HOOVER, Ala. -- Controversy surrounding incoming freshman Jeffery Simmons dominated chatter surrounding the Mississippi State Bulldogs at this week's SEC media days.
Simmons, a standout defensive lineman, has been given a one-game suspension by the school, but he was allowed to enroll after being caught on video punching a woman on the ground who was engaged in a brawl with another woman.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
2016 schedule
Sept. 3 South Alabama, 11 a.m. (SECN)
Sept. 10 South Carolina*, 6 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sept. 17 at LSU*, 6 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sept 24 #at UMass#
Oct. 8 Auburn*
Oct. 14 at BYU
Oct. 22 at Kentucky*
Oct. 29 Samford
Nov. 5 Texas A&M*
Nov. 12 at Alabama*
Nov. 19 Arkansas*
Nov. 26 at Ole Miss*
*SEC game # at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Mississippi State glance
Last season 9-4, 4-4 (tied for 5th) in SEC West
Coach Dan Mullen (55-35 in eighth year at Miss. State and overall)
Returning starters (13): Offense 5, Defense 6, Specialty 2
Key returning players LB Richie Brown, S Brandon Bryant, RB Brandon Holloway, DL A.J. Jefferson, WR Fred Ross
SEC title scenario Picked last in the SEC West by media, the Bulldogs will have to get a performance at quarterback beyond all expectations, present a formidable running game and show no drop off on defense. All of those appear unlikely.
Coach Dan Mullen mostly deflected and dodged questions about the school's handling of Simmons before eventually accepting responsibility for the five-star recruit's behavior while he is on campus in Starkville, Miss.
The flap over Simmons overshadowed any recognition for Mullen's first seven seasons with the Bulldogs. Mississippi State has played in six consecutive bowl games for the first time, and its 50 victories in that span are easily the most in a six-year period at the school.
"We're coming off consecutive nine-win seasons, which has never happened before," Mullen said at media days. "We had three nine-win seasons in the last six years.
"I said eight years ago, I got up here and said we want to change the expectations of Mississippi State football, and I think we've been able to do that."
The Bulldogs are entering a new era, one that does not include Dak Prescott, who holds every record for quarterbacks at the school.
SEC media picked the Bulldogs to finish last in the SEC West in balloting this week, largely due to the lowered expectations at quarterback.
Mullen has a critical decision to make during camp in naming a starting quarterback, and there are no shortage of contenders. Redshirt sophomore Nick Fitzgerald, a 6-5, 227-pounder, is considered the favorite to win the job, but Elijah Staley, Nick Tiano and Damian Williams have not been ruled out.
"It's a good thing I play receiver here and I'm not the head coach, because he has a tough decision to make coming up," said senior Fred Ross, who had 88 catches for 1,007 yards last season.
Bulldogs defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson said the locker room will be very different without Prescott, who was a fourth-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys.
"Dak was a great player and leader, and when he spoke everyone listened," Jefferson said. "He's done a lot for the university and the team, broke a lot of records and helped us win a lot of games. But I feel like there are four young, hungry quarterbacks who are ready to take over now."
Prescott, also the team's leading rusher in two of the past three seasons, leaves a big hole in the running game. Brandon Holloway, 5-8, 165, is the leading returning rusher with 413 yards, but he had no rushing touchdowns, meaning thumpers Aeris Williams and Ashton Shumpert likely will be the top short-yardage options.
Peter Sirmon, an Oregon graduate and seven-year NFL linebacker, will make his debut as a defensive play-caller with a completely new staff on that side of the ball. The Bulldogs ranked No. 56 in total defense last season. They were tied for No. 42 with 13 interceptions but were last in the FBS with only one fumble recovered.
Sirmon is Mississippi State's third defensive coordinator in three years, following Geoff Collins and Manny Diaz. Former Georgia Coach Mark Richt in the offseason hired Diaz to the same position at the University of Miami.
"Our defensive philosophy hasn't changed no matter who the coordinator is," Mullen said.
"He's bringing some new stuff to the table, and we're really excited about it," said senior linebacker Richie Brown, referencing the Bulldogs' expanded 3-4 looks in spring. "There's some different lingo, but defense is still cover 1, 2, 3 and go tackle the guy with the ball."
The Bulldogs face an odd schedule, with two nonconference road games at non-Power 5 programs and cross-division SEC contests against South Carolina and Kentucky, which project as the weakest tandem for an SEC West team this season.
Mississippi State will play UMass at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and BYU in Provo, Utah.
Sports on 07/16/2016