Mississippi State football spring position battles: How will Bulldogs use QB Mike Wright?

STARKVILLE — Coaching changes have been made, signing days have passed and the transfer portal is closed. For the first time since being promoted to head coach in December, Mississippi State football’s Zach Arnett has a schedule filled with practices and on-field decisions.

The Bulldogs opens the spring slate on March 7 with a second practice to follow on March 9. MSU then takes a week off for spring break before returning to campus for weekly practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through the spring game on April 15.

It’ll provide a glimpse into what an Arnett-run program looks like, along with a chance to see how the offense runs under new offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay.

It also provides a chance to see which players can separate from their teammates in crucial position battles. Here are three we’re keeping an eye on this spring.

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Quarterback

It would be surprising if quarterback Will Rogers lost his starting job entering his senior season. He has started 33 of 35 games in three seasons, holds the SEC career completions record (1,159) and owns the MSU record for career passing yards (10,689) and touchdowns (82).

However, Vanderbilt transfer Mike Wright didn’t come to Starkville looking to spend his senior season on the bench. It’ll be interesting to see if Wright can push for Rogers’ job or if he earns a role running special packages in Barbay’s offense.

Corner back

Mississippi State has gotten into a cycle where the No. 2 corner back can step into a bigger role. Emmanuel Forbes did so when Martin Emerson left for the NFL, and Decamerion Richardson is expected to do the same behind Forbes.

However, who will arise as the No. 2 corner alongside Richardson? Alabama transfer Marcus Banks spent last season learning behind the starter as did junior college product DeCarlos Nicholson.

Mississippi State also hit the portal hard at the position. Khamauri Rogers had little playing time in his lone season at Miami, but he was a four-star product out of high school who had heavy interest from the Bulldogs as a Madison, Mississippi, native.

Tight end

Georgia transfer Ryland Goede won’t be with MSU until the summer, so Barbay won’t have a true tight end at his disposal during the spring. He’s inheriting a roster which played in Mike Leach’s Air Raid the last three seasons, so going through the spring with four wide receivers lined up shouldn’t be an issue.

But watching if Barbay takes players from other positions – including defense – and turns them into tight ends will be interesting.

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: 3 Mississippi State football spring position battles worth watching