The defensive line of a football team is just that: the first line of defense against the forward progress of the opposition. For the defensive linemen at Mississippi State, that job is being taken seriously.
“Right now we’re just trying to clean up everything and make sure everything is just right so we can be ready for Thursday night,” senior defensive end Michael Heard said.
Thursday night in the Bulldogs’ season-opening contest against the South Carolina Gamecocks, the defensive line will be on full display.
Heard is slated to start at the right end position, with sophomore Charles Burns and junior Titus Brown competing for the starting job at the other end position.
On the interior, the competition gets even headier, with multiple tackles competing for two starting spots.
“I’ve been very impressed with our defensive line,” MSU head coach Sylvester Croom said. “The three tackles, Deljuan (Robinson), Andrew Powell and Antonio Johnson work extremely hard.”
All three competitors are seniors, and though all will receive playing time, the desire to start and the pressure of finality are weighing heavy on their motivations.
The pressure does not scare the men of the unit, however. It has only served to strengthen their commitment to winning and their bond with each other.
“It’s like we’re all brothers,” Heard said. “We see one do good, and the rest of us want to do good.”
The speed Heard and Brown bring to the end positions are a necessary tool for the Bulldogs’ success with the graduation of senior Southeastern Conference sack leader Willie Evans. Evans had 15 sacks from the defensive end position last year, and Croom is looking for the same production from the position this year.
“We all had sacks, but Willie just got a lot more of them,” Heard joked. “There’s not really a drop off in talent, though, with me and Titus. We’ll handle it.”
Heard is backed up by junior Avery Hannibal, while the three senior tackles will be spelled by a combination of senior Anwar Phillips and sophomore Soloman Ona.
“The thing that has been especially pleasing is that Michael Heard has had a tremendous work ethic and so has Titus Brown,” Croom said. “Those are two guys we really need some big-time pass rushing from.”
Heard says he is ready to prove himself this fall and even admitted he has had problems focusing on football in the past.
“The years I’ve been here, with the talent I’ve got, I just feel like the stats show that I haven’t been taking it seriously,” Heard said. “This is my last go-around, and I want to make the best of it. I’ve got dreams of playing at the next level, and to do that I’m going to have to pick it up.”