Mississippi State vs. Arkansas: Three Bulldogs Players To Watch

Mississippi State football looks for its first SEC win of the season against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Mississippi State (3-3) has undoubtedly struggled during 2023, but the Bulldogs still have a chance to salvage their season over the weekend against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4).

Both teams are still looking to get their first SEC victory of the year, something that will serve as a large morale booster for whoever comes out with the win.

Here's a look at three MSU players to watch as the Bulldogs hit the road:

1. QB Mike Wright.  

There is much smoke that starting quarterback Will Rogers will be unavailable this week after sustaining an injury in last week's 41-28 win over Western Michigan. Wright, a Vanderbilt transfer, presents an entirely different skill than Rogers, as Wright is a far superior athlete.

Indeed, the offense will cater more to his strengths. However, Bulldog offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay needs to remain aggressive. Wright has the potential to be a spark plug for this offense, but his career has been riddled with inconsistency, so things could go wrong.

Bulldog fans should be excited about the potential but aware of Wright's past struggles.

2. DT Jaden Crumedy

Bulldog coaches and fans alike were excited when Crumedy announced he was returning for his last season at MSU. After missing a good portion of last season due to injury, Crumedy returned, and his impact was felt immediately for the Bulldog defense.

Crumedy has not had that same impact this year, as the Bulldog defense has struggled mightily. With struggles in the secondary, the MSU front needs to generate pressure.

3. CB Decamerion Richardson

The defensive struggles are not on one unit, as the entire unit has underperformed. Richardson came into the season with a lot of NFL draft buzz, and his play on the field has not matched the hype.

Richardson possesses every quality a good cornerback needs, but he needs to put it all together. Richardson played well last year alongside Emmanuel Forbes, a first-round pick, but has yet to step into his own. If the Bulldogs want to have any success on the defensive side of the ball, Richardson needs to force a turnover.

The magnitude of this game for the Bulldogs cannot be understated. They have winnable games in front of them, and they need to grab momentum to start the second half of their season this weekend.