Numbers Show Huge Strides Taken By Dawg Defense

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State has won the first three games of a season for the first time in seven years and this Saturday, the Bulldogs are looking for their first 4-0 start in more than a decade. MSU has already surpassed last year's win total as the excitement continues to build in Stark Vegas.

At the center of this strong start for State has been a defense that looks like a totally different group than the unit that battled through the difficulties of the 2024 campaign. And it's not just your eyes telling you the Bulldogs are better on the defensive side. The numbers also scream it as loudly as tens of thousands of cowbells clanging inside Davis Wade.

Consider the following, also keeping in mind how this year's State schedule closely mimics last year's with both season's first three games featuring a Power 4, Group of 6 and FCS opponent:

Through three games last season, MSU's defense averaged allowing 388 yards per game. This season, State is giving up just 263 yards per contest so far – a 125-yards-per-game improvement.
MSU was 94th in the FBS in total defense at this point last year. The Dawgs currently stand at 27th in the country. That's a 67-spot bump-up.
State surrendered an averaged of 26 points per game over last year's first three affairs, ranking 90th in the FBS at the time. This season, the Bulldogs are giving up just 12.3 points per game, good for 23rd in the FBS.
Mississippi State has only allowed four total touchdowns through 12 quarters of play, and MSU hasn't given up a first-quarter touchdown all year.
For the first time since 2018, MSU has held its first three foes to 20 or less points.
State has also stiffened up on third downs. Through three games last season, teams converted on 42 percent (20-for-48) of third-down opportunities. This year, that's dropped down to 36 percent (16-for-45).
It also bears noting that along with group success, there have been individual standouts as well, most notably defensive lineman Will Whitson and linebacker Nic Mitchell earning Southeastern Conference honors. Whitson was selected as SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week following MSU's season-opening win over Southern Miss. Mitchell was picked as SEC Co-Defensive Player of the week after MSU took down then-No. 12 Arizona State.

What a difference a year makes right? Defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and his Bulldogs are certainly getting the job done and head coach Jeff Lebby says familiarity is a big piece of it.

"I think for a lot of these guys, it's year two in the system," Lebby said. "That's a huge thing. People don't think about that and how important that is. To be able to be coached by the same guy in year two in the system and have great understanding of where the shortcuts are inside our defense [like] what's the stress of [a particular] call and how do I protect the stress? That's about understanding the system.

"Whether it's [Nic Mitchell], [Hunter Washington], [Brylan Lanier], Kelley Jones, Deonte Anderson, Zakari Tillman – the list goes on. Guys are playing much better than earlier times in their career, but also understand [our defensive success is] because of their knowledge of what we're trying to get done has sped up."

The Dawg defense will once again try to put the clamps on the opposition on Saturday when they host Northern Illinois. Kickoff at Davis Wade Stadium is set for 3:15 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by SEC Network.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Numbers Show Huge Strides Taken By Dawg Defense

Players Mentioned

Deonte Anderson

Kelley Jones

Brylan Lanier

Nic Mitchell

Zakari Tillman

Hunter Washington

Will Whitson

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