More Bulldogs announce return

When 2023 rolls around, it has a chance to be a big one for Mike Leach and the Mississippi State Bulldogs as the coach heads into year four on the job and he's going to do it with some positive momentum and reinforcements.

Linebacker Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson kicked off the news of MSU players returning for another season on Wednesday afternoon and that was followed up by defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy announcing the same later on that night.

On Thursday, more news surfaced with the announcement of returns by defensive end Jordan Davis, defensive tackle Nathan Pickering and offensive tackle Kameron Jones.

All five players will be returning for the final season of

their eligibility due to COVID-19 rules put in place by the NCAA in 2020 giving players in all sports the ability to use an extra year.

Crumedy joins Watson as the biggest return on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive tackle has played in 40 games in his MSU career dating back to 2018 and he has 80 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. His impact goes beyond the stat sheet, however.

After playing in two games and redshirting in 2018, Crumedy played in 11 games and started seven as a redshirt freshman in 2019 with 18 tackles and two tackles for loss with one sack. He's started every game he's played in the last three years with 31 tackles in 2020, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks and 20 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack last year. Crumedy missed the first eight games of the year this season with a wrist injury but has helped give the defense a huge lift late in the year. In just four games, Crumedy had 11 tackles with a career hightying 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Pickering has flashed in his career as a defensive tackle. The former four-star recruit from Seminary was a freshman All-southeastern Conference player in 2019 with six tackles for loss and three sacks. He's played in 38 games with 79 tackles along the way, 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. In 2022, he's had 25 tackles in 11 games with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. That followed up his best season as a Bulldog last year when he made 27 tackles, seven tackles for loss and had four sacks.

For Davis, he's finally fully healthy and is looking to put together his best year yet next year. The Memphis native returned this year after sitting out all of 2021 due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. This season was his best as a Bulldog with 25 tackles in 10 games, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble playing off the bench for State.

Davis arrived in Starkville back in 2020 out of Copiahlincoln Community College in Wesson. He was a fourstar recruit out of Southwind High School in Memphis and was committed to Alabama as an Under Armour All-american, but Davis had to make a detour and go the junior college route for two seasons.

In his first year at State, Davis played in nine of the 11 games and made 22 tackles with a pass deflection.

Jones also announced his intentions return becoming the first offensive player to announce that he will use his COVID year.

After not playing his first two years on campus, Jones worked himself into the starting lineup midway through his sophomore year when he took over at right tackle off the bench against Alabama for his first action.

After getting his first start the next week, Jones has started on the offensive line for 30-straight games. He's played left and right guard as well as right tackle and he's helped seal up any concerns on the right side of the line with guard Cole Smith.

The Starkville High product was a Starkville Daily News All-area player in high school for the Yellow Jackets and earned an offer from MSU on signing day at the last minute. He chose to flip a commitment from Louisiana Lafayette to MSU and has worked his way into the starting lineup and positioned himself for the National Football League after next year.

Jones went down with a lower body injury against Ole Miss and he's not expected to play in the bowl game.

While Jones is the only player that's announced his intentions to return on the offensive side so far, the Bulldogs are expected to bring back everyone on the offensive line with the exception of center Laquinston Sharp. The team is also expected to retain the rest of its starters with the exception of Caleb Ducking and Austin Williams.

The defense looks to be losing safeties Jackie Matthews and Jalen Green as well as defensive tackle Cameron Young and cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Forbes declared for the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Williams selected SEC Scholar-athlete of Year

Williams, a graduate wide receiver for the Bulldogs, was selected the SEC Football Scholar-athlete of the Year on Thursday by a vote of league coaches.

As a two-time first-team Academic All-american, Williams has kept a 4.0 cumulative grade point average during his time at MSU. He is pursuing a third degree.

Among other recognition for Williams is he was previously selected as a member of the 2022 NFF National Scholar-athlete Class and is a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Williams was selected the 2021-22 SEC H. Boyd Mcwhorter Scholar-athlete of the Year in the spring. The honor is the highest an SEC athlete can earn in any sport.

On the field this season, the Ocean Springs native has 32 receptions for 269 yards and five touchdowns.

Williams is the first Mississippi State student-athlete to earn SEC Football Scholar-athlete of the Year honors since the first presentation of the award in 2003.

Forbes, Griffin, Sharp make PFF ALL-SEC Team

Three members of the MSU football team were recognized on Thursday as ALLSEC by Pro Football Focus.

Forbes and special teams returner Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin made the first team, while Sharp was on the second team.