Dawgs Have Depth Along The D-line
August 29, 2023 | Football
STARKVILLE – David Turner has coached some of the top defensive linemen that have ever come through Mississippi State.
Turner, who is in his third stint as the Bulldogs' defensive line coach, has guided the likes of Chris Jones, Fletcher Cox, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee, Josh Boyd, Kyle Love and Gerri Green onto the NFL during his previous stints in Starkville. He returns to teach another deep and talented crop of D-linemen how things are done in the trenches at MSU.
"I was fortunate that the guys knew of me before I got here," Turner said. "They've embraced everything I've tried to teach them. They listen and want to be great players. It's my job to help them and develop them...Those guys have hung onto everything I've told them, worked their tail off and are trying to get better."
The Bulldogs bring back a wealth of experience along the defensive line with veterans Jaden Crumedy, Nathan Pickering, Jordan Davis and De'Monte Russell all returning. That fearsome foursome has stockpiled 60 starts and 128 games worth of knowledge during their careers that they're now passing along to the underclassmen.
"The older guys have really stepped up and are leading the way," Turner said. "Crumedy has really taken an active role in trying to be a leader with the group. I'm really pleased with those older guys."
Crumedy returns for his sixth season after an injury restricted him to just five games last fall. But despite being limited to the just final month of the season and the bowl game, the veteran defensive tackle still managed 15 tackles (five for loss) and a pair of sacks.
"It was very tough watching everything and being on the sideline," Crumedy said. "It was hard not to just run out there on the field to help the team out. But it gave me time to improve upon myself and get better at different things like pass rushing and my steps. Overall, I think me and the whole team are ready for this season."
Crumedy has made 28 consecutive starts in games in which he has appeared and has made 35 starts over the course of his career.
Pickering is another veteran defensive tackle that has 39 games of experience (22 starts) under his belt. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound senior has recorded 80 career tackles - including 26 behind the line of scrimmage - and 11 sacks and is a former SEC All-Freshman performer.
Davis was rated the No. 2 junior college recruit in the country coming out of Copiah-Lincoln in the 2020 class but has been hampered by injuries throughout much of his tenure at State. The sixth-year defensive end bounced back after missing the entire 2021 campaign to make two starts last season and wants to showcase his skillset and remain healthy in his final year of eligibility.
"Jordan is a young man that wants to be a great player," Turner said. "He works at it and it's important to him. He's coming around. He's had a whole lot more good days than bad days, which is good. We've moved him around a little bit trying to figure out what he can and can't do so we can make sure he's in the right position to be successful."
Russell is another versatile veteran the Bulldogs have in their arsenal. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive end appeared in every game as a junior last season with the former four-star recruit earning his first career start and sack in 2022.
"He's kind of a jack of all trades," Turner said. "We can play him at about every position up front. I think there's a little more in him than what we're getting and hopefully we can get that out. But I'm pleased with where he is."
Crumedy, Pickering, Davis and Russell have all proven they can thrive at multiple positions along the defensive front. Their cross-training will not only add to the overall depth, but also give the defense the ability to utilize multiple looks and formations throughout the season.
"We have a lot of guys from the one's and two's getting reps at end, nose and tackle," Pickering said. "That's going to be good when the season gets here. We can throw any guy out there and they can play any position. We can even throw another D-linemen out there and play with four."
And while Mississippi State's starting D-line has played a ton of SEC snaps, a majority of the backups are getting their first shot at extended playing time this season. Sophomore defensive end Deonte Anderson saw action in five games last year while defensive tackle Trevion Williams appeared in three contests as a true freshman in 2022. Â
Anderson, a former four-star recruit and high school All-American, dazzled the coaching staff during preseason camp and provided five tackles for loss, two sacks and forced a fumble during the Bulldogs' first scrimmage.
"The guy that's impressed me as much or more than any of (the defensive linemen) is Deonte Anderson," said defensive coordinator Matt Brock. "He's played more physical. He's always been a natural pass rusher. But in the run game, he's starting to show the violence at contact and the things that we want to see at that level of the defense."
Kalvin Dinkins enters the fall as the backup behind Pickering at nose guard after redshirting as a true freshman a year ago. Southwest Mississippi Community College Eric Taylor, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound sophomore, is also expected to provide reps at defensive tackle after beginning his career at LSU in 2020.
"In this league, you can't play 65 to 70 snaps up front," Turner said. "You just can't do it. It's about building depth and I've got to feel good that you know what to do let alone how to do it. That's a big part of it. But some of those younger guys are starting to come along like Dinkins, Trevion and Eric Taylor."
Ty Cooper has played both linebacker and tight end and appeared in 11 games during his first two years with the Bulldogs. The Louisville native now shifts to the defensive line for his redshirt sophomore campaign.
Mississippi State also signed four true freshmen that have joined the fold this season in Joseph Head Jr., Caleb Bryant, Jonathan Davis and Gabe Moore.
"Those young guys are a great group of guys," Turner said. "I've been pleasantly surprised with Joe and Caleb. Gabe has had some good days and bad days and so has Jonathan Davis. But that's a good group. I think by the time they become juniors and seniors, those guys will fit right in with some of the better D-linemen we've had here."
Gavin Nelson is also back for his second season with the program and welcomes fellow walk-on Dayvionte Thompson to the mix this fall.
With 15 players in the fold and usually only playing with three men along the defensive front, the Bulldogs enter the 2023 campaign in a good place from a numbers standpoint. But head coach Zach Arnett wants much more than simply a warm body on the field. He expects his defensive lineman to be able to plug holes in the run game, generate a pass rush and get after the quarterback as well.
"I feel pretty good about our depth," Arnett said. "We feel there are eight or nine guys that you can throw in a game and they're going to know what to do and won't be like a fish out of water. That's been good, but I'd like us to be more dominant and cause more disruption up there. Getting lined up and knowing what to do doesn't mean you're doing it well. We've got to do it better, but we're coming along."
Technically, MSU has the capacity to roll five full waves of defensive linemen through a game. But the reality of playing in the most competitive division and conference in the country reduces those opportunities to only a select few.
"I'd like to play everybody and like to have a role for everybody," Turner said. "But the fact of the matter is you've got to prove that you've earned the right to play, and I've got to be confident that you'll know what to do. But we've gotten some good competition and some guys have stepped up."
