Mississippi State Football: Setting The Expectations for the Cornerbacks in the 2023 Season

When Emmanuel Forbes was selected by the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL Draft, a major hole was left in the secondary of Mississippi State’s defense.

Moving forward within the secondary, Decamerion Richardson is a player who should be expected to play a major role in filling that hole. Entering 2023, Richardson looks to be the second-best defensive player the Bulldogs have, behind only Nathaniel Watson.

Lining up alongside Forbes this past season, he put together a standout year. Richardson finished third on the team with 85 tackles and with three pass deflections. 

Now, as the leader of the secondary, he holds the keys that Forbes left on the table for him and has high expectations to meet.

Marcus Banks and Esaias Furdge are the oldest cornerbacks on the roster, making up the veteran presence within the group together. Banks transferred to Mississippi State in the 2022 season where in the 13 games he played, he was on special teams.

 Furdge appeared in 10 games last year but expects both of them to work as scouting players to help develop some of the younger players.

Bur with every college program, the restructuring of players can be difficult after a star player gets drafted. This is the case with the cornerback position for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State plans to load up the secondary with freshmen and a few transfers to build for the future.

One of the key freshmen to have a close eye on is Brice Pollock. Coming out of high school, he was the No. 37 ranked prospect in Georgia. The four-star recruit has similarities to the departed Forbes. His size, speed, and lengthy wingspan to deflect and takeaway balls should transition well into the college game.

Expectations are hard to gauge with the youth and inexperience of their freshman and transfers. The corners and lack of experience, outside of Richardson, look to be one of the only real weaknesses for the team at the position the as the season approaches. 

Under the leadership of head coach Zach Arnett, expect his coaching style to bring the best out of these players during the first game of the season against Southeastern on Sept. 2.