Growing On The Job
September 21, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
As SEC play begins this weekend, Bulldog offense once again being led by youth.
STARKVILLE – With age comes wisdom, they say. In college football vernacular, the old adage might best be adjusted to, with age comes increased expectations.
A season ago, Mississippi State's offense relied heavily on the production of freshmen. The Bulldog youngsters shined then, and now a year later that same cast of characters is showing indications that experience was indeed the best teacher.
Consider this. MSU has scored a dozen touchdowns so far in 2021. In all 12 of them, at least one of last year's freshmen that are now sophomores were involved. On four of those occasions, two took part with quarterback Will Rogers connecting with a classmate on a pass.
Speaking of Rogers, the second-year signal caller continues to display signs of growth. That's not to say he's reached his peak. Neither he, nor head coach Mike Leach would claim that. Yet it's apparent Rogers is incredibly advanced given his limited track record.
"We talk about Will like he's a veteran," Leach said earlier this week. "[Last Saturday's Memphis game] was his ninth start, and even that without the pedigree of numerous seasons before with redshirts and everything else."
Rogers keeps producing though, even as he grows on the job. He currently stands as MSU's career leader in completion percentage, connecting on 70.4 percent of his career throws. He now holds two of the Top 10 passing yardage games in school history after throwing for 419 yards in Memphis. Three games into 2021, Rogers is on pace to shatter Dak Prescott's Mississippi State record for single season passing yardage.
When it comes to total offense, Rogers also presently stands as MSU's career leader in yards-per-game average. Rogers has eight games with 200 or more yards passing in his career, four with 300 or more and two with 400 or greater. And again, he's done all of this in only nine starts – only three-fourths of a traditional regular college football season.
None of this is to suggest Rogers doesn't have areas to work on. Leach cites consistency, as well as quicker reactions and decisions on where to throw the ball as some of the things Rogers must still clean up.
"We're just battling through that," Leach said. "Everybody wants it to move quicker. We are where we are, so we just have to try to improve every day and get better at it."
Fortunately for Rogers, he's not alone in the performing-while-learning boat. His fellow sophomores have been right beside him, helping him shoulder the load.
Two of the Southeastern Conference's top eight receivers in terms of receptions are State sophomore running backs Jo'quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson. (MSU junior receiver Makai Polk actually tops the list.)
Sophomore receiver Jaden Walley is tied for third in the SEC in receiving touchdowns. He has three this year with one in each game.
Sophomore Lideatrick Griffin is ninth in the league in all purpose yards and leads the conference in kick return yards, kick return average and kick return touchdowns.
When you step back and evaluate all the sophomore production, it's a bit astounding. Virtually every yard gained or point scored this season has come, at least in part, courtesy of a Bulldog that was playing high school football just two years ago at this time.
Inexperienced? Sure. But effective? You bet.
Now there have been a few speed bumps along the way this season and there'll almost assuredly still be some ahead, especially when you consider it's not only the young Bulldogs growing, but even some of those that have been around longer. No MSU offensive player on the roster has started more than 17 career games. Only four have double-digit starts in maroon and white.
Meanwhile Rogers, Walley, Griffin and a whole host of others are, in many ways, just getting their feet under them. And while there'll surely continue to be a few hurdles here or there as the Bulldogs develop on the big stage each Saturday, that shouldn't distract from what certainly appears to be an upward trajectory. It's a rise that, perhaps even the players themselves, haven't even fully grasped yet.
"A portion of [getting better as a team] is making these guys realize their potential," Leach said. "I think sometimes they don't fully appreciate where they are and where they've developed in the last year."
