The 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Sylvester Croom, who served his fourth season in the position. The Bulldogs played their six home games in 2007 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi.
The Bulldogs' record of 8–5 (4–4 in the SEC) was MSU's first winning record since the 2000 season, when the team finished 8–4 (4–4 in conference). The Bulldogs earned their first bowl game berth since 2000 by reaching the 2007 Liberty Bowl. Mississippi State's victory there over Conference USA champion UCF also marked MSU's first bowl victory since 2000, when the Bulldogs defeated Texas A&M, 43–41 in overtime, to win the 2000 Independence Bowl under head coach Jackie Sherrill. For the Bulldogs' improvement, Croom was voted the 2007 SEC Coach of the Year by his peers.
Preseason At the 2007 SEC Football Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, Mississippi State was predicted to finish 6th in the SEC Western Division, based on a poll of SEC coaches.
Players departing Seven starters departed from States' 2006 squad. All of them were seniors whose eligibility expired:
RG Brian Anderson, 6'6", 300 lbs., Three-year starter (started all 12 games in 2006) LB Quinton Culberson, 6'1", 236 lbs., All-SEC First-Team (102 tackles, 8 TFLs, 1 sack, 6 passes defended, 2 INTs in 2006) RCB David Heard, 6'0", 192 lbs., Three year starter (45 tackles, 3 TFLs, 8 passes defended, 2 INTs in 2006) DE Michael Heard, 6'2", 259 lbs., (37 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks in 2006) S Jeramie Johnson, 5'11", 213 lbs., (72 tackles, 3 TFLs, 5 passes defended in 2006) DT/LB Anwar Phillips, 6'0", 258 lbs., () DT Andrew Powell, 6'1", 290 lbs., (34 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, .5 sack in 2006) DT Deljuan Robinson, 6'3", 287 lbs., (34 tackles, 11 TFLs, 1.5 sacks in 2006)
Also departed are Seniors Omar Conner, who completed 76 of 135 passes (56.3%) for 943 yards and three touchdowns (three interceptions), rushed 37 times for 101 yards (2.7 average) and two touchdowns, and caught eight passes for 70 yards while splitting time at WR and QB, WR Will Prosser (11 receptions, 135 yards) and DT Antonio Johnson (21 tackles, 4 TFLs), who was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 152nd pick of the 2007 NFL draft.
Players returning Despite the loss of several standout veteran players from the Bulldogs' 2006 squad, the 2007 Bulldogs boast an experienced lineup, including 17 returning starters.
Offense State's offense in 2007 includes ten returning starters from 2006 (in bold).
Under center, Junior Michael Henig will get the first look at QB for the 'Dogs' after starting six games and completing 74 of 169 pass attempts (43.8%) for 1201 yards and seven touchdowns (nine interceptions) as a Sophomore in 2006. He will be challenged by Sophomores Ty Evans and Zack Harrington as well as incoming JUCO transfer Josh Riddell.
The Bulldogs will get back their top five pass receivers from 2006: Tony Burks (35 catches, 850 yards, 5 touchdowns, led SEC with 24.3 yards per reception), Jamayel Smith (20 receptions, 335 yards, 2 touchdowns), TE Eric Butler (13 receptions, 210 yards, 1 touchdown), Lance Long (25 receptions, 177 yards, 1 touchdown) and Aubrey Bell (8 receptions, 151 yards). Also returning are backup TEs Dezmond Sherrod (just 7 career receptions, but a solid blocking TE) and Jason Husband (9 receptions, 89 yards, 1 touchdown in 2006).
Sophomore RB Anthony Dixon emerged as a star in his 2006 true-Freshman season, rushing 169 times for 668 yards (4 yards per carry) and 9 touchdowns. He looks to handle the 'Dogs' starting RB duties again in 2007. Backups Arnil Stallworth, Justin Williams and Christian Ducré all return, as well. Juniors Eric Hoskins, who redshirted in 2006 after transferring from Holmes, and Brandon Hart, a converted RB, will share the FB duties.
Up front, the Bulldogs have C Royce Blacledge, who returns to anchor the unit in his Senior season after starting every game there as a Junior in 2006; Sophomore Craig Jenkins, who started every game at RT in 2006, moves to RG; Juniors Anthony Strauder and Michael Gates, who split time at LG both return, as do Junior Michael Brown, who transferred to State after redshirting at Florida, and Senior swing G/T J.D. Hamilton, both of whom split time at LT last season.
Offensive Depth (as of December 29, 2007)
STARTER Backup Backup Z WR #4 Tony Burks 6'4", 217 lbs., Sr.
Gulfport, Mississippi #86 Lance Long 5'11", 186 lbs., Sr.
Macomb, Michigan #81 Brandon McRae 6'4", 200 lbs., So.
