Weāre just one day away from theĀ LSU footballĀ SEC opener vs. Mississippi State. In preparation, here are three offensive players (Will Rogers, JoāQuavious Marks and Lideatrick Griffin) you should know about ahead of the matchup.
LSU football: Three Mississippi State offensive players to know
Senior QB Will Rogers
Thereās only so much that has yet to be said about Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, so Iāll keep this one brief. As a part of legendary head coach Mike Leachās offense, Rogers was the anchor to Leachās pirate ship.
Heading into this weekendās matchup, the senior is entering hisĀ 35th straight start for the Bulldog offense. In the midst of year four, heās thrown the ball a shocking 1,685 times for 11.078 yards and 87 touchdowns.
Will Rogers is the only quarterback in SEC history to complete at least 1,000 passes over his career. Additionally, he holds the career passing yards and touchdown records for Mississippi State.
Itās notable to mention that this yearās offense is very different from years past. Under head coach Zach Arnett, this is a very run-heavy offense, so donāt expect Rogers to throw the ball 50 times tomorrow.
Still, heās a legend in SEC football and one of the most experienced players on this team. If he needs to be leaned on, heās more than capable of carrying his team.
Senior RB JoāQuavious Marks
If the decrease in emphasis on the passing game has benefitted one player, itās senior running back JoāQuavious Marks. So far in 2023, Marks has carried the ball 43 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, heās made quite an impact in the passing game, having recorded eight catches for 91 yards.
Marks is another incredibly experienced piece of this team, but this is by far the most productive heās been through his career. His best season prior was in 2022,Ā recording 113 carries for 582 yards and nine touchdowns.
However, that doesnāt mean he didnāt possess the talent to be a lead back. The offense just didnāt run the ball nearly as much in years past.
In 2022 vs. LSU football, JoāQuavious Marks ran the ball just nine times, but picked up 50 yards and a touchdown along the way.
Expect to see plenty of this senior running back. He has the speed and power to make plenty of plays. This could be especially true after the unimpressive showing from the Tiger running defense last week vs. Grambling State.
Senior WR Lideatrick Griffin
If this Mississippi State football team has any specific do-it-all kind of player, it is senior wide receiver Lideatrick Griffin. As another player entering his fourth season with the program, he has more than enough experience to compensate for his smaller stature.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior has and will continue doing almost everything for his team. So far in 2023, heās recorded nine receptions, three carries and a kick return forĀ 133 yards and two touchdowns.
He isnāt necessarily the kind of player who will take over a game for his team, but heās certainly a name to know. He possesses elite speed and athleticism, so all he needs is a crease of open space to make something happen.
If LSU football hopes to slow down the Mississippi State offense, stopping Will Rogers, JoāQuavious Marks and Lideatrick Griffin will need to be a big part of it.
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