Bulldogs at a glance

2001 schedule Sept. 3 vs. Memphis Sept. 15 vs. BYU Sept. 20 vs. South Carolina Sept. 29 at Florida Oct. 6 at Auburn Oct. 13 vs. Troy St. Oct. 20 vs. LSU Nov. 3 vs. Kentucky Nov. 10 at Alabama Nov. 17 at Arkansas Nov. 22 vs. Mississippi 2000 results (8-4, 4-4 SEC) at Memphis W 17-3 at BYU W 44-28 at South Carolina L 23-19 Florida W 47-35 Auburn W 17-10 at LSU L 45-38 Middle Tenn. St. W 61-35 at Kentucky W 35-17 Alabama W 29-7 Arkansas L 17-10 at Mississippi L 45-30 vs. Texas A&M W 43-41

OFFENSE
Due to the quality depth in the backfield, Mississippi State should be able to control the ball on the ground and wear down the opposition. Senior Dicenzo Miller, who rushed for over 100 yards in six straight games last season, will split time with hard-nosed junior Dontae Walker, a compact 5-9½, 225-pounder. Like Miller, Walker posted impressive numbers during the regular season (six 100-yard games), then finished with a terrific effort in the snow against Texas A&M at the Independence Bowl. Remember, Walker carried the ball 25 times for 156 yards in an upset victory over Florida. The Bulldogs also have a talented all-around FB in junior Justin Griffith. He's turned out to be an outstanding pass-receiving threat, hauling in 56 passes over the last three years.

Directing the offense will be senior QB Wayne Madkin. While he's thrown nearly as many TDs as interceptions during his stay with the Bulldogs, the 6-4, 228-pounder has been able to improve slightly his completion percentage each year. After completing just 48.2 percent of his passes in '98, he improved to 52.5 percent in '99 and was over 56 percent last year. This year, the hope is that the battle-tested veteran of the SEC wars will complete 60 percent or more of his aerials.

Madkin will have a talented array of options to throw to. Sophomore Terrell Grindle leads the returning wideouts (31 catches last season), but sophomore Justin Jenkins could emerge as a prime-time option. The physically gifted 6-1, 208-pounder is coming off a great spring where his big-play ability provided a new dimension to the Bulldogs' attack. Jenkins combines ideal size with blazing speed, figuring to become a threat down the field. And blue-chip TE Donald Lee, a junior, will look to improve on his 19 catches from last season.

Three starters return to the Bulldogs' offensive line. Senior Tommy Watson has shifted from guard to center. Derrick Thompson, an athletically gifted 6-5½, 305-pound sophomore, takes over at LT after gaining starting experience the last five regular-season games of 2000 while Pork Chop Womack (now with the Seattle Seahawks) was out with an injury. At RT is experienced 6-4, 318-pound senior Kendric Fairchild.

DEFENSE
While there are a few proven performers on defense -- led by super blue-chip DE/LB Mario Haggan, DT Dorsett Davis, DE Conner Stephens, SS Pig Prather and FS Josh Morgan -- the Bulldogs and outstanding coordinator Joe Lee Dunn will be counting heavily on former juco standouts to step right in and bolster the stop troop. The list of juco transfers totals 11, all on defense.

Head coach Jackie Sherrill and Dunn brought in six transfers on the defensive line. Kahlil Nash, a 6-4, 265-pounder from Arizona Western College, is viewed mainly as a pass rusher. Mixed in with the transfers is freshman Ronald Fields, a 6-2½, 295-pounder who comes to the Bulldogs after one year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. Fields figures to help at nose tackle.

While Haggan is the defined star of the Bulldogs' defense, they still have the option of working him at either ILB or DE. Of the juco kids, Kamau Jackson, a 6-1, 238-pounder, could have an immediate impact.

In the secondary, juco transfer Korey Banks participated in spring practice and reportedly made a positive impression. In fact, word is that the 5-11, 173-pounder could end up following in the footsteps of Robert Bean and Fred Smoot as the next outstanding Bulldog cover man. Joining Prather at one of the SS spots will be either be juco transfer Walter Burdett or senior Shawn Byrdsong.

SPECIAL TEAMS
On special teams, redshirt freshman Robert Wallis takes over the punting duties, while sophomore John Michael Marlin becomes the Bulldogs' new field-goal kicker. Last year, Marlin handled the kickoff duties.

Overview: If Madkin develops into a more precise and effective passer as an experienced senior, the Bulldogs' offense figures to present problems for the opposition. That's because the running game is so outstanding. Miller and Walker are a dynamic one-two punch, while Griffith can really catch the football. As for Madkin, we'll have to see if he's able to complete 60 percent or more of his passes and improve his TD/interception ratio. The wideout weapons are there: Grindle is proven, while Jenkins displays a great deal of potential. And Lee is one of the more talented TEs in the country.