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2024 Mississippi State Football: Grading the Offense, Defense, and Special Teams

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2024 Mississippi State Football: Grading the Offense, Defense, and Special Teams


Mississippi State’s football team is exactly halfway through its 2024 season and it’s safe to say the Bulldogs aren’t where they hoped they’d be at this point.

The Bulldogs have just one win (against an FCS team) and losses against a MAC team (Toledo) and their first three SEC opponents (Florida, Texas and Georgia). But the season hasn’t been all bad.

So, what should Mississippi State fans make of this season, so far? Is it good? Is it bad? Should everything be burnt down and rebuilt? Is there hope for better days in the future?

The answers to those questions are: No. Not after the last two games. No. Yes.

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Nobody would ever make me a professor, but if someone was crazy enough to do it, here’s the midseason report card I’d give the Bulldogs:

If Blake Shapen doesn’t suffer a season-ending surgery, this grade might be higher. The offense hasn’t been great and, at times, has been bad. Shapen was playing well and it would be interesting to see what he would’ve done against Texas and Georgia.

But the play of some freshman Bulldogs are what gives them a passing grade. Quarterback Michael Van Buren looks like the future stater and receiver Mario Craver has been one of the best players this season. Also, freshman tackle Luke Work got some valuable experience starting at left tackle against Georgia last week.

With offensive guru Jeff Lebby at the helm, there’s a lot to like about the Bulldogs’ offense in the coming seasons.

If the Bulldogs’ defense had played as well as their offense has, they probably win at least one of the three SEC games played already.

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The defense has played better in recent games, but they still struggle to stop opposing teams. They’re allowing 33.2 points per game, 465.8 total yards per game, 201.8 rushing yards per game and have just five sacks through six games.

Hopefully some of the committed recruits will help fix those defensive issues next season.

Nick Barr-Mira is having a great season as punter, averaging 45.65 yards per punt and eight punts landing inside the 20-yard line. Kyle Ferrie has missed just one field goal all season with a long of 47. Also, there haven’t been any blocked kicks. Throw in Kevin Coleman Jr.’s electrifying punt returns and the Bulldogs couldn’t ask more from its special teams.

D’s get degrees.

In college, a “D” grade would get you three credits, which is the minimum you needed per course to graduate. It’s doing the bare minimum amount of work with a few good assignments that makes the professor think you’ve learned something.

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The Bulldogs aren’t earning any A’s with their performance, but they haven’t given up in any of their games. They’ve also turned in some good performances against two of the best teams in the nation. So far, the season isn’t a failure. There’s hope and plenty of reasons to think there are better days in the near future.





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3 workers remain hospitalized after collapse of closed bridge in rural Mississippi killed co-workers

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3 workers remain hospitalized after collapse of closed bridge in rural Mississippi killed co-workers


Three construction company employees remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday, a day after a bridge collapsed while they were preparing it for demolition in a rural area of central Mississippi, a sheriff said.

Three other workers were killed in the collapse and another was injured and treated at the site, Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins told The Associated Press.

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The bridge was over the Strong River on state Route 149 in Simpson County, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jackson. It had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 as part of a bridge replacement project, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said.

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A sheriff says three construction company employees remain hospitalized in critical condition a day after a bridge collapsed while they were preparing it for demolition in a rural area of central Mississippi. (Fox News)

Mullins said all of those killed or injured were working for T.L. Wallace Construction, based in Columbia, Mississippi. The Associated Press left a message Thursday with the company. Its main phone number was unanswered Wednesday evening, and it was not possible to leave a message then.

Those killed were Charles Badger, Charles Ingleharte and Kevin Malone, Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor said Thursday. Tutor did not immediately release their ages or hometowns.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on social media late Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration was “engaging state officials concerning” the “premature collapse during demolition of a bridge on State Route 149 in Mississippi.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi said on social media Thursday that the bridge collapse was a tragic event.

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“We must work to understand what caused this accident so we can prevent something like this from happening again,” Hyde-Smith said.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation said one of its inspectors was at the work site when the bridge collapsed, and that person was unharmed.



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Demolition prep collapses Mississippi bridge, kills three

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Demolition prep collapses Mississippi bridge, kills three


Three people were killed and four were seriously injured Wednesday when a bridge in Mississippi collapsed while a work crew was preparing it for demolition, authorities reported.

