Unpacking Mississippi State football's running backs room, led by Jo'quavious Marks
STARKVILLE — When Mississippi State football takes center stage at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Jo’quavious Marks will be among those representing the program. It likely doesn’t come as a shock to see a senior running back speaking on behalf a team in a conference flooded with talent at the position, but there’s significance in this scenario.
Marks is a running back for a program with 770 rushing attempts the past three years – fewest in the SEC. Rival Ole Miss has nearly 1,000 more rushing attempts in that span.
Marks’ attendance at the annual event is both indicative of his value inside MSU’s locker room and the changing times in Starkville. With Zach Arnett taking over the helm following the death of Mike Leach in December, the Air Raid offense will be replaced by offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay’s more balanced attack.
The leader of the group will be Marks, who enters the season as a three-year starter. Dillon Johnson, who has been the 1B to Marks’ 1A the last three years, transferred to Washington in the offseason. However, depth remains at the position.
Here’s a look at Mississippi State’s running backs room and how each player can help bring another nine-plus-win season to Starkville.
Jo’quavious Marks
Despite his 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame, Marks has proven to be a tough runner in the SEC. He has scored 18 career rushing touchdowns (15 in the red zone). Last year, on third downs with three yards or fewer to go, he averaged more than five yards per rush.
His workload will increase, and his experience in the Air Raid should make him a versatile back for Barbay.
Simeon Price
Price, as a redshirt freshman, ran for only 150 yards on 30 attempts. However, in the ReliaQuest Bowl after Johnson departed, Price collected 68 yards on seven rushes against Illinois.
If the bowl victory was a sign of what the 6-foot, 210-pound Price, from Pensacola, Florida, can produce regularly, the backup spot may be his to lose.
Keyvone Lee
Lee was one of the quieter offseason moves for Mississippi State. He enrolled in May as a transfer from Penn State, where he appeared in 27 games through three seasons. Lee collected 1,062 yards with the Nittany Lions.
As a prospect out of American Collegiate Academy in Clearwater, Florida, Lee was a four-star player, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Jeffery Pittman
Pittman committed to MSU in November as a prospect out of Hinds Community College in Raymond. He impressed in his first spring with Mississippi State, capped by a spring game in which he ran for 56 yards on 13 attempts.
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Seth Davis
Davis, a three-star product out of Katy, Texas, committed to Mississippi State in May 2022. His early commitment made him easy to forgot when the early signing period opened, but he proved to be an immediate-impact option for the Bulldogs in the spring.
Whether he earns significant playing time or is better served redshirting will be determined by how strong the production in front of him is. But if there are injuries or a lack of production ahead of him, Davis could be a valiant option.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Unpacking Mississippi State football's 2023 running backs depth
