2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Mullen, who was in his third season with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, Mississippi and compete in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They finished the 2011 season with a 7–6 overall play, 2–6 in SEC play, placing fifth in West Division, and were invited for Music City Bowl, where they defeated Wake Forest.

2011 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Music City Bowl champion
Music City Bowl, W 23–17 vs. Wake Forest
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Western Division
Record	7–6 (2–6 SEC)
Head coach	Dan Mullen (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Les Koenning (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple spread
Defensive coordinator	Chris Wilson (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Geoff Collins (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Davis Wade Stadium
Seasons ← 2010 2012 →

2011 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Eastern Division
No. 19 Georgia x		7	–	1					10	–	4
No. 9 South Carolina		6	–	2					11	–	2
Florida		3	–	5					7	–	6
Vanderbilt		2	–	6					6	–	7
Kentucky		2	–	6					5	–	7
Tennessee		1	–	7					5	–	7
Western Division
No. 2 LSU x$		8	–	0					13	–	1
No. 1 Alabama  %#		7	–	1					12	–	1
No. 5 Arkansas		6	–	2					11	–	2
Auburn		4	–	4					8	–	5
Mississippi State		2	–	6					7	–	6
Ole Miss*		0	–	8					2	–	10
Championship: LSU 42, Georgia 10
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

Personnel

Coaching staff

In the week following the Gator Bowl victory, several changes were made to the Mississippi State coaching staff. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz resigned his position to serve in the same position for Texas as the replacement for Will Muschamp.^[1] Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Chris Wilson was promoted to defensive coordinator to replace Diaz on January 10.^[2] At that time, Angelo Mirando was promoted from graduate assistant to wide receivers coach to replace Mark Hudspeth who had resigned earlier to accept the head coaching position at UL Lafayette.^[2][3] Geoff Collins was hired on January 12 to serve as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach to fill the vacant position made when Wilson was promoted.^[4]

Name	Position	Seasons at Mississippi State	Alma Mater
Dan Mullen	Head coach	3	Ursinus (1994)
Geoff Collins	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers	1	Western Carolina (1992)
John Hevesy	Offensive line, Running Game Coordinator	3	Maine (1994)
Tony Hughes	Safeties, Recruiting Coordinator	3	Southern Miss (1980)
Greg Knox	Running Backs	3	Northeastern State (1986)
Les Koenning	Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks	2	Texas (1981)
Angelo Mirando	Wide Receivers	1	Case Western Reserve (2008)
Scott Sallach	Tight Ends	3	Ursinus (1994)
Melvin Smith	Cornerbacks, Nickelbacks	1	Millsaps College (Unknown)
Chris Wilson	Defensive line	1	University of Oklahoma (1985)
Mark Ouimet	Coordinator of Recruiting Operations	2	Siena Heights University (1995)
Will Windham	Graduate assistant	1	Mississippi State University (2007)
Reference:[5]

