Mississippi State coordinator speaks to fans at Convention Center

Mississippi State held the No. 1 ranking in the country for nearly a month last season and played in its first Orange Bowl in 74 years before finishing with three losses in its last four games.

It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the Bullodgs, and one of its coaches came to Vicksburg on Tuesday to share in the joy.

The Mississippi State Road Dawgs Tour stopped at it final destination, the Vicksburg Convention Center, Tuesday night with defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz as the featured speaker.

Diaz is beginning his second term with the Bulldogs. After his first departure from Starkville in 2010, Diaz coached at Texas and Louisiana Tech before returning to Mississippi State this offseason.

Diaz will have to coach a revamped defense that lost seven players to the NFL.

“I think we have a really good core of guys. We have a bunch of guys who have made plays in big games but now their role is changing,” Diaz said.

The Bulldogs lost key defenders Benardrick McKinney, Preston Smith and Matt Wells to the NFL draft. Four others signed free agent contracts after the draft.

The rotation of players last season benefits the Bulldogs as role players step into starting jobs this year.

“McKinney leaves a big hole, but Richie Brown made a lot of big plays last year. Smith leaves a big hole, but Ryan Brown and A.J. Jefferson made a lot of big plays last year,” Diaz said. “They’ve done it in games, now they have to do it with the expectation that they’re the man.”

Diaz likes the attitude and demeanor his guys showed in spring practice. He said he has a team that is not satisfied and continues to strive to get better.

They’ve also got some more help on the way.

Last season’s success helped Mississippi State land a top-20 recruiting class that included Warren Central cornerback Chris Stamps. Those recruits will arrive on campus June 2 to begin the offseason program.

“One of the things that schools from outside the state told the top players in Mississippi is that if they wanted to win they would have to leave the state,” Diaz said. “If the best players in the state of Mississippi stay, then we don’t take a backseat to anyone.”

Diaz has expectations of getting to Atlanta to play for the SEC title, and fans at Tuesday’s Road Dawgs Tour stop felt the same way.

Fans are excited to see the Bulldogs perform this season.

“This particular season I feel great about the team and what coach Dan Mullen can bring,” said Cambridge Williams, a resident of Vicksburg and lifelong fan of Mississippi State.

Williams is most looking forward to the Alabama game in Starkville, as the Crimson Tide knocked the Bulldogs off the No. 1 spot last season.

Williams likes the direction of the new recruits, as they are bigger and taller, particularly Stamps.

“He’s 6-2 with exceptional hands and a very high IQ,” Williams said.

Billy Johnson is also from the area and has been a fan since 1973. Johnson believes the success Mississippi State had last year will continue after listening to Diaz speak and answer questions from fans.

“I think we’re going to be at the top,” Johnson said. “I think we got the talent coming back and the schemes Manny is running will make us a dynamic defensive team.”