How did Mississippi State football maintain 2021 momentum? Mike Leach credits experience

Stefan Krajisnik, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read

STARKVILLE — Freshman wide receiver Zavion Thomas turned some heads at Mississippi State football's first preseason practice Friday when he went above a defender for a back-shoulder touchdown catch before falling to the grass.

During special teams drills moments later, he was taking advice from sixth-year receiver Austin Williams.

In an early August practice with no pads, it's unfair to say Thomas will be a rookie sensation. But his skillset paired with an immediate desire to learned from an experienced teammate provided a glimpse into how Mississippi State carried momentum from its 2021 campaign despite losing the final two games.

"It feels like we have a stronger locker room than we've had," coach Mike Leach said.

Leach's go-to excuse in his first two seasons has been youth. Even those with experience were young, such as quarterback Will Rogers who has 19 starts entering his junior campaign.

But with time, Leach took the Bulldogs from four to seven wins and expects the trend to continue.

"(It takes) a number of things," Leach said. "One is get older."

Jul 19, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi State player Austin Williams talks to the media during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 19, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi State player Austin Williams talks to the media during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

An understanding of what difficulties COVID-19 brought in Leach's tenure helped guide momentum entering Year 3. The pandemic initially shut operations down in 2020 just two months after Leach was hired. The omicron variant soured the 2021 ending as 16 players were sidelined in a 34-7 loss against Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl.

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The pandemic's initial wave also created a national imbalance in scholarships.

"We were on the low end," Leach said. "We had 78. Some had as many as 98."

Just as MississippState's first practice kicked off, the Bulldogs got their 14th commitment of the 2023 class in three-star receiver Justin Brown. Though he won't be on campus for the upcoming season, Brown adds to the depth at receiver.

It creates a cycle for Leach where the worries of youth are calmed by a wheel of experience. He doesn't have to wait for Williams to grow old.

When Williams departs, what he learned should be instilled into junior Jaden Walley or even Thomas to continue momentum regardless of what the next four months bring.

"We're developing more (experience)," Leach said. "The sooner the better."

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3. 

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mike Leach on how Mississippi State football maintained momentum