<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <font size="4" face="Tahoma">Top MSU targets: Game-breakers</font>
<font size="2" face="Tahoma">11/9/2008 6:56:03 AM
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<font size="2" face="Tahoma">BY BRAD LOCKE
Daily Journal
Chad Bumphis and Pat Patterson are hard to catch on the football field.
Sylvester Croom is having trouble getting a hold of them, too.
The Mississippi State coach said the most pressing issue on the recruiting trail right now is speed on offense. The absence of it has been glaring as the Bulldogs struggle to score points.
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic;">"We have to increase our speed on offense," Croom said. "We continually have to get quicker and faster there, so we'll definitely be looking at that as we try to fill these last few spots."</span>
MSU has some good speed among its 2009 commitments, guys such as running back Cam Lawrence (Magnolia Heights), quarterback and receiver Montez Phillips (Lafayette Co.) and receiver Chris Smith (Meridian).
But when it comes to game-breaking ability, it's hard to top Bumphis and Patterson.
Bumphis, a receiver for Tupelo who also returns kicks and plays quarterback when needed, runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Bumphis has made long-distance touchdowns almost routine. This season alone, he has four kick or punt returns for touchdowns of 70 or more yards.
Rivals.com lists him as a four-star recruit and the 20th-best in the country at receiver.
MSU is definitely on Bumphis' list, but right now it's a notch below Florida and Alabama.
"I like how Florida throws the ball around and spreads it around to all its playmakers," Bumphis said. "I just like the position that Alabama (is in). Coach (Nick) Saban is turning the program around."
Patterson, a receiver from Noxubee County, is also a four-star and listed as fifth best at his position. He runs a 4.5 and was recently selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Patterson made a commitment to State in July but withdrew it after watching the Bulldogs' 3-2 loss to Auburn earlier this season. He said he's still considering MSU, but Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU are in the mix, too.
Injuries have exposed MSU's lack of depth at the speed positions. Freshman receiver O'Neal Wilder has been out all season, redshirt freshman tight end Marcus Green was done early, and redshirt freshman tailback Robert Elliott was gone almost before he got started.
MSU's offensive struggles could scare away some skill players. Then again, the prospect of being able to make an immediate impact could be attractive.
"I feel like I have good speed to help improve (the team) in some of the areas," Patterson said.
Said Bumphis, "It just seems like they don't have anybody to make big plays, break tackles or take screen passes for touchdowns. I feel like I can create a mismatch out of the slot with linebackers covering."</font>
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<font size="2" face="Tahoma">11/9/2008 6:56:03 AM
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<font size="2" face="Tahoma">BY BRAD LOCKE
Daily Journal
Chad Bumphis and Pat Patterson are hard to catch on the football field.
Sylvester Croom is having trouble getting a hold of them, too.
The Mississippi State coach said the most pressing issue on the recruiting trail right now is speed on offense. The absence of it has been glaring as the Bulldogs struggle to score points.
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic;">"We have to increase our speed on offense," Croom said. "We continually have to get quicker and faster there, so we'll definitely be looking at that as we try to fill these last few spots."</span>
MSU has some good speed among its 2009 commitments, guys such as running back Cam Lawrence (Magnolia Heights), quarterback and receiver Montez Phillips (Lafayette Co.) and receiver Chris Smith (Meridian).
But when it comes to game-breaking ability, it's hard to top Bumphis and Patterson.
Bumphis, a receiver for Tupelo who also returns kicks and plays quarterback when needed, runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Bumphis has made long-distance touchdowns almost routine. This season alone, he has four kick or punt returns for touchdowns of 70 or more yards.
Rivals.com lists him as a four-star recruit and the 20th-best in the country at receiver.
MSU is definitely on Bumphis' list, but right now it's a notch below Florida and Alabama.
"I like how Florida throws the ball around and spreads it around to all its playmakers," Bumphis said. "I just like the position that Alabama (is in). Coach (Nick) Saban is turning the program around."
Patterson, a receiver from Noxubee County, is also a four-star and listed as fifth best at his position. He runs a 4.5 and was recently selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Patterson made a commitment to State in July but withdrew it after watching the Bulldogs' 3-2 loss to Auburn earlier this season. He said he's still considering MSU, but Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU are in the mix, too.
Injuries have exposed MSU's lack of depth at the speed positions. Freshman receiver O'Neal Wilder has been out all season, redshirt freshman tight end Marcus Green was done early, and redshirt freshman tailback Robert Elliott was gone almost before he got started.
MSU's offensive struggles could scare away some skill players. Then again, the prospect of being able to make an immediate impact could be attractive.
"I feel like I have good speed to help improve (the team) in some of the areas," Patterson said.
Said Bumphis, "It just seems like they don't have anybody to make big plays, break tackles or take screen passes for touchdowns. I feel like I can create a mismatch out of the slot with linebackers covering."</font>
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