach Phil Loadholt with real continuity for the first time in a while even if the depth chart has shuffled at a few spots along the way.

The starters

LT Tyler Miller, redshirt junior

Miller steps into his first full season as the starting left tackle after making the transition from LSU, where he redshirted without seeing game action. A four-star recruit out of Laurel, Mississippi, Miller is a big-bodied, physical presence with rare length for the position, giving him the kind of frame that's made him a load to move off the ball since his high school days. At 6-foot-6, 339 pounds, he profiles as more of a mauler in the run game right now, with his pass-blocking technique still the area with the most room to grow.

LG Leon Noil Jr., redshirt sophomore

Noil emerged as one of the more pleasant surprises of the spring, solidifying himself as the top option at left guard. At 6-foot-5, 289 pounds, he's an explosive, powerful blocker in the run game who's shown the ability to overwhelm defenders at the point of attack, even if his overall polish is still developing given his relative inexperience.

C Mario Nash, redshirt junior

Nash returns to his home state after a stop at Florida State, where he didn't see game action before transferring back to Mississippi. A four-star prospect coming out of high school in De Kalb, Nash brings real football intelligence and interior versatility to the center spot, and split reps there with Colin Alexander throughout the spring. At 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, he's a well-rounded blocker without a glaring weakness in his game.

RG LJ Prudhomme, redshirt junior

Prudhomme has emerged as the top option at right guard after arriving from Arkansas, where he appeared in four games and earned his redshirt. A three-star prospect out of Shreveport, Louisiana, both in high school and in the portal, Prudhomme plays with an edge in the run game and has shown the ability to win at the point of attack even when his technique isn't perfect. At 6-foot-3, 324 pounds, he's undersized for the interior but plays bigger than his listed measurements.

RT Dalton Toothman, redshirt sophomore

Toothman heads into the fall as the top option at right tackle after a strong spring. A three-star prospect out of Vancleave High School in Ocean Springs, Toothman chose Mississippi State over offers from Ole Miss, Auburn and Clemson, and enrolled early to get a head start on his development. That extra time appears to be paying off — at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, he's shown himself to be one of the more well-rounded blockers in the entire room, equally capable in the run game and in pass protection.

The backups

LT Adonis Tutt, redshirt freshman

Tutt gives the Bulldogs depth behind Miller at left tackle. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, he's still developing across the board, with his pass protection lagging behind his more advanced work in the run game.

LG/C TJ Lockhart, redshirt senior

A massive presence at 6-foot-5, 364 pounds, Lockhart brings positional flexibility after working at both guard spots throughout his career. He's shown himself capable in both phases of the game without excelling in either, giving the staff a experienced depth option.

C Colin Alexander, redshirt senior

Alexander split center reps with Nash throughout the spring and remains firmly in the mix at the position. At 6-foot-4, 304 pounds, he's actually the more advanced pass protector of the two, giving the staff a real decision to make as the season approaches.

C Kalvin Upshaw, redshirt sophomore, and C Tony Polumbus, redshirt freshman

Both remain in the center competition as younger depth pieces still developing behind the two veterans ahead of them.

RG Wesley Kiernan, freshman

A true freshman already drawing some early attention, Kiernan is a stout, well-built guard prospect who profiles as capable in both phases of the game once he gets more seasoning.

RT Al Godwin, redshirt junior

At 6-foot-7, 306 pounds, Godwin is the most advanced pass protector at tackle on the roster, even if his play in the run game lags behind. He gives the staff a legitimate option if Toothman needs a breather or a change-of-pace look is needed against a heavy pass-rush opponent.

Also on the roster

C Earl Alsadek, junior — 6-foot-2, 283 pounds.

RG Zac Sigler, redshirt freshman — 6-foot-2, 288 pounds.

The freshmen

Chance Keene — 6-foot-1, 289 pounds, guard.

Dave Hoese — 6-foot-4, 297 pounds, guard.

Jacques Gastineau — 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, tackle.

[Soapy]

"also on the roster" is a rough group to be in.

so far your tight ends have been a middling part of the offense with low 40s receptions each season, do you think having a guy like Cotton there will make the position more of a focus in the offense?

I think 40 is probably the top end of what a tight end will do in this offense. Maybe get higher YPC as they get better

[Soapy]

Editor's Note: The following sliders have been adjusted:

QB Accuracy: 38/38 (25/25)

Also, congratulations to Captain Canada who edged Rob since he placed more bets. Please let me know which team you want to get a rating's boost.

