After being considered one of the top defensive tackles in the country in the 2020 signing class, Kedrick Bingley-Jones hasn’t been able to fully break out during his college career. Bingley-Jones spent four seasons at North Carolina and dealt with two injuries that stunted his production. He came to Mississippi State last year looking to […]
After being considered one of the top defensive tackles in the country in the 2020 signing class, Kedrick Bingley-Jones hasn’t been able to fully break out during his college career.
Bingley-Jones spent four seasons at North Carolina and dealt with two injuries that stunted his production. He came to Mississippi State last year looking to close out his career strong with a new start, but another injury kept him from that as well.
This year is Bingley-Jones’ last chance to produce at a high level and he entered training camp with the Bulldogs healthy and hungry. The entire defensive line along with the defense as a whole has that same mentality in Coleman Hutzler’s second year as the group has something to prove after a rough year during a 2-10 stretch.
Bingley-Jones had a chance to update fans on the progress of the defense, how he has attacked this training camp, his leadership and more.
Question: You were expected to be a dude last year on the line but went through injuries. What did you learn from last season?
KBJ: “I say the biggest thing was leadership. I was coming in with a lot of expectations and I got hurt last year. I had to be a leader off the field and help all of the young guys get together like Kai McClendon, Corey Clark and have those guys step up in my place. That was my biggest thing, just becoming a leader.”
Q: What has been your thoughts on the defensive line so far?
KBJ: “I feel like we have a talented group this year. We’ve just got to keep getting better, one day at a time. Our first two days were shaky but the first with pads have been really good. I feel like we have a talented group from Jamil (Burroughs), Jaray (Bledsoe), Ray (Thomas) and all of the other guys that came in.”
Q: How can you help the new guys get acclimated?
KBJ: “Just being a leader. Being somebody where I can shoulder and bring them along. The expectation is me being a leader of the room being one of the older guys so I’m trying to bring people along and keep people up. If they have a play, ‘hey, on to the next play.’ Just trying to be that leader for the room and be a leader on this team.”
Q: What’s been your impressions for Jamil Burroughs?
KBJ: “I’m really impressed with him. We both were in the class of 2020 so I remember the recruiting profiles and us being recruited by some of the same teams. It’s really good to be able to play with him. He’s very twitchy and has a lot of tools in his box, he’s just got to sharpen the sword.”
Q: You became a father this offseason, how is that going?
KBJ: “It’s gone well. It’s the best thing on earth. They say being a father, there’s nothing like that and I agree with that. Especially being a girl dad. I enjoy going home and seeing her every day and seeing her smile. It’s been a blessing, to say the least.”
Q: What are your impressions of Diesel Moye?
KBJ: “He has a lot to work on and improve, but that’s one of the guys I’m really trying to bring under my wing because I see the potential in him. He’s just got to keep working every day and I feel like with his size and strength, he’s just got to keep putting it together. He told me that he didn’t play that much football before coming here.”
Q: What’s it been like going up against the new faces on the offensive line?
KBJ: “We’re competing really well. The competition in practice is up from last year and there’s a lot more energy. How we have more depth, they have a lot more depth too. It’s a lot of good guys. Blake Steen, Zach Owens, Trevor (Mayberry) have really made me better in my few days being back on the field. I’ve really enjoyed being able to compete with those guys and keep stacking days with them because we’re working together to accomplish one goal.”
Q: With the depth and different type of bodies that you guys have, could we see more four down linemen this year?
KBJ: “Oh yeah. Whatever (Coleman Hutzler) feels like everybody fits and what him and (David Turner) feel we can do. We have so many different types and everybody is good at one thing better than some others. I feel like we’re going to be able to spread the wealth in a sense.”
Q: What have the conversations been like with players about building on last year and creating more of a positive reputation?
KBJ: “I think that’s the biggest thing – no one ever wants to go 2-10. Last year, even though I was hurt, that was the first time missing a bowl game in my college career. We’ve got to flip the script basically. We can’t have stuff that happened last year bleed into this year. It’s a whole new team and a whole new mindset and we’re got to believe. We’re going to go out and compete every game and win every game.”
Category: General Sports