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2011 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Dee Arrington S	Wiggins, Mississippi	Stone High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	4.62	Jul 24, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Taveze Calhoun S	Morton, Mississippi	Morton High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	–	Jan 30, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 45
Justin Cox CB	West Point, Mississippi	West Point High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	174 lb (79 kg)	4.41	Jul 24, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Devin Fosselman WR	Woodville, Mississippi	Wilkinson County High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	–	Jun 20, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
John Harris DE	Boynton Beach, Florida	Boynton Beach Community High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	–	Nov 5, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Zachary Jackson S	Heidelberg, Mississippi	Heidelberg High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	4.53	Feb 16, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
P.J. Jones DT	Tupelo, Mississippi	Tupelo High School	6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	–	Jan 21, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Daniel Knox TE	Collinsville, Mississippi	West Lauderdale High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	251 lb (114 kg)	–	Jul 23, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
James Maiden OT	Woodville, Mississippi	Wilkinson County High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	265 lb (120 kg)	–	Jul 23, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Justin Malone OT	Madison, Mississippi	Madison-Ridgeland Academy	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	306 lb (139 kg)	–	Nov 3, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Kendrick Market S	Batesville, Mississippi	South Panola High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	–	Oct 17, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 72
Benardrick McKinney OLB	Tunica, Mississippi	Rosa Fort High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	–	Sep 16, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Derek Milton RB	Chatham, Virginia	Hargrave Military Academy	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	–	Jan 24, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Joe Morrow WR	Ocean Springs, Mississippi	Ocean Springs High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	4.60	Jul 23, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Shaquille Perry RB	Walnut, Mississippi	Walnut Attendance Center	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	–	Jan 19, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 72
Dak Prescott QB	Haughton, Louisiana	Haughton High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.70	Jul 23, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Nick Redmond OT	Gulfport, Mississippi	Harrison Central High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	292 lb (132 kg)	–	Sep 26, 2009
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Josh Robinson RB	Franklinton, Louisiana	Franklinton High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.50	Jul 23, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 68
Darius Slay CB	Fulton, Mississippi	Itawamba Community College	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	–	Jul 29, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Preston Smith DE	Stone Mountain, Georgia	Stephenson High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	–	Sep 29, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Joey Trapp OT	Wilmington, California	Los Angeles Harbor College	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	4.89	Dec 12, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Rufus Warren TE	Indianola, Mississippi	Gentry High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	238 lb (108 kg)	–	Jun 15, 2010
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 44   Rivals: 44  ESPN: NR
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Scout.com Football Recruiting: Mississippi State". Scout.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011. "2011 Player Signees- Mississippi State". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011. "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 12, 2011.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 pm	at Memphis*	No. 20	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	SECRN	W 59–14	33,990[6]
September 10	11:21 am	at Auburn	No. 16	Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	SECN	L 34–41	87,451[7]
September 15	7:00 pm	No. 3 LSU	No. 25	Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (rivalry)	ESPN	L 6–19	56,924[8]
September 24	6:00 pm	Louisiana Tech*		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	ESPNU	W 26–20 OT	55,116[9]
October 1	11:00 am	at Georgia		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	SECRN	L 10–24	92,746[10]
October 8	11:00 am	at UAB*		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	SECRN	W 21–3	28,351[11]
October 15	11:21 am	No. 15 South Carolina		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	SECN	L 12–14	55,418[12]
October 29	6:00 pm	at Kentucky		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	SECRN	W 28–16	57,891[13]
November 5	6:30 pm	Tennessee–Martin*		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	CSS	W 55–17	55,096[14]
November 12	6:45 pm	No. 4 Alabama		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (rivalry)	ESPN	L 7–24	57,871[15]
November 19	2:30 pm	at No. 6 Arkansas		War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	CBS	L 17–44	55,761[16]
November 26	6:00 pm	Ole Miss		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (Egg Bowl)	ESPNU	W 31–3	55,270[17]
December 30	5:40 pm	vs. Wake Forest*		LP Field Nashville, TN (Music City Bowl)	ESPN	W 23–17	55,208[18]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Schedule Source:^[19]

Rankings

See also: 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	20	16	25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	20	17	25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Harris	Not released						—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Game summaries

2011 Egg Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Ole Miss 0 0 3 0 3 • Mississippi State 14 7 7 3 31 Date: November 26 Location: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST Television network: ESPNU

Scoring summary 1 9:35 MSU Vick Ballard 18 yard pass from Chris Relf (Derek Depasquale kick) MSU 7-0 1 1:22 MSU LaDarius Perkins 36 yard run (Derek Depasquale kick) MSU 14-0 2 6:51 MSU LaDarius Perkins 20 yard pass from Chris Relf (Derek Depasquale kick) MSU 21-0 3 13:38 MSU Vick Ballard 25 yard run (Derek Depasquale kick) MSU 28-0 3 4:59 MISS Byron Rose 28 yard field goal MSU 28-3 4 12:03 MSU Derek Depasquale 35 yard field goal MSU 31-3

Mississippi State wore new uniforms for the game that featured gold numbers, gold shoes and "Hail State" replacing each of the player's last names on the back of the jersey.^[20]

References

1. "Manny Diaz takes job at Texas". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 5, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
2. "Wilson Promoted to Defensive Coordinator; Mirando named WRs Coach". MStateathletics.com. Mississippi State University Athletics. January 10, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
3. "Mark Hudspeth hired at La.-Lafayette". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 12, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
4. Marcello, Brandon (January 12, 2011). "Collins Hired As MSU Linebackers Coach, Co-defensive Coordinator". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
5. "Football Coaching Staff". Mississippi State University Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
6. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Memphis Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
7. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
8. "LSU Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
9. "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
10. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Georgia Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
11. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. UAB Blazers Box Score". ESPN.com. October 8, 2011.
12. "South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. October 15, 2011.
13. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats Box Score". ESPN.com. October 31, 2011.
14. "Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. November 5, 2011.
15. "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. November 12, 2011.
16. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Box Score". ESPN.com. November 19, 2011.
17. "Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. November 26, 2011.
18. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Box Score". ESPN.com. December 30, 2011.
19. "2011 Football Schedule". Mississippi State University Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
20. "Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State - Game Recap - November 26, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on November 28, 2011.