In a season that has been filled with ups and downs, the Bulldogs are desperately seeking consistency. This was one of the biggest struggles of a team last year that went 5-7 and came so close on many occasions to a bowl game appearance.
Whether the Dawgs can pull it together for a late season run has yet to be seen, but it appears they could be headed in the right direction.
Senior linebacker K.J. Wright has been the leader and example of consistency Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs have been looking for.
Wright said he realized the kind of player he needed to be before MSU’s victory over Georgia, when defensive coordinator Manny Diaz told him the best players on the team needed to step up as leaders.
“Before the game, he really told us that, and he showed us some clips on Ray Lewis and how he leads, and I just made it a thing on myself. I have to do that. I have to lead my defense to victory,” Wright said.
Wright leads the team in tackles and pass break-ups, but his value of late is not limited to the stat sheet. Dan Mullen was quick to point out some steps in the right direction for Wright and the defense.
“K.J. is playing up to his ability. I think he took a step forward as far as trying to be a leader of the defense. We’ve really challenged our leaders to continue to step up. We’ve got a new defensive scheme this year. I think he’s getting much more comfortable in the scheme, which allows him to be a little bit better of a leader,” Mullen said.
Mullen is not the only coach impressed with Wright, as Diaz also had high praise for the linebacker from Olive Branch.
“From a leadership standpoint, I think K.J. really has sort of hit another gear of understanding that our guys respect him, and they will follow him,” Diaz said.
Diaz then described a play late in the Georgia game in which Wright made a tackle on third down that held Georgia to a field goal attempt.
“That’s the type of senior leadership play we want, because everybody can give a big Hollywood speech. The way you lead is you lead with your feet and with your shoulder pads, and K.J. has done an amazing job of doing both,” Diaz said.
It is one thing to receive praise from the coaching staff, but respect from the players on the field is often harder to come by.
However, center D.J. Looney showed the sentiment with which the team regards Wright.
“K.J. is the man,” Looney said. “K.J. and I came in together, and I’ve got so much love and respect for not only him as a person, but his game, and he’s elevated it to the highest level as a senior, and he just makes plays. He plays hard, and he’s the heart and soul of this football team and that defense. He just goes hard, man, he’s the real deal.”