Miss. State ready to take the next step - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports

HOOVER, AL (WAFB) - Mississippi State's Jonathan Banks says the Bulldogs just need some more depth to be on the same level with SEC Champion LSU.

Banks admits 2011 was a disappointment for Dan Mullen's team that finished 7-6 but just 2-6 in SEC on the heels of a nine win season and faded in the fourth quarter last year in Starkville. 

Mullen says now that he's heading into his fourth season since coming over from Florida's national championship team, his Bulldogs are finally starting to put together the talent and depth it takes to compete for an SEC title.

Offensive lineman Gabe Jackson, who witnessed a series of injuries in the LSU game, says the focus in Starkville this year is finishing strong.

Normally an early season September opponent for the Tigers, MSU has been pushed into a November 10 meeting with Les Miles' team in Baton Rouge. 6-4 junior quarterback Tyler Russell is now in charge of the Bulldogs offense that sputtered against John Chavis' defense in last year's 19-6 defeat.

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