CatsPause.com - Scouting Report: Miss. State at UK

October 31, 2009

Matt May
CatsPause.com Senior Writer

MISSISSIPPI STATE at KENTUCKY
When: 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31
Where: Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, Ky.
TV: Fox Sports South
Radio: Big Blue Radio Network
Last Meeting: Nov. 1, 2008 - UK 14, MSU 13
Records: Miss. State (3-5, 1-3); UK (4-3, 1-3)

Miss. State 2009 Schedule/Results
Sept. 5 - JACKSON STATE (W, 45-7)
Sept. 12 - at Auburn (L, 24-49)
Sept. 19 - at Vanderbilt (W, 15-3)
Sept. 26 - LSU (L, 26-30)
Oct. 3 - GEORGIA TECH (L, 31-42)
Oct. 10 - HOUSTON (L, 24-31)
Oct. 17 - at Middle Tennessee (W, 27-6)
Oct. 24 - FLORIDA (L, 19-29)
Oct. 31 - at Kentucky
Nov. 14 - ALABAMA
Nov. 21 - at Arkansas*
Nov. 28 - OLE MISS
*Little Rock, Ark.

Notes: Kentucky leads the all-time series 21-15, including 12-5 in Lexington...The Cats have won five of the past seven meetings between the two programs...Miss. State is UK's permanent SEC West opponent in the league's rotating schedule format...The Cats scored 14 third quarter points the blocked a fourth quarter extra point to win 14-13 in Starkville last season...The Cats held State to just 43 rushing yards last season...MSU coach Dan Mullen is in his first season at head coach after serving as Urban Meyer's offensive coordinator at Utah and Florida.

MISS. STATE SCOUTING REPORT

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Anthony Dixon, Running Back
2009 Statistics: 149 rushes, 749 yards, 7 TD; 7 catches, 36 yards
Bio Buzz: It seems like Dixon has been at Mississippi State since Bill Clinton was in office, and yet here he is returning to Lexington for the second time in his career. Dixon has been a maddening talent, sometimes showing flashes of the big, bruising back who has carried nearly 800 times for 3,300 yards with 37 touchdowns, but he has also been in trouble off the field and isn't always consistent on it.

Dixon was mostly shut down by the Cats in last season's 14-13 Kentucky victory but he tallied 75 yards and a score when State last came to Lexington and shocked the Cats 31-14 in 2007. Still, Dixon's numbers are rather pedestrian against the Cats, rushing 50 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

SUPPORTING CAST
Tyson Lee, Quarterback
2009 Statistics: 102-172, 1,126 yards, 3 TD, 9 INT; 54 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD
Bio Buzz: Lee remains the Mississippi State quarterback but you get the feeling that's only because new State coach Dan Mullen has not yet found a guy he has enough faith in to unseat Lee. The senior is certainly one tough customer but his performance has been erratic at best. He did have a nice day against UK last season (26-42, 261 yards, 2 TD) before Robbie McAtee sealed the Cats' win with an interception in the final minute.

Leon Berry, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist
2009 Statistics: 14 catches, 170 yards; 28 kick returns, 737 yards, 1 TD
Bio Buzz: Berry has taken on the role of Mississippi State's Percy Harvin, the all-everything athlete Mullen had at his disposal while coaching Florida's offense the past few years. Berry isn't particularly big (6-0, 190) but he is explosive and rates as one of the better return men in the SEC. If State had a better quarterback situation you can bet Berry would be more of a factor on offense as well.

Jamar Chaney, Middle Linebacker
2009 Statistics: 58 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT
Bio Buzz: Chaney is back for an extra season after breaking his leg in the 2008 season opener and he's been playing like the All-Southeastern Conference performer he was once considered. Chaney flies around the field and is the leader of State's defense, although he's not a guy who is going to make a ton of plays behind the line of scrimmage. Still, the senior should near 300 career tackles by the end of this season.

Johnthan Banks, Free Safety
2009 Statistics: 16 tackles, 4 INT
Bio Buzz: The redshirt freshman still isn't listed as one of the Bulldogs' two starters at safety but he has proven his worth in leading the team in interceptions this season. Banks burst into the national conscious by picking off two Tim Tebow passes and returning both for touchdowns in last week's game against Florida.

Matt May is the football beat reporter for The Cats' Pause. If you have questions or comments about the Cats e-mail him here.

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