Fluff Bothwell Is Hungry
July 17, 2026 | Football, Joel Coleman
STARKVILLE – Fluff Bothwell has mouths to feed.
The Bulldog running back is an avid dog lover and has multiple canines in his possession. They're not just his animals. They're like his family.
Like all dogs, Bothwell's have insatiable appetites. Their hunger might only be surpassed by their owner's yearning to feast in the 2026 football season.
"Oh yeah, I'm hungry," Bothwell said. "Definitely more than the dogs. The dogs can't eat unless I eat."
Well, mealtime is approaching.
Mississippi State's upcoming campaign is a fresh opportunity for Bothwell. It's something he's been eyeing for months. Along with promising quarterback Kamario Taylor and a talented receiver room, Bothwell – when at the top of his game – gives MSU one of the Southeastern Conference's most threatening runners.
"No [opponent] wants to see him," Taylor said of Bothwell. "With Fluff 100 percent healthy, we're going to be a scary team because we'll be able to throw the ball. We'll be able to run the ball. And no one is going to want to go against Fluff when he's in the backfield."
Taylor's thoughts offer up a reminder to all who watched State a season ago. For as good as Bothwell was, he has so much more to offer.
That's because Bothwell was banged up for much of the year. He was injured against Texas A&M in the season's sixth game. Prior to that, Bothwell ranked fourth in the SEC in both rushing yards and touchdowns. He was averaging 5.8 yards per carry. One week before getting hurt, Bothwell made his first career start and ran for 134 yards against Tennessee.
If anyone was questioning Bothwell's ability to make the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC (he transferred from South Alabama to MSU prior to the 2025 season), Bothwell quickly put all doubts to rest.
"I built so much confidence early on," Bothwell said. "It showed me I could do it, and now I know that I'm able to do it at this level."
But then came the speedbump in College Station. Bothwell was hurt near the end of the road contest against the Aggies and was forced to miss the next two games.
Nearly a month after the injury, Bothwell was back on the field but still dealing with the aftereffects.
"I was just wanting to get back out there as early as I could," Bothwell remembered. "I gave it all I had, but there were times when I'd have to come out. I might get tangled up inside on a tackle or something like that and have to come out for a few plays.
"It was frustrating, but at the same time, I was committed to being an asset for my team as much as I could."
Even a bit hindered, Bothwell still flashed his tremendous ability. He had a 39-yard reception in the win at Arkansas. He averaged about 4.5 yards a carry against Georgia and nearly five yards per carry versus Missouri. He ran for 80 yards, including a season-long 43-yard carry, against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.
If the first half of last season displayed Bothwell's talent, the back half was a testament to his toughness. Now, he's wanting to put it all together in '26.
"I feel 100 percent now," Bothwell said. "I'm excited to be healthy and try to stay healthy and put together a full, complete season."
Bothwell isn't just eyeing a complete year. He wants to show he can be a complete back. Aside from healing up, this offseason has been all about further development for Bothwell.
"My growth, it starts with doing stuff that's not mandatory," Bothwell said. "It's being committed to watching extra film or getting extra treatment or doing whatever you need to do to be as good as you can be on the mental side of things.
"Then, I'd say I've been focusing on being a better pass blocker and a better pass catcher. I want to be able to be out there for my team being what they need me to be and doing whatever [head coach Jeff Lebby] needs me to do. I think that's what makes this year exciting is I think all of us are doing that as a team and group. We are all focused on doing what we need to do."
So, it's not just a hungry back. It's a hungry bunch of Bulldogs.
"Like [running backs coach Anthony Tucker] would say, 'Are you hungry, or are you starving?'" Bothwell said.
It certainly appears Bothwell and all in Maroon and White have stomachs that are growling, just waiting on the dinner bell – or in this case the cowbells – to start ringing.
