Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
More On Bookie's Big Game
October 22, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson did something last week that no other Bulldog had done in over a decade.
Watson racked up a career-high 16 tackles against Alabama, the most by an MSU player since Brandon Wilson made 18 stops against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 24, 2011.
Nine of Watson's tackles against the Crimson Tide came in the first half. The junior from Maplesville, Alabama finished with five solo stops and 11 assists with one tackle for loss and one sack.
"Obviously, 'Bookie' has done a nice job at that Mike position," said MSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett. "That position should be you're leading tackler. You're the middle linebacker in the middle of the defense. You're the guy with the best opportunity to flow sideline to sideline. He's probably a little faster than people give him credit for."
Watson's performance last week tied him for the 20th-most tackles in a single game by a Bulldog since 1988. Ray Costict still holds the school's single-game tackles mark with a whopping 29 stops against Kentucky on Oct. 9, 1976.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder ranks second on the team with 42 tackles this season. He has also added three tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries.
Watson also sacked Alabama quarterback Bryce Young on third down during the first quarter for a loss of six yards. He has now recorded a sack in back-to-back games after notching his first career sack at Texas A&M.
But even as successful as Watson was individually last week, he did not lose sight of the most important stat of all – a win. During the postgame press conference after the Alabama game, Watson's mind had already shifted its focus towards trying to get a win at Vanderbilt this week.
"We're just looking forward to the next game," Watson said. "We're just trying to go 1-0 this week. We just have to get back in the lab and work, improve on our game and look to go 1-0."
Watson racked up a career-high 16 tackles against Alabama, the most by an MSU player since Brandon Wilson made 18 stops against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 24, 2011.
Nine of Watson's tackles against the Crimson Tide came in the first half. The junior from Maplesville, Alabama finished with five solo stops and 11 assists with one tackle for loss and one sack.
"Obviously, 'Bookie' has done a nice job at that Mike position," said MSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett. "That position should be you're leading tackler. You're the middle linebacker in the middle of the defense. You're the guy with the best opportunity to flow sideline to sideline. He's probably a little faster than people give him credit for."
Watson's performance last week tied him for the 20th-most tackles in a single game by a Bulldog since 1988. Ray Costict still holds the school's single-game tackles mark with a whopping 29 stops against Kentucky on Oct. 9, 1976.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder ranks second on the team with 42 tackles this season. He has also added three tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries.
Watson also sacked Alabama quarterback Bryce Young on third down during the first quarter for a loss of six yards. He has now recorded a sack in back-to-back games after notching his first career sack at Texas A&M.
But even as successful as Watson was individually last week, he did not lose sight of the most important stat of all – a win. During the postgame press conference after the Alabama game, Watson's mind had already shifted its focus towards trying to get a win at Vanderbilt this week.
"We're just looking forward to the next game," Watson said. "We're just trying to go 1-0 this week. We just have to get back in the lab and work, improve on our game and look to go 1-0."
MOST MSU SINGLE-GAME TACKLES SINCE 1988
|
Name
|
Yr.
|
Opponent
|
Date
|
Total Tackles
|
| Reggie Stewart | 1990 | Auburn | 10-27-1990 | 26 |
| Reggie Stewart | 1990 | Alabama | 11-3-1990 | 25 |
| Barrin Simpson | 1999 | Ole Miss | 11-25-1999 | 23 |
| Josh Morgan | 1999 | Ole Miss | 11-25-1999 | 21 |
| Dereck Rush | 1997 | UCF | 10-25-1997 | 20 |
| Reggie Stewart | 1989 | Auburn | 10-28-1989 | 20 |
| Mario Haggan | 2000 | Arkansas | 11-18-2000 | 19 |
| Paul Lacoste | 1996 | Alabama | 11-16-1996 | 19 |
| Paul Lacoste | 1996 | LSU | 10-26-1996 | 19 |
| Dwayne Curry | 1993 | Kentucky | 10-30-1993 | 19 |
| Brandon Wilson | 2011 | Louisiana Tech | 9-24-2011 | 18 |
| Titus Brown | 2004 | Arkansas | 11-20-2004 | 18 |
| Rocky Nabors | 1989 | Auburn | 10-28-1989 | 18 |
| Mario Haggan | 2002 | LSU | 9-28-2002 | 17 |
| Earnest Garner | 1996 | Arkansas | 11-23-1996 | 17 |
| Dwayne Curry | 1994 | Tennessee | 9-24-1994 | 17 |
| Frankie Luster | 1991 | Alabama | 11-2-1991 | 17 |
| James Williams | 1989 | Ole Miss | 11-25-1989 | 17 |
| Reggie Stewart | 1988 | Georgia | 9-17-1988 | 17 |
| Nathaniel Watson | 2021 | Alabama | 10-16-2021 | 16 |
| Dominic Douglas | 2008 | at Ole Miss | 11-28-2008 | 16 |
| Dominic Douglas | 2008 | Arkansas | 11-22-2008 | 16 |
| Willie Blade | 2000 | Texas A&M | 12-31-2000 | 16 |
| Mario Haggan | 2000 | LSU | 10-21-2000 | 16 |
| Paul Lacoste | 1996 | Louisiana Tech | 9-21-1996 | 16 |
| Juan Long | 1993 | Ole Miss | 11-27-1993 | 16 |
| Keo Coleman | 1991 | Air Force | 12-29-1991 | 16 |
| Reggie Stewart | 1990 | LSU | 11-17-1990 | 16 |
| Reggie Stewart | 1989 | Southern Miss | 9-9-1989 | 16 |
| James Williams | 1988 | Southern Miss | 10-15-1988 | 16 |
Players Mentioned
LB
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