3 problematic Mississippi State players vs. Texas

Isaac Smith, S

Smith has been the heart and soul of Mississippi State's defense this fall. He leads the team in combined tackles (51), defensive stops (seven), and forced fumbles.

In every single full game Smith has played for the Bulldogs this season, he's registered double-digit combined tackles. He even led the team in tackles in Mississippi State's loss last weekend to Florida despite not playing the entire second half due to an injury (per 247Sports).

It's not only Smith's tackling efforts that make him a vital player for Mississippi State's defense, but also his leadership and versatility to make plays all over the field from multiple levels. He's one of Mississippi State's most proficient run defenders and most consistent cover DBs.

His leadership and communication will be necessary for Mississippi State to deal with all the speed and explosiveness Texas has at the skill positions on the outside and the slot on offense. Smith's physicality and effectiveness in defending the run from the safety position will also be integral to Mississippi State's run defense against Texas's multiple proficient running backs.

If Smith is able to go for the full game for Mississippi State's defense, he'll be someone to watch who is one of the few consistent performers the Bulldogs have on this side of the ball after the season's first four weeks.