[djp73]

Also, congratulations to Captain Canada who edged Rob

[Soapy]

Predicting the 2028 SEC Football Season: Mississippi State
Preview & Game-By-Game Picks

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 30: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) tries to run through a tackle during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide
on September 30, 2023 at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, MS. (Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Aug 10, 2028 · 5 min read

Number five in our series of wild blind dart-throwing predictions reunites the Crimson Tide with our ol' friends down the road in StarkVegas.

Coach: G.J. Kinne (4-8 at Mississippi State, 36-29 overall, 3-5 vs. rivals, 3-1 bowl record, 0-7 vs. top 25)

2027 MSU record: 4–8 (2–6 in SEC)

Looking back: G.J. Kinne's first season in Starkville was about as rocky as first seasons come. The Bulldogs stumbled to a 4-8 finish, and offensive coordinator Ralph Patterson, retained from the previous staff, didn't survive the offseason. Kinne, for his part, was retained by the administration, with the front office citing the broader rebuild underway. His fix: going out and hiring Jaleel Mosley, fresh off leading Texas State to a Pac-12 Championship Mosley didn't come alone, either, he brought a handful of familiar faces with him from San Marcos.

Key losses: CB Quentin Taylor (transfer, LSU), CB Kyle Johnson (transfer, LSU), WR Zion Ragins (transfer, LSU), RB Kolin Wilson (transfer, Arkansas State), OL Trey Shaw (transfer, Kentucky), WR Bralon Black, WR Camden Capehart, WR Junior Henderson (transfer, UTSA)

Top returnees: WR Marshaun Evans (46 rec, 787 yds, 3 TD), TE Zayion Cotton (59 rec, 625 yds, 4 TD), OL Tyler Miller, OL Mario Nash

Top newcomers: QB Austin Carlisle (Texas State; Doak Walker/Maxwell/Walter Camp/Paul Hornung winner, Heisman finalist), WR Jamaal Jordan (Texas State), WR Traylon Ray (Ole Miss), DT Jonathan Davis (Texas State), DT Talan Carter (Vanderbilt), EDGE Ryan Penn (Tulsa)

Strengths: A genuine star at quarterback in Carlisle, who arrives with a track record of putting up video-game numbers in a familiar offense to him… a receiver room that finally has real size, speed, and a proven vertical target in Evans and a talented and deep defensive tackle room.

Weaknesses: Carlisle is transitioning back to a full-time, structured quarterback role after playing a hybrid gadget role a year ago — the spring didn't always look pretty… it's a new offensive system on top of new personnel, and installs take time… a defense that lost real production at cornerback and along the interior… and, of course, the schedule.

Outlook: On paper, there's real reason for optimism in Starkville for the first time in a couple years. Carlisle alone is a massive offensive upgrade, and Kinne's track record of turning around programs speaks for itself. But this isn't a soft landing spot. The Bulldogs open conference play against a brutal back half of the schedule, capped by a trip to face the defending national runner-up and SEC champion in Tennessee, plus a home date with a ranked Texas A&M team and a road trip to a top-five Ole Miss squad. If Carlisle continues to ascend into full on college football superstardom, this team could steal a few winnable non-conference and lower-tier SEC games and get back above .500 in league play. If not, it's another long fall in Starkville.

Odds

Estimated Wins Total: 4.5

2027 MSU SCHEDULE:

vs. Central Michigan (4-8, 3-5) – W
at Tulane (8-5, 5-3) – W
at #24 Memphis (11-3, 6-2) – L
vs. South Alabama (4-8, 4-4) – W
at Texas (3-9, 1-7) – W — Texas is down badly this year; this is winnable
vs. Arkansas (5-7, 3-5) – W
vs. #17 Missouri (8-5, 4-4) – L
vs. Florida (7-6, 3-5) – L
at #1 Tennessee (14-2, 7-1, national runner-up, SEC champs) – L
at #10 Georgia (10-3, 6-2) - L
vs. #8 Texas A&M (9-4, 5-3) – L
at #5 Ole Miss (10-3, 6-2) – L

Predicted record: 5-7

Not a huge step forward in the win column, but a real one in quality of play.

[supahotfire]

I like the roster previews. Easy to read

[djp73]

Wide receivers??