Seventeen seniors, 21 juniors, 17 sophomores and 42 freshmen: That is the makeup of the 2005 Mississippi State football team, meaning over 40 percent of the players on the team are freshmen, and have not set foot on a collegiate football field during a game.
At many schools, coaches tend to rely on older and experienced players to get the job done on the field. However, at MSU, head coach Sylvester Croom is not afraid of putting young players on the field to make plays needed to win.
“The freshmen are not ready to play,” Croom said. “However, they will be thrown into the fire because we need them to help us win.”
One of those freshmen that Croom will count on this season is freshman wide out Tay Bowser. The Gilmer, Texas, native comes to MSU after a standout high school career at Gilmer High School.
As a senior, Bowser caught 47 passes for 1,119 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led his team to a 16-0 record and the Texas Class 3A Division II State Championship last season as a senior. He caught four passes for 122 yards and the game-winning 65-yard touchdown in the state title victory for his team.
Bowser also displayed his leaping ability in high school as a member of the Gilmer track team.
However, the days of high school football and track are over for Bowser, as he turns his attention to the Southeastern Conference gridiron.
Bowser has stepped up to a new level and can already tell there is a big difference in college football compared to the high school ranks.
“The intensity is the main difference,” Bowser said. “It’s definitely the biggest to me. In high school I got away with some things, but now I am on a different level and everything has to be exact all the time.”
Bowser has drawn the praise of Croom during some practices, but the head man says he still has a lot to learn before he plays.
“Nobody’s going to feel sorry for them,” Croom said of the freshmen in general. “My only concern is if this team is disciplined enough to do the small things. We’re still awfully young, but as I have said all along, nobody cares that we’re young.”
However, Bowser feels good about getting ready for his first collegiate game.
“It feels good to be out here on a different level,” Bowser said. “There are some things I have to do, and I have to step up a little bit so that I can compete in the SEC.”
Bowser impressed coaches in his first day on the practice fields before pulling his hamstring in the second practice. Bowser was limited in the next week of practices but battled through it and has since shed the red cross jersey signifying injury.
Bowser now looks to help out a receiving corp that is battered with injury. Junior Will Prosser is still limited by a broken foot; Keon Humpries has battled through shin splints, and sophomore Joey Sanders is fighting through a hamstring injury.
Bowser feels that he can bring a lot to the table with his abilities.
“I think my strengths are my height, vertical, and I have pretty good speed against defensive backs,” Bowser said.
Croom has harped on the fact that they need to have the big play capability, which was absent last season.
The Bulldogs must have a solid passing attack to give all-SEC running back Jerious Norwood a chance to be successful. Bowser should be able to contribute with big plays due to his exceptional speed, height and leaping ability. If not the first game, it could be sometime this season.
Since his arrival, several veterans have worked with Bowser to acclimate him to the MSU system and the football program.
“Some of the guys helping me out are Keon Humphries, Will Prosser and Jamayel Smith,” Bowser said. “We watch film together and hang out. They have really helped me out since I have been here.”
A young group of receivers will see time on the field at some point this season.
Freshmen Adron Chambers, Aubrey Bell, Corey Gardhigh and Bowser look to help out in any way possible. Last season, Bulldog receivers caught nine touchdown passes. That was tied for 11th in the league.
If the Bulldogs want to improve their win total from last season, they will need to show some big play capabilities, and in 2005, some of that responsibility could go to these young receivers.
Bowser was accustomed to making big plays in high school as a big time receiver. Now on the next level, Bowser is ready to show he is a big time player as a Bulldog even as a freshman.