Mississippi State football, coach Zach Arnett announce 2023 preseason depth chart

Mississippi Clarion-Ledger STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football's competition at safety is over for now. Hunter Washington, Marcus Banks and Shawn Preston Jr. will own the three starting spots entering Saturday's season opener against Southeastern Louisiana, according to MSU's depth chart which was released Monday.

Another noteworthy position battle was at SAM linebacker where John Lewis or J. P. Purvis were expected to start.

However, senior DeShawn Page got the nod to play alongside sixth-year linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson. The depth chart lists Lewis and Purvis as Page's backup. At corner back, Esaias Furdge will start alongside Decamerion Richardson.

Kwatrivous Johnson beat out Percy Lewis at left tackle. He'll join left guard Nick Jones, center Cole Smith, right guard Steven Losoya and right tackle Kameron Jones in the starting lineup. There's no surprise Jo'quavious Marks is MSU's starting running back.

However, freshman Seth Davis is listed as the backup running back alongside Simeon Price after an impressive preseason. Freshman kicker Kyle Ferrie beat out UCLA transfer Nick Barr-Mira. Here's a look at Mississippi State's preseason depth chart.

Mississippi State football 2023 depth chart Offense QB: Will Rogers, Sr. Mike Wright, Sr. RB: Jo'Quavious Marks, Sr.

Seth Davis, Fr. OR Simeon Price, R-So. X-WR: Justin Robinson, R-Jr.

OR Freddie Roberson, R-Sr. H-WR: Lideatrick Griffin, Sr. Creed Whittemore, Fr.

OR Antonio Harmon, R-So. Z-WR: Zavion Thomas, So. Jaden Walley, Sr.

OR Jordan Mosley, R-So. TE: Ryland Goede, Gr. OR Geor'quarius Spivey, Gr.

Malik Ellis, Fr. LT: Kwatrivous Johnson, Gr. Percy Lewis, Sr.

LG: Nick Jones, Sr. Albert Reese IV, R-So. C: Cole Smith, Gr.

Canon Boone, R-So. RG: Steven Losoya III, R-Sr. Grant Jackson, R-Jr.

OR Jakson LaHue, R-Fr. RT: Kameron Jones, Gr. Leon Bell, Jr.

Defense DE: De'Monte Russell, Sr. Jordan Davis, Gr. Deonte Anderson, So.

NG: Nathan Pickering, Sr. Kalvin Dinkins, R-Fr. DT: Jaden Crumedy, Gr.

Trevion Williams, R-Fr. SAM: DeShawn Page, Sr. J.

P. Purvis, Sr. OR John Lewis, So.

MIKE: Nathaniel Watson, Gr. Nic Mitchell, So. WILL: Jett Johnson, Gr.

Zakari Tillman, Fr. CB: Decamerion Richardson, Sr. Brice Pollock, Fr.

CB: Esaias Furdge, Gr. DeCarlos Nicholson, Sr. S: Shawn Preston Jr.

, Gr. Isaac Smith, Fr. S: Hunter Washington, R-So.

Ja'Kobi Albert, So. Chris Keys, R-Jr. S: Marcus Banks, Sr.

Corey Ellington, Jr. Jordan Morant, R-Jr. MISSISSIPPI STATE PREDICTIONS:Game-by-game picks for Zach Arnett's Bulldogs Special teams Kicker: Kyle Ferrie, Fr.

Nick Barr-Mira, Sr. Holder: Andrew Osteen, Gr. Keelan Crimmins, Fr.

Kickoff: Marlon Hauck, R-Fr. Nick Barr-Mire, Sr. OR Kyle Ferrie, Fr.

Punter: Keelan Crimmins, Fr. Andrew Osteen, Gr. Long snapper: Hayes Hammond, R-Jr.

Manuel Hillman, R-Jr. Kick returner: Lideatrick Griffin, Sr. Zavion Thomas, So.

Punter returner: Zavion Thomas, So. Jaden Walley, Sr. .