| The Mississippi State Bulldogs head into the 2010 | | | | Montrell Conner. |
| season with 14 starters back to a team that | | | | One reason you have to believe the Bulldogs will |
| finished 5-7 overall and 3-5 in SEC play. Head | | | | be able to run the ball well again in 2010, is the |
| coach Dan Mullen enters into his second season as | | | | fact that they have four starters back on the |
| the head coach of the Bulldogs, and will try and | | | | offensive line, led by senior left tackle Derek |
| get this team back to a bowl game for the first | | | | Sherrod and junior left guard Quentin Saulsberry. |
| time since 2007. It won't be easy for the Bulldogs | | | | Sophomore Tobias Smith will likely be the new |
| playing in the SEC West, and will likely need to pull | | | | starter on the line at right guard. |
| off a couple upsets to get to six wins this season. | | | | Defense: |
| Here is a quick look at what the Bulldogs will send | | | | Up front he Bulldogs will feed off of senior |
| to the field in 2010, plus my prediction on where | | | | defensive end Pernell McPhee, who led the team |
| they finish up the season in the SEC. | | | | with five sacks in 2009. For this unit to improve |
| Offense: | | | | off last season sophomore defensive tackles Josh |
| The Bulldogs return seven starters to an offense | | | | Boyd and Fletcher Cox have to play well against |
| that performed better than expected in 2009, as | | | | the run. At the other defensive end spot look for |
| the Bulldogs went from scoring just 15.3 points in | | | | junior Sean Ferguson to step in after recording |
| 2008 to 25.6 points a game in 2009. The Bulldogs | | | | one sack and 4.5 tackles for loss in backup duty |
| will have to replace quarterback Tyson Lee, and it | | | | last season. |
| looks like a two way battle between junior Chris | | | | At linebacker the Bulldogs bring back senior middle |
| Relf and red-shirt freshman Tyler Russell. Relf | | | | linebacker Chris White and senior strong-side |
| appears to have the early edge, but either way | | | | linebacker KJ Wright, who are the top two leading |
| whoever wins the job figures to do better than | | | | tacklers back from last season. Look for |
| Lee did in 2009, as the Bulldogs averaged just | | | | sophomore Cameron Lawrence to start on the |
| 144 yards a game passing. | | | | weak side for the departed Jamar Chaney. |
| The Bulldogs bring back their top two threats at | | | | Only one change will have to be made in the |
| the receiver position in sophomore wide out Chad | | | | secondary for the Bulldogs, as senior Maurie |
| Bumphis and junior tight end Marcus Green. These | | | | Langston looks to step in and start opposite of |
| two combined for seven of the teams 9 | | | | sophomore Corey Broomfield, who is one of the |
| touchdown receptions in 2009, and the numbers | | | | better young corners in all of the SEC. Also keep |
| will only get better if the quarterback play | | | | an eye out for junior strong safety Charles |
| improves. Senior Leon Berry is also back at the | | | | Mitchell, as he figures to be one of the top |
| wide out position, while sophomore Chris Smith | | | | safeties in the SEC this season. |
| looks to get in on the action this season. | | | | Prediction - 5th SEC West: I think the Bulldogs are |
| The Bulldogs offense was all about the run last | | | | going to surprise some teams in 2010, as I look |
| year, as they averaged 228 yards a game on the | | | | for them to be even more competitive than they |
| ground, but it will be hard to replace the | | | | were in 2009. The problem is the other teams in |
| production of running back Anthony Dixon, as he | | | | this conference are some of the best teams in |
| ran for a team best 1,391 yards and 12 scores in | | | | the entire country, and I just can't see this team |
| 2009. Junior Vick Ballard looks to have the early | | | | finishing out of the bottom two teams in the |
| edge to take over, but should get plenty of help | | | | West. |
| from junior Robert Elliot and red-shirt freshman | | | | |
