3 MSU players the Rebels must stop in week 13

It’s Egg Bowl week, where bragging rights for another season will be decided. On paper, Ole Miss are clear favourites. However, form goes out of the window in rivalry games, with MSU looking to keep the trophy in Starkville. Which three players must Ole Miss stop if they want to reclaim the Golden Egg Trophy?

Will Rogers, QB

It’s been a difficult time for Will Rogers in 2023. The all-time leader in passing yards at MSU has only featured in seven games this season. The usual high passing volume has not been there, passing 300 yards once this season. In five games, he has thrown under 200 yards, numbers that don’t go with the usual Rogers game stats.

The now departed head coach Zach Arnett, ran the ball more than in previous seasons. However, the low passing attempts and yards were due to on-field issues with the offense.

Despite this, Will Rogers is a dangerous passer when on top form. After missing four games with a shoulder injury, Rogers blew off the rust in a win over Southern Missouri in week 12.

He threw for 487 yards against South Carolina earlier in the season. The Ole Miss defensive front needs to put pressure on Rogers and make it a rough night.

Nathaniel Watson, LB

Nathaniel Watson has been on a mission on defence for MSU. The Senior linebacker leads the Southeastern Conference in sacks with ten. He also has 116 total tackles, which puts him second in the league.

His resume this season is full of records for his team and in college. Watson recently made the list as a Butkus Award finalist, a reward for his performances this season.

The Rebels offensive line has had its problems most of the season. However, it looked much worse with loads of moving parts due to injuries.

They will somehow have to find a way of stopping Watson and his linebacker partner Jett Johnson from wreaking havoc in the backfield. A problem offensive line coach John Garrison will be working to address in practice this week.

Decamerion Richardson, CB

For all the problems on offense for MSU, the defense has been playing well despite being on the field way too much. The Bulldogs have a lot of experience on the defensive side of the ball, with Decamerion Richardson being one of those guys.

Richardson has no interceptions this season but had six pass breakups and a sack from the cornerback position. He is also third on the team in total tackles with 70, close to his season’s best of 85.

Aside from the Texas A&M game, Richardson and the secondary have been playing well. They have made games look more respectable despite the offense putting them in bad situations.

Richardson and the defense have a productive Ole Miss wide receiver room to deal with on Thursday.