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That's helping youngsters, newcomers and those who haven't played as much catch on even quicker than usual as the vets are taking teammates under their wings. These are players that have played a lot – mostly, if not completely, under Arnett and his 3-3-5 scheme. Oh, and don't forget talented end Jordan Davis who's back in action after missing last year due to a knee injury.Īll over the field, there aren't just players that've played. Not to mention, there are other veteran pieces still around as well – lineman Nathan Pickering and cornerback Decamerion Richardson among them. Safeties Jalen Green and Collin Duncan? Yep, they're back, too. Linebacker Tyrus Wheat – last year's team leader in sacks and tackles for loss – is back in the fold. The whole starting defensive line is back as Randy Charlton, Jaden Crumedy and Cameron Young have all returned. That total doesn't even include Johnson, who started only six times in 2021. In all, the Bulldogs welcome back eight full-time defensive starters from last year's team. Oh, but there's more – many more in fact. He piled up 84 tackles a year ago, second on the squad to Johnson. Linebacker Nathaniel Watson heads into his second season as a full-time starter. Johnson is just one of many examples of a State defender that has grown up under Arnett's watch.Ĭorner Emmanuel Forbes is a third-year starter who's blossomed into one of the country's top defensive backs. There's absolutely no questioning his defensive smarts though. "I think if you ask Jett, he'd probably say it was just a bad evaluation by me and he got kept on the sidelines way too much ," Arnett said in jest.Īrnett's future as a stand-up comedian might be shaky. You better believe experience mattered for Johnson, even if Arnett can turn Johnson's emergence into a little self-degrading humor. When getting his first major opportunity last season, Johnson took advantage and went on to rack up a team-high 87 tackles. He got on the field for five contests in Arnett's first year but logged only three tackles.Īll the while, Johnson was learning. In fact, when State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett arrived in Starkville prior to the 2020 season, Johnson had only seen action in two career games.
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You might remember the now-graduate saw very little action over the early portion of his career. Johnson is a prime illustration for how time and experience provides a boost. Just knowing the defense, it allows you to play fast, and you can have a lot of success." "We can change things up or play with things a little more because more people are comfortable with it. "Everybody knows the defense pretty well by now," linebacker Jett Johnson said after Saturday's practice. It's giving MSU an edge as State ramps up for a new campaign.
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Football Complex and you'll notice a plethora of Bulldogs who come into 2022 with an already-strong resume. In the case of Mississippi State's defense, only a couple of days into training camp, one quick glance around the fields at the Leo Seal Jr. Some level of expectation comes when there's a track record. On any given Saturday, there can be an upset, an unexpected hero can rise up or any number of things can happen no one saw coming.Īll that said, arguably the greatest predictor of the future is the past. STARKVILLE – In college football, as in life, there are no guarantees.