Which five Rebels would MSU add to its roster?
STARKVILLE – Some of the best sports debates begin with the question “What if?”
In looking ahead to the 2015 football season, the Clarion-Ledger sparks another one: What if Mississippi State could choose five Ole Miss players and vice versa.
The following list is meant to start the debate, not necessarily end it. Feel free to comment with your selections.
One name missing from the list will be offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil. Yes, Mississippi State needs a tackle, but it doesn’t need the headache associated with an NCAA investigation.
Robert Nkemdiche
Mississippi State doesn’t need help on the defensive line, but this is a situation where the Bulldogs could take the best player available.
It’s early, but many project Robert Nkemdiche as a top 5 NFL draft pick next year. Imagine a defensive line anchored by Chris Jones and Nkemdiche – two preseason All-Americans.
The duo, along with Ryan Brown and A.J. Jefferson, could handle the pass rush and run stopping by themselves. It would allow Mississippi State to drop seven in coverage, which would help a pass defense that struggled last year.
Like Jones, Nkemdiche also has experience at defensive end if MSU wanted to drop into a 3-4 defensive alignment with Richie Brown, Beniquez Brown, Zach Jackson and Gerri Green at linebacker.
The possibilities for defensive coordinator Manny Diaz are limitless with two NFL first-round talents.
Javon Patterson
Unlike Robert Nkemdiche, guard Javon Patterson plays a position of need for Mississippi State and would be around for more than one season.
The 6-foot-3, 307-pound true freshman is one of the best incoming offensive lineman in the country. The Petal native was rated as the top offensive guard in the country by 247Sports. The Clarion-Ledger listed him as the top prospect on its Targeted 22.
Mississippi State needs a guard after Ben Beckwith graduated last year. Devon Desper worked as the starting guard through spring, but was overmatched by Chris Jones inside.
Patterson has the talent to play now, and the eligibility remaining to start for years to come.
Gary Wunderlich
Mississippi State’s biggest need at any position could be kicker. Ole Miss’ Gary Wunderlich would solve that problem and provide stability for a few years.
The true freshman made 6 of 8 kicks last season. He was perfect inside 50 yards. His 10 punts averaged 45.2 yards per attempt.
He doesn’t have the experience but the Memphis native signed with Ole Miss as one of the nation’s best kickers in the country.
The Bulldogs begin the season with Devon Bell as the leading candidate to attempt field goals.
Bell made 6 of 14 attempts. In 2012, he was better making 14 of 21.
Tony Conner
Mississippi State will begin the season without its three best safeties from last year. Jay Hughes and Justin Cox are in the NFL. Kendrick Market is recovering from a torn Achilles. Tony Conner is primarily a nickel back, but he projects as a safety in the NFL and a very good safety at that. Some project Conner as a possible first-round draft pick next year.
At 6-foot, 215 pounds, Conner could align with freshman Jamal Peters and corners Taveze Calhoun and Will Redmond to create one of the Southeastern Conference’s best secondaries. The unit would instantly improve MSU’s pass defense that ranked last in the league a year ago.
Conner finished with 69 tackles including nine for loss last year. Both would have ranked second behind Benardrick McKinney’s 71 tackles and Preston Smith’s 15 for loss last year for MSU.
Evan Engram
The tight end plays a key role in Dan Mullen’s offenses. He developed a unique role for Aaron Hernandez at Florida. He did the same more recently with Malcolm Johnson at Mississippi State.
The coach enters his seventh season in Starkville without a reliable option. Gus Walley is the only tight end on the roster with a career reception. He has four.
Evan Engram, who Mel Kiper Jr. calls the best underclassmen tight end in the country, would solve that problem.
He ranks in the top four in Ole Miss history in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end.
Last year, he caught 38 passes for 662 yards and two touchdowns.
Mississippi State led the SEC in total yards per game with 513 per game. Its tight ends combined for 32 receptions for 429 yards and four touchdowns.
An offense with De’Runnya Wilson on one side, Fred Ross on the other, Engram over the middle and Dak Prescott at quarterback would put up video-game numbers.
Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.