COLUMN: Zach Arnett round two, let's give it a whirl

Saturday morning brought a lightning bolt to all those that follow Mississippi State and no one was more shocked than the one penning this article as we speak.

As I rolled over for a morning scroll on the phone, getting the text message that Zach Arnett was the new Bulldog Defensive Coordinator brought back some memories of Clark Griswold seeing Cousin Eddie roll up in the RV.  I wouldn’t have been anymore surprised if I woke up with my head sewn to the carpet.

In all seriousness, once the fog settled on exactly what happened, reality set in that the Bulldogs upgraded at the DC position. Memories for most are clouded by how Arnett left Starkville in the first place, but I’ll remind fans what we saw when Arnett was roaming the sidelines as the leader of that side of the ball.

During his three seasons as defensive coordinator from 2020-23, State’s defenses were top five in total defense. He was third in the SEC in the lowest percentage of big plays allowed (11.97%), third in rushing (125 ypg), fourth in turnovers, fifth in scoring drives allowed (36%), three and outs (22%),  

In three seasons, Arnett surrendered 40 points just three times, a mark that was tops in the conference over that time period. Former DC Coleman Hutzler accomplished that feat eight times in two seasons. Arnett was also one of just three teams that never surrendered 50 points.

What fans remember most is a disastrous end to Arnett’s tenure in Starkville, one that he shouldn’t have been thrust into in the first place. After the tragic and sudden passing of head coach Mike Leach during bowl prep of 2022, Arnett was promoted to head coach and led the Bulldogs to a Reliaquest Bowl win over Illinois.

After that, it was all downhill for State. The coach hired Kevin Barbay to run the offense and went away from Leach’s Air Raid and the numbers plummeted. While his appointed coordinator Matt Brock kept things rolling on defense, the offense led to a midseason firing and Arnett was suddenly out of a job in Starkville.

It was a temporary tarnishing of Arnett’s legacy in Starkville, but it shouldn’t diminish what he did on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs played hard-nosed, physical defense. They got after the quarterback, forced turnovers and were a bright spot for his four seasons here.

Now, there are questions and concerns for the Bulldogs this second time around.

Now that we have the benefit of hindsight and saw the situation that Hutzler inherited, it’s apparent that Arnett and his staff will have to do a better job evaluating and recruiting this time around. Certainly, the money situation at State has changed for the better as well and that could alleviate some of the issues that the Bulldogs had in front of them. The assistant coaching hires will also be key.

Sources have indicated that former Linebackers Coach and Defensive Coordinator Matt Brock could be returning after leading the UConn defense the last couple of seasons. Those sources are also expecting some wholesale changes on the defensive side of the ball with very little retention.

As it stands, Bulldog fans seem split on the decision. There are many that remember the fiery persona and defensive intensity that Arnett brought. Others remember the crash and burn at the end and the situation the roster was in after his exit.

One thing is for certain, it can’t get much worse for a Bulldog defense that had lost its identity. Arnett knows what State football is about. He loves the city of Starkville and he is willing to give it a go. I’m willing to see it through myself. It’s a big decision for Lebby who sits at 7-17 through two years and facing a hot seat in 2026. It’ll either help save his job or have him looking for another one.

Time will tell.