The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County, located about 40 miles south of Jackson, had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18 due to a replacement project, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed the tragedy on social media, stating that first responders from the county and other state resources were on the scene, where they had confirmed three fatalities and multiple injuries.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the incident on social media, noting that the Federal Highway Administration was “engaging state officials concerning” the “premature collapse during demolition of a bridge on State Route 149 in Mississippi.”

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Newsweek has reached out the Mississippi Department of Transportation for comment via email.

Law enforcement at the scene after a bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County, Miss., collapsed on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Three people were killed and four were seriously injured,…


WAPT

Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins reported that three people were killed and four critically injured. Terry Tutor, the Simpson County coroner, told the New York Times that seven men were working on the bridge with heavy machinery when it collapsed, plummeting nearly 40 feet. Tutor confirmed that three of the men died, while four sustained injuries.

Mullins and Tutor did not immediately respond to requests for further information from The Associated Press. Attempts to reach T.L. Wallace Construction, the construction company involved, were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered. The construction firm has also been asked to comment by Newsweek through email.

Department of Transportation spokesperson Anna Ehrgott indicated that his office would provide more details to the public as they became available. According to the department, one of its inspectors was present at the work site during the bridge collapse and was unharmed.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks before President Joe Biden during a visit to the U.A. Local 190 Training Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 6, 2024. On Wednesday, Buttigieg said in a social media post…


Paul Sancya/AP Photo

This incident raises concerns regarding safety protocols and inspections during bridge demolition projects. As investigations continue, local authorities and federal officials are due to examine the circumstances that led to the bridge’s failure, including the safety measures in place at the time of the collapse.

As the community mourns the loss of life and the injuries sustained during this tragic event, questions remain about how such a devastating incident could occur during a planned demolition.

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Bridge collapse in Mississippi
The bridge over the Strong River on State Route 149 in Simpson County, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Jackson, had been closed to traffic since Sept. 18. It was part of a bridge…


WAPT

As details emerge, the focus for the authorities will be on ensuring the safety of construction crews, preventing similar incidents in the future and providing support to the families of the dead and injured.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press



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Texas A&M at Mississippi State Initial Availability Report: Morning Bell, October 17

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Texas A&M at Mississippi State Initial Availability Report: Morning Bell, October 17


Mississippi State and Texas A&M released their initial Student-Athlete Availability Report on Wednesday.

There weren’t any surprises on Mississippi State’s side of the report. One name that is intriguing is safety Brylan Lanier. Lanier was the defender on a play against Georgia that saw Lanier appear to allow a Georgia receiver to score.

Lanier didn’t play anymore after that play and it’s unclear if that was a by-product of his play on the touchdown reception or if it was because of a possible concussion.

We’ll continue to monitor the status of Lanier ahead of the Bulldogs’ game against Texas A&M.

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Here is the complete Student-Athlete Availability Report for Saturday’s game at 3:15 p.m. at SEC Network.

Texas A&M

Out

RB Rueben Owens
DB Tyreek Chappell
OL Mark Nabou Jr.

Doubtful

QB Jayle Henderson

Questionable

DB Terry Bussey

Mississippi State

Out

QB Blake Shapen

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CB Traveon Wright

WR Creed Whittemore

WR Trent Hudson

RB Keyvone Lee

DL Kalvin Dinkins

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DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones

S Brylan Lanier
S Tyler Woodard

Men’s Tennis: Mississippi State at ITA Southern Regionals

Men’s Tennis: Mississippi State at ITA Southern Regionals

Former Mississippi State softball pitcher Aspen Wesley was named to the All WPF All-Star Team on Wednesday. Wesley was one of five pitchers to earn the honor, and the only one not on the league-champion Texas Smoke’s staff. In her final season at State, Wesley earned a Second Team All-SEC selection after leading the team in appearances, ERA, opposing batting average and wins. She also led the Bulldogs with career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched.

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“Tracked a raccoon one time in the snow. I was in the neighborhood and I was just curious where this raccoon lived. There’s some fresh raccoon tracks. He’d been digging at somebody’s garbage.”

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