Mullen Reflects on Scrimmage, Football Turns Attention to Week 3
August 12, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State football went through its first scrimmage of preseason camp on Thursday night in Davis Wade Stadium before going through a two-hour workout in helmets and shorts on Friday.
The Bulldogs will hold their final two-a-day of camp on Saturday at "The Farm", practice once on Sunday and Monday and then begin classes for the fall semester on Tuesday.
"We have a lot of work to do," head coach Dan Mullen said. "We have a lot of young guys on our two-deep, especially when you scrimmage and are playing ones, twos and threes. We have to get a lot better. We have another scrimmage next Friday, so we will have to take a huge step forward because installation is pretty much done. Most of the stuff is in right now, so now we are going to find the guys that are committed, willing to learn, want to get on the field, and want to excel at a high level."
Three quarterbacks – Damian Williams, Nick Tiano and Nick Fitzgerald – played in the scrimmage. MSU granted sophomore Elijah Staley his release on Friday, and the quarterback announced he will transfer.
"We met and talked about the transfer, and I really appreciate how he handled everything," Mullen said. "I don't take stuff like that very lightly, but it was a very mature conversation about the future. We supported him in the decision. Quarterback is a tough position. We have four guys. None of them are seniors, and guys want to play."
Mullen said he has been pleased with the development of the offensive line, including redshirt junior Martinas Rankin.
"They're coming along," he said. "We are still trying to get the depth right. You need to have more than five to make it through a season. (Martinas) redshirting gave him the opportunity to learn the offense and compete to be a two-year starter instead of being a role player and being a one-year starter."
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage of the program is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
The Bulldogs will hold their final two-a-day of camp on Saturday at "The Farm", practice once on Sunday and Monday and then begin classes for the fall semester on Tuesday.
"We have a lot of work to do," head coach Dan Mullen said. "We have a lot of young guys on our two-deep, especially when you scrimmage and are playing ones, twos and threes. We have to get a lot better. We have another scrimmage next Friday, so we will have to take a huge step forward because installation is pretty much done. Most of the stuff is in right now, so now we are going to find the guys that are committed, willing to learn, want to get on the field, and want to excel at a high level."
Three quarterbacks – Damian Williams, Nick Tiano and Nick Fitzgerald – played in the scrimmage. MSU granted sophomore Elijah Staley his release on Friday, and the quarterback announced he will transfer.
"We met and talked about the transfer, and I really appreciate how he handled everything," Mullen said. "I don't take stuff like that very lightly, but it was a very mature conversation about the future. We supported him in the decision. Quarterback is a tough position. We have four guys. None of them are seniors, and guys want to play."
Mullen said he has been pleased with the development of the offensive line, including redshirt junior Martinas Rankin.
"They're coming along," he said. "We are still trying to get the depth right. You need to have more than five to make it through a season. (Martinas) redshirting gave him the opportunity to learn the offense and compete to be a two-year starter instead of being a role player and being a one-year starter."
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage of the program is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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