Mississippi State Football: Complete 2015 Spring Practice Primer

Was Mississippi State's magical run to a 10-win season, the first No. 1 ranking in program history and its first Orange Bowl berth since 1941 a sign that the program has arrived, or simply a product of unique SEC West circumstances that allowed the Bulldogs to finish second behind Alabama in the division?

Head coach Dan Mullen began the quest to answer that question, when his Bulldogs opened spring practice on Tuesday in Starkville.

Star quarterback Dak Prescott is back to lead Mullen's potent offense that returns several stars, including wide receiver De'Runnya Wilson. Meanwhile, the defense must overcome massive roster attrition in the front seven.

What should you look for this spring in Starkville?

What to Watch on Offense

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press/Associated Press

The battle to replace running back Josh Robinson will take center stage, as Brandon Holloway, Ashton Shumpert and Aeris Williams will battle to be the primary tailback in Starkville. Shumpert (6'2", 218 lbs) and Holloway (5'8", 160 lbs) split second-team carries last year behind Robinson and could provide a thunder-and-lighting combo that can kick the offense into overdrive.

Keep an eye on Williams, though. 

The 6'1", 215-pound redshirt freshman is a true all-purpose back and could provide the total package that Robinson did a year ago.

"Aeris always has a great attitude. He’s going to go as hard as he can with whatever he is doing," Mullen said in quotes released by Mississippi State. "When you look at a guy Aeris, we want to get the pads on him. He’s a physical-type player so you’re not going to see much out of his game until the pads come on."

Player	Car.	Yds.	TDs
Ashton Shumpert	45	294	1
Brandon Holloway	47	274	2
Aeris Williams	N/A	N/A	N/A

Outside, De'Runnya Wilson—better known as "Bear Force One"—leads a talented wide receiving corps that includes Fred Ross, Fred Brown, Joe Morrow and junior college transfer Donald Gray. 

Up front, though, is the real concern. 

Mississippi State lost three starters off of last season's offensive line, but it still could get tackle Damien Robinson back after the presumptive starter tore his ACL in fall camp last year and sat out the entire 2014 season. Mullen told Logan Lowery of InsideMSUSports.com that Robinson is still recovering, and the school is awaiting word on whether or not he will receive a sixth year of eligibility.

The loss of star center Dillon Day is a big concern, and all eyes up front will be on former guard Jamaal Clayborn in the middle of the offensive line.

"I think we experimented with that in bowl prep a little bit to give him some opportunities there and see if he was comfortable," Mullen said in quotes released by Mississippi State. "He’s worked all offseason snapping. I think that’s a starting point, but I think we also have to create some depth at that position."

If that offensive line can come together this spring, it will allow Prescott to get comfortable in the pocket. You saw what happens last year when the dual-threat star—who finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting—gets comfortable.

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What to Watch on Defense

The front seven is undergoing a massive overhaul, after five of the seven starters from last year's final two-deep moved on to the NFL.

Specifically, star defensive tackle Chris Jones has to step up and become the leader.

The former star recruit played more of a rotational role last year in the veteran defensive tackle rotation, but he has all the talent in the world. At 6'5", 308 pounds, he has the size to play a 0-techinque and line up over center, but he has the quickness to play out at a 9-technique if defensive coordinator Manny Diaz lets him (he won't).

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Another big loss is at linebacker, where Benardrick McKinney jumped early for the NFL. Keep an eye on freshman Gerri Green, a 6'4", 240-pound redshirt freshman from Greenville, Mississippi, to step up this spring and make a push for playing time. 

Mullen knows that his roster is loaded with youngsters.

"I bet 40 percent of our team has never played in a game," he said in quotes emailed by Mississippi State. "That’s redshirt freshmen, true freshmen and a lot of guys just graduated early and got in here as mid-year enrollees. A lot of guys that have never played in the game, and this is, to me, their first time to absorb it."

At the back end, Mississippi State lost starting cornerback Jamerson Love, safety Jay Hughes and Kendrick Market is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered late last season. That is going to put a ton of pressure on some young players, including safeties Deontay Evans and Kivon Coman, as well as converted safety Jahmere Irvin-Sills.

Freshman to Keep an Eye on

Redshirt freshman Brandon Bryant.

The 5'11", 200-pounder from Tunica, Mississippi, is in a perfect position to make waves this spring considering the uncertainty that exists at safety on the roster. Bryant is good in coverage, has a nose for the football and isn't afraid to stick his nose in on run support.

What's more, with so many teams operating out of the nickel now, there's an even bigger chance that Bryant—and any other safety on the roster—will earn some playing time this spring.

Coach Mullen's Toughest Task

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Managing expectations.

As many have noted, there's going to be a $4 million head coach in the SEC West who finishes last in the division in 2015. Will that be Mullen?

Last season's success was phenomenal, but with so much roster turnover, there's a decent chance that the Bulldogs take a massive step back from a record standpoint in 2015. That doesn't mean it's truly a massive step back, though.

The return of Prescott, Wilson and Mullen's ability to make an offense click regardless of personnel should keep the Bulldogs in plenty of games—even against the SEC West's big boys. That experience last year, though, played a big role in them winning most of those contests, and that doesn't exist on this year's squad. 

Mullen's crew may only take a minor step back in terms of overall talent and production, but a big one in the win-loss column. Mullen's ability to keep Mississippi State competitive will signal that it's still in the mix and has staying power, which would be a tremendous statement for the Mississippi State program.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.