Under center, Junior Michael Henig will get the first look at QB for the 'Dogs' after starting six games and completing 74 of 169 pass attempts (43.8%) for 1201 yards and seven touchdowns (nine interceptions) as a Sophomore in 2006.
[4] He will be challenged by Sophomores Ty Evans and Zack Harrington as well as incoming JUCO transfer Josh Riddell.
Juniors Eric Hoskins, who redshirted in 2006 after transferring from Holmes, and Brandon Hart, a converted RB, will share the FB duties.
Parkland, Florida 6'1", 190 lbs., Jr. Montgomery, Alabama 6'1", 195 lbs., Jr. Salem, Oregon 5'11", 230 lbs., Jr. Weir, Mississippi 5'11", 240 lbs., Jr. LaGrange, Georgia 6'2", 275 lbs., Jr. Harvey, Louisiana 6'1", 240 lbs., So.
Up front, Senior LDE Titus Brown (38 tackles, 7 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass defended in 2006),[4] a 2006 Second-Team All-SEC selection, is the only returning starter, but with 18 career starts under his belt, he has the experience to be a disruptive force for the Bulldogs and to help develop his younger teammates.
In the secondary, Mississippi State returns two Junior defensive stars in SS Keith Fitzhugh (59 tackles, .5 TFL, 3 passes defended, 1 INT in 2006)[4] and 2006 Second-Team All-SEC selection Derek Pegues (32 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 5 passes defended, 4 INTs),[4] who will move from CB to FS.
The class was headlined by a large number of top in-state high school recruits including RB/S Marcus Green (Meridian), DT Quentin Saulsberry (Independence), OT Derek Sherrod (Caledonia) and highly touted RB Robert Elliot (Okolona), who chose the Bulldogs on National Signing Day following a heated recruiting battle between MSU, Ole Miss and Florida State.
The Bulldogs capped off a solid 2007 high school class with several top junior college signees, such as DT Jessie Bowman (Brookhaven/Co-Lin) and WR Co-Eric Riley (Lucedale/Gulf Coast).
Additionally, MSU signed several strong out-of-State players including high school DT LaMarcus Williams (Bastrop, Louisiana) and JUCO QB Josh Riddell (Salem, Oregon/Foothill).
[6] LSU and Mississippi State kicked off the 2007 college football season in a Thursday night SEC contest broadcast live on ESPN, the 101st meeting between the two teams.
[7] Tigers' RB Keiland Williams scored twice on one-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter to push LSU's lead to 0–17 at the half.
MSU LB Dominic Douglas, playing in his first career game with the Bulldogs, led all tacklers with nine total, earning "Outstanding Performer" recognition for Week 1.
LSU went on to finish the season 12–2 with a victory over Ohio State in the BCS title game and were ranked #1 in all final major polls.
The game was also a homecoming of sorts for MSU RB Christian Ducré, a native of nearby Mandeville who began his college career at Tulane before transferring to State.
State started the scoring off early in the first quarter, when LB Gabe O'Neal intercepted a pass on the first offensive series of the game and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown.
FB Jeremy Jones capped off a long drive to open the second half, catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from Michael Henig after MSU's offense covered 67 yards with 9 plays in 3:30.
Dixon sealed the victory for MSU with a seven-yard fourth quarter run that put the Bulldogs ahead by the final margin.
QB Michael Henig posted an admirable performance as well, completing 21 of 30 pass attempts for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
State (1–1, 0–1) entered the game coming off of an impressive second half rally to cruise by Tulane after their opening week-beating at the hands of LSU.
Cox again threw an interception on Auburn's ensuing possession, prompting the Tigers to insert true-Freshman backup QB Kodi Burns into the game on their next series.
MSU capitalized on AU's turnovers by adding another Carlson field goal on the ensuing drive to stretch their lead to 13–0.
However, the Tigers mounted a comeback late in the second quarter, when RB Ben Tate ran 28 yards to finally put Auburn on the board.
On the ensuing kickoff, MSU KR Derek Pegues fumbled the return, giving AU the ball on State's 30-yard line with 4:12 to play in the first half.
After turning the ball over on so many previous possessions, Auburn stuck to their ground game, not attempting a single pass during the ensuing series.
Neither team's offense was able to successfully move the ball in the second half until MSU took possession on AU's 44-yard line with 10:42 left in the fourth quarter, after S Demario Bobo intercepted a Kodi Burns pass.
Cox led his team 67 yards down the field, all the way to MSU 9-yard line, but was unable to score as his fourth down pass attempt fell incomplete, giving State the ball back with just :48 remaining, allowing the 'Dogs to run out the clock and earn their first victory over an SEC opponent in 2007.
Bulldogs' P Blake McAdams quietly posted an impressive performance by punting 6 times for an average of 43.3 yards, including a booming career-best 73-yard kick.
After their slow 1–2 start, Auburn won their next four games, finished the season 9–4 by defeating Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and were ranked 14th in the country in the final Coaches poll.