Three Takeaways From Mississippi State's Kickoff Game Against Southeastern Louisiana

Mississippi State football (1-0) opened the season with a bang as the Bulldogs took down the visiting Southeastern Louisiana Lions, 48-7.

Although the first quarter started off a bit rocky for the Dawgs, they showed their ability to recalibrate and bring it back in the second half. In a game filled with plenty of positives and potential areas for improvement at the same time, here's a look into three takeaways from the victory:

1. Tweaks to be made on offense.

It was expected that there would be some sputtering on offense as the team continues to transition into a new scheme under offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, and that was exactly the case. Before getting into a rhythm and settling in, the Bulldogs led by a smaller margin than anticipated at halftime, 20-7.

Quarterback Will Rogers improving on short passes and the offense creating situations where the running back can bette see open holes will be among the keys in bringing the team to where it wants to be on this side of the ball.

2. New additions make a splash.

While the starting players put on some standout performances, perhaps the biggest story of it all was the way some of the younger talent made their presence felt.

One of those was former Vanderbilt transfer quarterback Mike Wright, whose mobility has brought a new aspect to the MSU offense. He'll certainly be an asset in specific packages, adding a wrinkle in the scheme. Wright finished out the game with 5 rushes for 95 yards, good for an average of 19 yards per carry.

Another who stole the show was wide receiver Creed Whitmore, who received no shortage of praise after his college football career debut. He ended the contest with 4 receptions for 59 yards with 1 receiving touchdown, also running the ball 2 times for 57 yards with 1 rushing touchdown.

3. Kicker Kyle Ferrie shines.

Earning SEC Freshman Of The Week honors for his outstanding performance against Southeastern Louisiana, there's no doubt MSU has seen improvement across special teams.

His first college kick got the Bulldogs their first three points of the game with a 47-yard field goal. He later successfully kicked for 49 yards and never failed to make the extra point with every touchdown scored.