Chester, Virginia TE #48 Dezmond Sherrod 6'3", 245 lbs., Sr.
Caledonia, Mississippi #88 Eric Butler 6'3", 255 lbs., Sr.
Moss Point, Mississippi #82 Jason Husband 6'3", 230 lbs., Sr.
Jackson, Mississippi RT #60 J.D. Hamilton 6'4", 300 lbs., Sr.
Natchez, Mississippi #79 Derek Sherrod 6'5", 298 lbs., Fr.
Caledonia, Mississippi #67 Roland Terry 6'7", 298 lbs., Jr.
Meridian, Mississippi RG #78 Michael Gates 6'4", 305 lbs., Jr.
Fairburn, Georgia #75 Craig Jenkins 6'4", 315 lbs., So.
Pearl, Mississippi #63 Chris Spencer 6'3", 305 lbs., So.
Meridian, Mississippi C #76 Royce Blackledge 6'4", 293 lbs., Sr.
Sandersville, Mississippi #58 Johnny Carpenter 6'2", 290 lbs., So.
Citronelle, Alabama LG #53 Anthony Strauder 6'3", 295 lbs., Jr.
Natchez, Mississippi #70 J.C. Brignone 6'1", 290 lbs., RS Fr.
Pass Christian, Mississippi #72 John McMillan 6'2", 285 lbs., RS Fr.
Paragould, Arkansas LT #77 Michael Brown 6'5", 300 lbs., Jr.
College Park, Georgia #74 Mark Melichar 6'5", 290 lbs., RS Fr.
Birmingham, Alabama X WR #89 Jamayel Smith 6'0", 183 lbs., Jr.
East Point, Georgia #87 Aubrey Bell 6'3", 217 lbs., Jr.
Prichard, Alabama #15 Co-Eric Riley 6'1", 200 lbs., Jr.
Lucedale, Mississippi QB #13 Wesley Carroll 6'2", 190 lbs., Fr.
Parkland, Florida #7 Michael Henig 6'1", 190 lbs., Jr.
Montgomery, Alabama #17 Josh Riddell 6'1", 195 lbs., Jr.
Salem, Oregon FB #38 Eric Hoskins 5'11", 230 lbs., Jr.
Weir, Mississippi #35 Brandon Hart 5'11", 240 lbs., Jr.
LaGrange, Georgia #84 Jeremy Jones 6'2", 275 lbs., Jr.
Harvey, Louisiana RB #24 Anthony Dixon 6'1", 240 lbs., So.
Terry, Mississippi #29 Christian Ducré 6'0", 222 lbs., So.
Mandeville, Louisiana #33 Justin Williams 5'10", 207 lbs., Sr.
Tallulah, Louisiana
"Fr." refers to true freshmen who are in their first season on-campus, unless noted "RS" in which case the player is participating in their first season of eligibility after red-shirting.
Defense Despite the loss of six starters from 2006, Mississippi State returns five proven, veteran starters (in bold) and a strong group of young players who will attempt to replace last year's Seniors.
Up front, Senior LDE Titus Brown (38 tackles, 7 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass defended in 2006), a 2006 Second-Team All-SEC selection, is the only returning starter, but with 18 career starts under his belt, he has the experience to be a disruptive force for the Bulldogs and to help develop his younger teammates. Senior Avery Hannibal looks to fill the other DE spot, after recording eight tackles, one TFL and one sack in spot-relief of departed Senior Michael Heard in 2006. RS Freshman Brandon Cooper and Juniors Charles Burns and Tim Bailey, a former JUCO star and Army National Guard veteran, can also be expected to compete for time at DE, as well as JUCO newcomer Jimmie Holmes. With all three players who split time at DT in 2006 gone, competition for both starting jobs looks to be wide open. Freshman Reggie Odom, Sophomores Quinton Wesley and Kyle Love (7 tackles in 2006) and Junior Cortez McCraney (10 tackles, 1.5 TFL in 2005) will all have chances to earn the vacant spots, but they will be challenged by newcomers like JUCO transfer Jessie Bowman and true-Freshman LaMarcus Williams.
At LB, Senior Gabe O'Neal (40 tackles, 3 TFL in 2006) and Junior Jamar Chaney (66 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) seem to have what it takes to maintain the respective starting SLB and MLB spots that they occupied in 2006. Sophomore Jamon Hughes (17 tackles) and Junior Anthony Littlejohn (12 tackles, 1 pass defended) look to be the top contenders to earn the final WLB spot, along with JUCO transfer Dominic Douglas.
