Mississippi State Report Card: Grading Each Unit vs. Vanderbilt

Mississippi State's position groups earned sharply different grades after the Vanderbilt defeat, with several performances sharply dividing opinion

Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jardin Gilbert (5) reacts after a defensive stop against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Grading the Mississippi State Bulldogs after Saturday's disappointing loss to Vanderbilt feels a bit like grading a student who left the first half of the exam blank and nearly aced the second.

Vanderbilt carried a 16-0 lead into halftime at Davis Wade Stadium before Mississippi State outscored the Commodores 23-9 after the break, only to come up two points short.

Oct 24, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Peyton Joseph (71) blocks Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive lineman Will Whitson (43) during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Some units held up their end of the bargain, while others handed the coaching staff a long film session heading into Auburn week. The grades start at the back of the defense and finish with the quarterback.

Secondary: Kelley Jones and the defensive backs, B+

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis completed 17 of 27 passes for 168 yards, and the Bulldogs' back end kept him from throwing a touchdown pass while allowing no completion longer than 33 yards. Cornerback Kelley Jones, a top NFL prospect quarterbacks rarely test, anchored a group that forced Vanderbilt to grind on the ground.

Front Seven: Tyshun Willis and Will Whitson, B-

The play of the game belonged to this group. Linebacker Tyshun Willis got home on Curtis at the Vanderbilt 14 and knocked the ball loose, and Will Whitson scooped it up and scored to pull Mississippi State within 16-14 in the third quarter.

Sep 26, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs kicker Kyle Ferrie (80) kicks a point after touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

For Whitson, a seventh-year defensive end whose 2025 season ended with a torn ACL in the second game, the score capped a long road back.

The run defense kept the grade from climbing higher. Vanderbilt ran 52 times for 160 yards, and those carries fueled an 18-play, 87-yard drive that ran 10:19 off the clock. On the bright side, the unit forced five three-and-outs.

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Special Teams: Kyle Ferrie, C

Kicker Kyle Ferrie hit his lone field goal try from 26 yards along with both extra points, and the punting unit averaged 47.6 yards on seven punts with two downed inside the 20. The grade slips because Vanderbilt's Cole Spence recovered the late onside kick.

Wide Receivers: Sanfrisco Magee, A-

Sanfrisco Magee caught both of Mississippi State's touchdown passes, a 65-yard strike on the opening drive of the second half and a 30-yarder in the back corner of the end zone in the final minute. The first one woke up a quiet Davis Wade Stadium crowd.

Running backs and offensive line: Fluff Bothwell, D

Oct 31, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Mississippi State Cougars quarterback AJ Swann (17) calls a play from the line of scrimmage during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Vanderbilt entered the night with the SEC's third-worst run defense, and Mississippi State still managed just 43 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Fluff Bothwell carried 14 times for 50 yards and finished with a team-high 76 yards from scrimmage, while the line allowed three sacks.

Quarterback: AJ Swann, C+

AJ Swann started his second straight game after leaving the Texas loss with an upper-body injury, and he did it against the program where his college career began in 2022.

Swann finished 23-of-36 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, but Jordan Matthews' interception with 1:37 left in the first half led to three more Vanderbilt points before the break. Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby put part of the burden on himself after the game.

"I've got to do a better job of coaching (Swann) Sunday through Saturday and create some predictable outcomes for us," Lebby said.

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