Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen joked with the media Monday when he announced “Nick Williams” as his starting quarterback, but replacing Dak Prescott will be no laughing matter as the Bulldogs prepare to open their season against visiting South Alabama on Saturday. Whether it is Nick Fitzgerald, Damian Williams, or Nick Tiano that starts under center, they will face a pass defense that returns a lot of key players from last season, including cornerback Jeremy Reaves.
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Mississippi State has an answer at quarterback. He said the two-man plan isn’t an attempt to deceive the Jaguars. “I was hoping to have complete clarity that there was a defined No. 1 and I don’t think there is yet”.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Fitzgerald completed 11 of 14 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns a year ago in a reserve role.
“We’re all going to play, we’re all going to get our snaps and show what we can do”, Fitzgerald said.
Mullen will however give the two veterans – Williams, a redshirt junior, and Fitzgerald, a redshirt sophomore – the majority of the reps in practice this week.
Williams’ only career start was against rival Ole Miss in the 2013 Egg Bowl – a game the Bulldogs won.
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“Both performed well in the tough situations they were thrown into”, Mullen said. “I don’t want to say this guy is going to be the guy and a series later another guy comes in and plays better and mess it up that way”.