In the secondary, Mississippi State returns two Junior defensive stars in SS Keith Fitzhugh (59 tackles, .5 TFL, 3 passes defended, 1 INT in 2006) and 2006 Second-Team All-SEC selection Derek Pegues (32 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 5 passes defended, 4 INTs), who will move from CB to FS. Sophomores Anthony Johnson (12 tackles, 1 pass defended) and Marcus Washington (6 tackles) will compete for the vacated CB spots, along with Juniors Demario Bobo (65 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 passes defended from 2004–2005) and Keon Humphries, a converted WR, and JUCO transfers Jasper O'Quinn and Chris Nance.
Defensive Depth (as of December 29, 2007)
STARTER Backup Backup LDE #54 Titus Brown 6'3", 250 lbs., Sr.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama #39 Tim Bailey 6'3", 241 lbs., Jr.
Greenville, Mississippi #91 Rodney Prince 6'3", 252 lbs., RS Fr.
Irondale, Alabama LDT #95 Kyle Love 6'1", 312 lbs., So.
Fairburn, Georgia #90 Cortez McCraney 6'4", 272 lbs., Jr.
Southaven, Mississippi #96 Reggie Odom 6'0", 295 lbs., RS Fr.
DeLand, Florida RDT #94 Jessie Bowman 6'1", 305 lbs., Jr.
Brookhaven, Mississippi #98 LaMarcus Williams 6'1", 290 lbs., Fr.
Bastrop, Louisiana #99 Quinton Wesley 6'4", 315 lbs., So.
Atlanta RDE #51 Avery Hannibal 6'1", 240 lbs., Sr.
LaGrange, Georgia #93 Brandon Cooper 6'3", 240 lbs., RS Fr.
Missouri City, Texas #97 Jimmie Holmes 6'3", 235 lbs., Jr.
Aiken, South Carolina SLB #5 Gabe O'Neal 6'1", 220 lbs., Sr.
Columbus, Mississippi #34 K. J. Wright 6'3", 215 lbs., Fr.
Olive Branch, Mississippi MLB #22 Jamar Chaney 6'1", 236 lbs., Jr.
Ft. Pierce, Florida #36 Jamon Hughes 6'0", 230 lbs., So.
Rolling Fork, Mississippi WLB #10 Dominic Douglas 6'2", 227 lbs., Jr.
Clinton, Mississippi #56 Anthony Littlejohn 6'1", 230 lbs., Jr.
Jacksonville, Florida #52 Karlin Brown 5'9", 195 lbs., Fr.
Tallahassee, Florida LCB #11 Anthony Johnson 5'10", 194 lbs., So.
Jackson, Mississippi #28 Tay Bowser 6'3", 185 lbs., So.
Gilmer, Texas #27 Jarvis Kyles 6'0", 185 lbs., So.
Milledgeville, Georgia RCB #23 Jasper O'Quinn 5'10", 185 lbs., Jr.
Bude, Mississippi #18 Marcus Washington 5'10", 180 lbs., So.
Missouri City, Texas #40 Chris Nance 5'10", 182 lbs., Jr.
Tuscumbia, Alabama SS #8 De'Mon Glanton 6'1", 190 lbs., Jr.
Atlanta #1 Keith Fitzhugh 5'11", 206 lbs., Jr.
Hampton, Georgia FS #3 Derek Pegues 5'10", 196 lbs., Jr.
Batesville, Mississippi #6 Demario Bobo 6'0", 180 lbs., Jr.
Courtland, Mississippi #42 Zach Smith 6'0", 180 lbs., Fr.
Altoona, Alabama
Special teams Mississippi State returns virtually all of its key players in the kicking game (returning staters in bold).
Junior K Adam Carlson (8 of 16 career FGs, 58 career points, 47 career long) is back after his first full season as a starter. Carlson will also handle kickoff duties for the second straight year. In 2006, he kicked off 31 times for an average of 54.2 yards. Also, returning is Junior P Blake McAdams, who averaged 38.2 yards per kick and landed 15 of his 68 punts inside opponents' 20. Derek Pegues will again handle punt and kick returning duties after returning 25 punts an average of 14 yards with one touchdown and taking back 29 kickoffs an average of 23.7 yards in 2006.
Special Teams Depth (as of December 29, 2007)
STARTER Backup Backup K #37 Adam Carlson 6'4", 195 lbs., Jr.
Gulfport, Mississippi #41 Brad Moore 6'1", 190 lbs., RS Fr.
Starkville, Mississippi LS #46 Aaron Feld 6'1", 225 lbs., RS Fr.
Homewood, Alabama #65 Anthony Bowles 5'11", 220 lbs., Jr.
Grenada, Mississippi H #43 Blake McAdams 5'10", 190 lbs., Jr.
Ripley, Tennessee #45 Ben Shelton 5'11", 196 lbs., Sr.
Vicksburg, Mississippi KOS #37 Adam Carlson 6'4", 195 lbs., Jr.
Gulfport, Mississippi #43 Blake McAdams 5'10", 190 lbs., Jr.
Ripley, Tennessee KR #3 Derek Pegues