LSU football: Tigers to watch vs. Mississippi State

Sep 20, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre (15) runs after a catch against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Malachi Dupre

Malachi Dupre was one of the bright spots of the LSU football team during their loss to Mississippi State last season.

The then-freshman wide receiver compiled 120 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the final two minutes. His playmaking ability nearly carried the Tigers to an improbable comeback victory, but they came up just short when a last-second Hail Mary pass was intercepted.

The Bulldogs’ secondary is one of the biggest question marks on their roster. They allowed Southern Miss to surpass 300 yards passing in their season opener, and could be in trouble against LSU’s much more complete offense.

Mississippi State is going to have to stack the box in order to prevent Leonard Fournette from taking over the game. This will leave their defensive backs in single coverage against the Tigers’ talented wide receivers. And with junior deep-threat Travin Dural to worry about, the Bulldogs will not be able to focus all of their attention on Dupre.

The sophomore wide receiver’s greatest production last season seemed to occur when Brandon Harris was under center. The pair simply has an incredible chemistry that dates back to before their days at LSU, and it was this duo that nearly led the Tigers to a comeback victory in 2014.

With Harris penciled in as the starting quarterback, expect big things from Dupre, especially against a shaky Mississippi State defense.

Next: The defensive end position