Thunder & Lightning: Can Mississippi State’s Linebackers Carry The Defense in 2025?

[Brian Hadad]

Mississippi State hit the transfer portal hard this offseason looking to rebuild its linebacker room, and the Bulldogs have on paper a group that looks like it belongs in the SEC. Brian Hadad and Robbie Faulk asks how good this group can be, and if there’s a breakout star in Coach Coleman Hutzler’s room.

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[Bobby Ricigliano]

Mississippi State hit the transfer portal hard this offseason looking to rebuild its linebacker room, and the Bulldogs have on paper a group that looks like it belongs in the SEC. Brian Hadad and Robbie Faulk asks how good this group can be, and if there’s a breakout star in Coach Coleman Hutzler’s room.

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“Age is just a number.” -C. Hutzler

Haven’t heard that phrase in a long time and NEVER in the context of playing freshmen football players.

 

[Shmuley]

4-8. 2 moral victories. Year 3. /MStateCore.

 

[CaptainFalcon]

I have no doubt we will be better on D. The problem is we were such a disaster last year that better might still equal pretty bad. We shall see.

LB isn’t the position to worry about most, IMO.

 

[22yardpunt]

All about the d-line - if they can’t get pressure and or stop the run, we’re in trouble. Good news is that I read we have 3 legit dudes on the d-line this season, so perhaps!

 

[patdog]

All about the d-line - if they can’t get pressure and or stop the run, we’re in trouble. Good news is that I read we have 3 legit dudes on the d-line this season, so perhaps!

Interior DL transfers don't look any better than what we had last year. Hibbler, the DE from NC State, was pretty decent there and should be for us too. But he's only 271 lbs, so more of a pass rusher than run stopper. I think we've got a decent LB or 2 coming in, but they're going to be fighting off offensive linemen. I'm afraid our safety will lead the team in tackles again.

 

[maroontide06]

Who we got at linebacker?

 

[85Bears]

They need to hire an old crusty retired HC who can evaluate talent. Petrino, Leach these kind of guys make money ball work. If you don’t have a lot of money and can’t evaluate talent very well, you are cooked.

 

[Ozarkdawg]

Pros
Hustler said he was leaning on the coaching help brought in.
More on the DL.

Cons
So Hustler looks at 3 things. Effort, technique, and execution. While he saw a lot of effort last year (that's the players), he apparently didn't see the other 2 (that's the coaching). Wasn't it the start of 4th qtr before he changed the D formation last year at ASU? The game we gave up more rushing yards than Texas State, Texas Tech, and UCF combined?

Wyoming 241

Mississippi St. 346

Texas St. 101

Texas Tech 94

Kansas 309

Utah 176

Cincinnati 191

Oklahoma St. 225

UCF 99

Kansas St. 123

BYU 154

Arizona 281

Iowa St. 245

Texas 214