ST PETERSBURG BOWL

BYU and a made 51-yard field goal as time expired at Kentucky. Four of the Bulldogs’ seven
losses have been decided by one possession, seven points or less, including three losses by three
points or less. All seven losses occured to teams who reached a bowl this season.
• MSU has produced four defensive touchdowns this season: a 74-yard interception return by
Cedric Jiles in the fourth quarter at Ole Miss (11/26), a 35-yard INT return by DeAndre Ward
vs. Samford (10/29), an 81-yard fumble recovery by Mark McLaurin at Kentucky (10/22) and a
38-yard interception return by Jamoral Graham at UMass (9/25).
• 10 times in the 117-year history has MSU produced multiple 100-yard receivers in the same
game, including five in the last three years under WR coach Billy Gonzales. The Bulldogs did it
against Samford behind 207 yards from Donald Gray and 107 yards from Fred Ross.
• 6 times in the Dan Mullen era, the Bulldogs have produced multiple 100-yard rushers in the
same game, including twice in the last four games. QB Nick Fitzgerald and RB Aeris Williams
did it against Texas A&M on Nov. 5 and then again in the Egg Bowl at Ole Miss on Nov. 26. The
Egg Bowl win was the first time in school history that the Bulldogs produced a 200-yard rusher
and a 100-yard rusher in the same game - Fitzgerald (258) and Williams (191). Prior to the
Mullen era, the last time MSU had multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game was 2000.
• In its last four games, MSU has averaged 280.3 yards per game on the ground. That came
against Alabama, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
• MSU has won four games over Top 10 teams since the start of the 2014 season, a mark that is
tied for second in the SEC and tied for third nationally.
MSU IS 11-8 IN BOWL GAMES; MULLEN TOPS IN WINS
MSU is making its 20th bowl apperarance and school-record seventh straight. Dan Mullen has
guided the Bulldogs to a bowl game in seven of his eight seasons. The only season he did not was
his first one in 2009. Mullen has won more games (four) than any coach in school history. The
Bulldogs are 11-8 in bowl games and 4-2 under Mullen. Prior to Mullen, the school record for
consecutive bowl appearances was three. Mullen has also appeared in more bowl games than any
coach in school history (7). Jackie Sherrill coached in six bowls in his 13 seasons. MSU is one of
five SEC schools to go bowling in every season this decade, joining Alabama, Georgia, LSU and
Texas A&M. The Bulldogs own the SEC’s fifth-longest consecutive bowl appearance streak.
Most MSU Bowl Game Appearances
Most MSU Bowl Wins
Dan Mullen - 7 (in 8 years) Dan Mullen - 4-2
Jackie Sherrill - 6 (in 13 years) Jackie Sherrill - 2-4
Emory Bellard - 2 (in 7 years) Several others - 1-0
MSU MAC TIES
Several members of the MSU coaching staff are no strangers to competing against the Mid-
American Conference (MAC). Head coach Dan Mullen served as the quarterbacks coach at
Bowling Green on Urban Meyer’s staff from 2001-02. MSU wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales
served in the same capacity at BGSU from 2001-02, while MSU offensive line coach John Hevesy
coached tackles and tight ends at BGSU from 2001-02. The trio was 0-1 against Miami (Ohio),
losing a Nov. 3, 2001 game by a score of 24-21. Bulldog safeties coach Maurice Linguist spent the
2012 and 2013 seasons as the defensive passing game coordinator at Buffalo. Linguist was 2-0 vs.
Miami.
FLORIDA BULLDOGS
The final career game for senior running back Brandon Holloway will be a homecoming.
Holloway grew up in Tampa and attended Alonso High School, which is 26 miles from Tropicana
Field. He was a standout football player and track star. He is one of four Bulldogs who hail from
the Sunshine State. True freshmen Stewart Reese (Fort Pierce), Korey Charles (Miami) and
Osirus Mitchell (Sarasota) also call Florida home.
2016 SENIOR CLASS PLAYING FINAL GAME
A group of 16 seniors will be playing in their final game. They include: DL Nelson Adams,
LB Richie Brown, DL Johnathan Calvin, OL Jamaal Clayborn, DB Kivon Coman, DL Will
Coleman, DL Torrey Dale, OL Devon Desper, RB Brandon Holloway, DL Nick James, DL A.J.
Jefferson, OL Jocquell Johnson, WR Fred Ross, OL Justin Senior, RB Ashton Shumpert and LB
DeAndre Ward.
• The class owns a 31-20 (.608) record and is tied for fifth among MSU senior classes in victories
... A bowl win would make them tied for fourth
• Have been to a bowl game every year of their careers
• Spent a school-record 10 weeks ranked in the Top 10 and five straight weeks ranked No. 1 as
sophomores in 2014
• Owned a 19-8 record at home in Davis Wade Stadium
• 14 of the 16 have already graduated with another two on schedule for the spring
• Shattered 26 single-game, single-season and career statistical records in the past four years
2016 INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Dan Mullen, Head Coach
• Bobby Dodd Trophy National Coach of the
Week (vs. Texas A&M)
Richie Brown, Sr., LB
• NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
• Second-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Jamaal Clayborn, Sr., C
• NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Invitee
Nick Fitzgerald, So., QB
• Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
• SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (vs.
Texas A&M, at Ole Miss)
• Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 List (vs. Texas
A&M)
• Manning Award Star of the Week (vs. Texas
A&M)
Brandon Holloway, Sr., RB
• SEC Community Service Team
Leo Lewis, Fr., LB
• SEC All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
• SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year
(Athlon Sports)
• SEC Freshman of the Week (at Ole Miss)
A.J. Jefferson, Sr., DE
• SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs.
South Carolina)
Martinas Rankin, Jr., OT
• SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (vs.
Texas A&M)
Fred Ross, Sr., WR
• First-Team All-SEC (Associated Press, Phil
Steele)
• Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon Sports,
Coaches)
• Senior Bowl Invitee
• C Spire Conerly Trophy Finalist
Justin Senior, Sr., OL
• Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon Sports)
• Kent Hull Trophy Winner
Jeffery Simmons, Fr., DL
• SEC All-Freshman Team (Coaches)
15
First-Team All-SEC honors produced by MSU
in the Dan Mullen era (since 2009; 9 offense,
6 defense)
8straight seasons that MSU has produced at
least one first-team All-SEC recipient, which
is every season Dan Mullen has coached at
MSU
@HAILSTATEFB HAILSTATE.COM FACEBOOK.COM/HAILSTATEFB