Leaving A Lasting Legacy
November 19, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
State’s seniors have aimed to set a standard for Bulldogs that’ll follow them.
STARKVILLE – It was back in 2017 when a then-true freshman receiver Austin Williams was just a pup for Mississippi State. Like it would've been for any youngster, it was a time of learning.
On that year's Bulldog team was Donald Gray – then in his final season in Maroon and White. Williams watched as day after day Gray put in work. Long after teammates had left the practice fields, Gray remained and caught extra passes. He ran extra routes. Williams followed suit.
"[Gray] caught the most balls on the team all the time," Williams remembered. "He was always the last one running routes and staying and running more and doing more. I just tried to follow him and do what he did. I would stay until he left."
As Williams has demonstrated in the half of a decade that has followed, veterans like Gray can have a lasting impact long after they're no longer on the gridiron for MSU.
On Saturday, prior to the Bulldogs' game against East Tennessee State, Williams and many of his upperclassman teammates were honored as part of State's latest Senior Day. As they hit the field at Davis Wade Stadium one last time, one of their hopes was that they've inspired those who'll still be active Bulldogs beyond this year.
"I always try to do that," Williams said. "I always try to lead by example. Hopefully, I can lay a foundation for the guys coming after me. Hopefully, I've made an impact. That's what I tried to do – impact the guys around me and uplift them and help them and they can further carry it on and help the people after them."
Williams and company have certainly provided example after example that younger Bulldogs would be wise to follow.
Any football player could benefit from the work ethic, consistency and reliability of Williams. You better believe it'd be smart to have the mentality of linebacker Nathaniel Watson – a guy who early on in his career was ready when needed, then made himself indispensable as he developed and learned every linebacker spot. He was so dedicated to his craft he once even honed his skills at the Sam position in a hotel parking lot before the Georgia game in 2020.
There's the silent (but loud when it needs to be) leadership of Cameron Young – a man defensive line coach Jeff Phelps has labeled as being like adhesive that holds everything together. Don't forget about Jordan Davis' incredible resilience to get back on the field this season after missing all of 2021. Or Jaden Crumedy's own toughness to get back this year after missing the first eight games.
Tyrus Wheat has molded himself into a defensive player that's now an offensive coordinator's nightmare. Collin Duncan's voice has been such a key part of the safety room in recent years. Caleb Ducking displayed patience, waited (and worked) for his time, got it and has been making Bulldogs waddle like ducks ever since.
These players and the rest of those honored on Senior Day have made Mississippi State better, without question. That goes for the present – and if all goes well – for the future, too.
"[What those guys have done is] a big deal," MSU head coach Mike Leach said. "Certainly there's a lot of people down the road that may not realize it yet that'll definitely be benefactors of the efforts of those guys."
In three or four years, perhaps there'll be someone pointing back at Williams and the rest the way Williams now points back to Gray. In fact, that seems like a certainty if the upperclassmen's teammates' opinions are any indication.
"Absolutely their impact will be felt [even when they're not here]," junior quarterback Will Rogers said. "It has to be felt. Obviously, their roles will pass down to someone else and someone else will have to step up, but the standard to be a leader and the standard to carry that kind of weight, that's been set by those guys."
