MISSISSIPPI STATE
› Last season: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)› Opener: Sept. 2 vs. Charleston Southern (kickoff time, television network TBA)› Fun fact: Nick Fitzgerald set SEC single-season records last year for average yards per carry by a quarterback (7.1) and 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (eight).› Coming Tuesday: Missouri
Mississippi State middle linebacker Dez Harris racked up 37 tackles last season, including 2.5 lost-yardage stops.
He appreciates each and every one of them.
The 6-foot-4, 243-pound senior from Bessemer, Ala., was among the more unheralded players who traveled to the Southeastern Conference’s annual media days event a couple of weeks ago, but he is one of best success stories the league has to offer. Harris, who is expected to be one of the leaders of coordinator Todd Grantham’s first defense in Starkville, has endured three anterior cruciate ligament tears.
“I’ve always had my mom and my sister behind me, and that’s important to me, because I’ve never had the desire to give up,” Harris said. “When it happened the second time, I knew exactly what to expect. When it happened the third time, I thought I was a pro.”