Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State football: 5 players who earned a helmet sticker vs. UMass

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen talks with quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) during the fourth quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Gillette Stadium. Mississippi State won 47-35. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Here are five Mississippi State football players who earned a helmet sticker in the win vs. UMass.

Mississippi State used to give away dawg bone helmet stickers for a solid performance. Rockey Felker was the last to do this in 1990, but Jackie Sherrill discontinued it. But that won’t stop us from giving out some virtual dawg bones for a good game to five Bulldogs.

We only give out helmet stickers for wins – and MSU beat UMass 47-35 in Week 4.

First up: Nick Fitzgerald

Nick was 25 of 38 for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. Throwing for a 66% completion rate with zero interceptions is really good, but he also added 110 rushing yards as well. 409 total yards – pretty impressive.

Can you believe there are some folks who aren’t on the Nick Fitzgerald bus after a game like this? Well, I know I saw a few people make some pretty dumb statements about Fitz during the game, suggesting he wasn’t getting the job done.

Bottom line: Fitz is putting up just as good or better numbers than Dak did as a sophomore. He had 195 rushing yards vs. South Carolina and now he’s all over the stat book in this one.

While he isn’t exactly accurate on every throw, he’s putting it in a pretty good spot most of the time. He ended up at 66% even with a number of drops….which he’s had a lot from his receivers this year. As a sophomore, you have to be excited about his future.

He did turn the ball over once when he got hit in the pocket and fumbled, but a day without an INT is a good one (most of the time).

Sep 17, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) is pursued by Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jamoral Graham (9) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Jamoral Graham

Just prior to the season when we learned that Cedric Jiles would miss extended time and Tolando Cleveland was out for the year, I knew this was Jamoral Graham’s chance to get a lot of playing time at cornerback.

I’ve always been a fan of Graham’s talent and was really hoping he’d make the most of his opportunity. Through the first three games there were more examples of him getting burnt than making a good play. But not against UMass.

Smokey played a great game. He had a tremendous play on a deep ball where he recovered to knock the ball down. Then he grabbed an interception and showed just how athletic he as he found his way to the endzone. Late in the 4th he had another great pass break-up as well.

Next: WRs

Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Donald Gray (6) celebrates after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Gillette Stadium. Mississippi State won 47-35. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Donald Gray & Fred Ross

Donald Gray may be small, but he can get the job done on the outside. I really love his game. He’s a ball player for sure.

Fred Ross is Fred Ross. He’s a pro.

Gray had eight catches for 79 yards in this one. Ross had eight catches for 126 yards.

State has a nice pair of receivers with these two. It’s so important to have a couple of solid wide outs for a young QB to feel comfortable and get into a rhythm.

I’m giving both of these guys a dawg bone. They’ll have to share it, but they should be used to sharing the ball by now.

Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Brandon Bryant (20) celebrates with defensive back Jamoral Graham (9) after an interception in the first quarter against the first quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the 2015 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Bryant

Brandon Bryant is all over the field. He could be playing the deep ball on one play, and then stuffing the run on the next.

You already know he’s one of if not the most athletic player on the defense, but it’s his passion for the game that gives him an edge.

When State’s D is struggling, you can always could on Bryant making a play to get them fired up and back into the game.

I really like Brandon’s game and he’s only going to get better. Hard to believe he’s just a sophomore.

Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) and line backer DeAndre Ward (28) celebrate after defeating the Massachusetts Minutemen 47-35 at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Ferrod Green

Freshman of the game goes to….Ferrod Green.

This last dawg bone was a tough choice. I could’ve gone with A.J. Jefferson or Ashton Shumpert or Johnathan Calvin but I thought I’d go with the big ole Green.

Fun fact: if Fred Brown had not gotten himself kicked off the team, MSU would have a “Gray”, “Brown” and “Green” on both offense and defense this year. Oh well.

How about Ferrod Green who comes in to grab his first career catch, then ends up with three of them for 38 yards and a nice TD grab.

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