Most Important Bulldogs: No. 5 Evan Sobiesk

Michael Bonner
The Clarion-Ledger
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Mississippi State Maroon kicker Evan Sobiesk (64) is lifted up by quarterback Dak Prescott (15) after kicking a 42-yard field goal during the second half of their spring NCAA college football game against the White team, Saturday, April 12, 2014, in Starkville, Miss. Maroon won 41-38.

Football's regular season kicks off in about a month. Mississippi State's first practice begins Thursday.



No. 5 Evan Sobiesk

Position: Kicker

Year: Sophomore

Height, weight: 5-8, 188

In 2013: As a redshirt freshman, Sobiesk wrestled the kicking job away from Devon Bell. A better wording may be he stumbled onto the role. Bell lost the job due to inconsistencies. Bell made 6 of 14 attempts last year. Sobiesk relieved Bell of his duties at South Carolina nailing a 38-yard field goal. It was his second make in as many tries after he made good on a 24-yarder in garbage time against Troy.

But after going 2 for 2, went 1 of 4 to close out the season.

Bell attempted three field goals in the second to last game of the season at Arkansas. He went 1 of 3. Sobiesk assumed the role in the season finale against Ole Miss. He made 1 of 2. The miss came from 39 yards as time expired in regulation. It would have given MSU the win. Instead Mississippi State won in overtime.

Offseason: Dan Mullen named Sobiesk the starter. It's his job and there is no one behind him – at least not yet. Devon Bell moved exclusively to punter. Westin Graves struggled with extra points in the spring. Michigan transfer J.J. McGrath isn't listed on the roster.

"That's your job. You're focusing on it. Get your focus on that and go be the guy," Mullen said of Sobiesk in the spring. "That's important. Last year. They get razzed a lot. But they knew they had my confidence because I see them every day."

In 2014: Only three teams had worse conversion rates than MSU's 47.6 percent field goal accuracy. Sobiesk doesn't have be the best, but he can't be the face of the worst field goal kicking team of the five major conferences. Every coach, player, expert and fan believe that Mississippi State is going to be better than last year's 7-6 record. There's talk of Heisman Trophies and nine or ten wins. None of it happens if Sobiesk can't convert. Good teams win close games. Close games are often decided by field goals. That's why a kicker is in the top five of MSU's most important players.

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