Texas is getting Mississippi State at the right time, at least on paper. The Bulldogs are walking into Austin battered by a major injury blow, with Kamario Taylor ruled out for the rest of the season because of a foot injury. That loss changes everything for Jeff Lebby’s group, but it doesn’t make Mississippi State harmless.
Lebby has already shown he can cause problems for Texas defenses, first as an offensive coordinator and now as a head coach. Even with Taylor sidelined, the Bulldogs still have enough speed and skill talent to test the Longhorns if they slip up.
The biggest question is what the offense looks like without its engine. Parker Puckett has taken over at quarterback, and the results haven’t been pretty.
Mississippi State has struggled badly with him running the show. Still, the Bulldogs have a few pieces that can flip a game in a hurry.
Fluff Bothwell is back and made his presence felt immediately, putting up 100 yards last week. If Texas doesn’t bottle him up early, he can take over a game on the ground.
Out wide, the Bulldogs bring the kind of speed they usually do, with Anthony Evans III leading a group that also includes Sanfrisco Magee, Marquis Johnson and Zion Ragins. Sam West gives them another wrinkle at tight end, and he even threw for a touchdown last week against Oklahoma.
Mississippi State’s defense has also taken a step forward under re-hire Zach Arnett. It hasn’t reached elite SEC territory, but it has been good enough at times to keep games manageable.
The problem is that, with Taylor out, the unit has been more vulnerable to explosive plays. That’s where Texas can hurt them.
Up front, former Longhorn Jaray Bledsoe and Will Whitson head a defensive line that can make some noise. Tyler Lockhart leads the team in tackles, while Fatt Forrest anchors the linebacker group. The back end is probably the best part of the defense, with Kelley Jones, Isaac Smith, Kendall Dolby and Jett Jefferson forming an experienced secondary with real ball skills.
That group may not have been a top-tier defense, but it has the talent to create problems if Texas gets loose with the football.
So while Mississippi State arrives wounded, it isn’t arriving empty-handed. The Bulldogs still have enough weapons on offense and enough individual talent on defense to make this interesting if the Longhorns are careless.
Texas should be positioned for a comfortable win, but that hasn’t exactly been the norm this season no matter who’s on the other sideline. This one could become a real turning point if the Longhorns pair last week’s explosiveness and run game with a clean, turnover-free night.
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Texas Passing Game Faces A Real Test Against Mississippi State
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Mississippi State figures to be a stern next test on the perimeter. Cornerbacks Jett Jefferson and Kelley Jones have both graded well on the defensive side, and Jones already has a history with Texas after intercepting Arch Manning last season. With Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman among the receivers likely to draw his attention again, Texas will have to prove its passing game can hold up against one of the better cornerback groups it has seen. [Read more 🡒]