Bulldog Backs Seeking More Success As Sophomores

STARKVILLE – Occasionally a team will trust a true freshman to be its featured running back.

Last season at Mississippi State, however, head coach Mike Leach proved he wasn't afraid of giving two true freshmen an opportunity in the backfield. Jo'quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson shouldered most of the load over the final eight games and combined for 982 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns.

Now that same tandem is back and primed for even more success this season.

"I see that continuing," Marks said. "You've got two backs that are back, and the O-line has improved a lot, the wide receivers have improved and Will (Rogers) has improved from being a freshman. I think (our offensive production) will stay up to being with what happened last year."

Marks, who answers to the nickname "Woody", appeared in all 11 contests a year ago and drew eight starts. He finished tied for the national lead among freshmen with 60 catches, which was also an MSU rookie record for any position.

The now 5-foot-10, 205-pounder not only topped the team in receptions but also led the Bulldogs in rushing as well. He chewed up 312 yards and three TDs on the ground in addition to his 268 receiving yards.

Johnson also snagged his share of balls out of the backfield, finishing with 36 catches for 157 yards to go along with 51 carries for 225 yards and four scores.

"It's about touches not just about rushes for us in this offense," said running backs coach Eric Mele. "Let's get the guy the ball in a bunch of different ways and get him good matchups."

Both backs have built upon their first-year experience and have impressed their coach early on in training camp.

"It's a definite improvement from the spring to fall camp to this point," Mele said. "Those two older guys – the COVID freshmen – are making some gains and making you miss with their change of direction stuff. They're looking a little more explosive out there so I'm happy to see that from them."

Much like Marks and Johnson had to a year ago, another talented tandem of freshmen are trying to showcase their skills in training camp. Simeon Price comes to Mississippi State having played all over the field in high school while Ketravion Hargrove comes from more of an all-purpose back background.

"The two new freshmen are learning the ropes and the playbook at the same time," Mele said. "But they're integrating well so far the first few days."

Both Price and Hargrove are learning just how vital being able to catch balls out of the backfield is in Mike Leach's Air Raid offense early on in camp. However, both are handling that transition well so far.

"You just make sure they're a good athlete and we can teach them and soften up their hands a little bit," Mele said. "Repetition is going to get that better and better all the time. Both of those guys caught the ball well coming out of high school…So far, I don't think they've dropped any balls."

Price was ranked the No. 20 athlete in the country by Rivals.com and is the son of former NFL defensive back Mitchell Price, who played from 1990-93 with the Bengals, Cardinals and Rams.

"Anytime you get a dynamic athlete like that, I can easily make them into a running back," Mele said. "He came in at 215 pounds so he's already a guy who is physically ready to play right away."

Although Hargrove is the smaller of the two freshmen backs at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds, he goes by the nickname "Bull" and is the fastest tailback on the roster verified by both Johnson and Mele.

"His senior year of track he ran a 10.5 and came out here and we timed him in the 40 and it was a sub-4.4," Mele said. "Once he gets that playbook up and can play fast as fast as he can run, he's going to be a problem for some people."

Hargrove was also four-star prospect and rated the 20^th-best running back in the nation by 247Sports.com.

The Bulldogs also have a pair of experienced walk-ons to build depth around in their backfield. Omni Wells and J.J. Jernighan are both products of the Mississippi junior college ranks with Wells hailing from Gulf Coast and Jernighan arriving from Copiah-Lincoln.

"Those are my dogs," Johnson said. "I love those guys and just to have them here pushes me to be better and I push them to get better."

Bulldog Backs Seeking More Success As Sophomores

Players Mentioned

Ke'Travion Hargrove

J.J. Jernighan

Dillon Johnson

Jo'Quavious Marks

Simeon Price

Omni Wells

Mississippi State University Athletics