As No. 22 Texas football prepares to play in Mississippi State’s notably hostile environment, facing the school’s tradition of ringing cowbells throughout the game. The Longhorns will also have to prepare to take on a team with some of the conference’s best players.
Here’s a look at some notable Bulldogs to keep an eye out for on Saturday.
Redshirt senior safety Brylan Lanier
After Texas sophomore quarterback Arch Manning only completed 44.4% of his passes against Kentucky, he will have to be extra safe with the ball as Lanier lurks in the secondary.
“It’s what (defensive coordinator Coleman) Hutzler preaches: Everyday ball out,” Lanier said about forcing turnovers in a Monday press conference. “We do a lot of strip (the ball) attempt circuits, a lot of interception circuits and we just preach that every day. Get the ball out, an interception, a fumble recovery … it’s happening in the game because it’s how we practice and how we work.”
The 6-foot-1 safety spent part of his collegiate career at East Mississippi Community College. Eventually, Lanier became a three-star prospect and the 31st best player among the class of 2024 JUCO products.
Lanier is currently tied first for overall interceptions in the Southeastern Conference, counting non-conference games.
Senior wide receiver Brenen Thompson
On the other side of the field, Mississippi State will have its eyes on Thompson to make plays against a Texas defense that is currently second in the conference for interceptions.
After catching the ball only five times across the Bulldogs’ opening two conference games, Thompson exploded last week with seven receptions for 155 yards in a close loss to Florida. Thompson’s performance at “The Swamp” is the fourth-most receiving yards a player has recorded in a SEC game this season.
In Mississippi State’s upset victory over then No. 12 Arizona State on Sept. 6, Thompson caught the ball six times for 133 yards. The receiver scored two touchdowns, one of which was the winning score late in the fourth quarter.
“It’s a surreal moment for me,” Thompson said after the game. “Just being in that position to go make that play, it was surreal. I’m happy for my teammates, I’m happy for my coaches and I’m happy for this fanbase.”
Redshirt sophomore punter Ethan Pulliam
Mississippi State’s punting unit will have to be extra cautious with Texas sophomore wide receiver Ryan Niblett on punt return duty. Last week against Kentucky, Niblett returned two punts for 88 yards and returned a punt for a touchdown against Oklahoma the week prior.
However, the Bulldogs have one of the best punters in the SEC, Pulliam, who was also once on the baseball team.
“Looking back at it, I think it’s been a great decision with this opportunity that has been given to me, to be able to go out there and punt, and flip the field,” Pulliam said about committing full-time to football in a Monday press conference.
Pulliam now has the fifth-most yards punted in a SEC game with 319 while also having the second-longest punt in the conference with 67. Pulliam’s average punt against Tennessee and Florida are both in the SEC’s top 10 single-game punting averages.
