MSU's Dixon a challenge for Alabama

Mark Ingram is the Heisman Trophy candidate, but the most prolific running back on the field when Alabama visits Mississippi State on Saturday night will be State’s Anthony Dixon.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior is already the Bulldogs’ career rushing leader with 3,604 yards. He’s coming off a school-record 252-yard performance in a win at Kentucky.

After an open date, Dixon is eager for a showdown with Alabama’s top-rated rushing defense and a matchup against Ingram, who leads the SEC in rushing with 127.6 yards per game. Dixon is second at 125.1 ypg.

“It’s going to be fun.... He’s up for the Heisman race. All props to him,” Dixon said. “I’m pretty sure he’s been over there working hard. I’ve been over here working hard, so both of us make dreams come true. It’s just going to be a showcase Saturday, just to show again what we can do, show what the talk’s about. I’m just excited. Pumped up and ready to go.”

Dixon — State’s all-time leader in yardage, attempts (835), rushing touchdowns (39), 100-yard games (15) and points scored (258) — is the focal point in coach Dan Mullen’s spread offense that keeps the ball on the ground.

“We are a running football team this season,” Mullen said. “It should be a good battle against Alabama, because they are a good running football team as well.”

The Bulldogs (4-5, 2-3 SEC) actually run for more yards per game than Alabama. Their 219-yard average is third in the SEC behind Florida and Auburn. Alabama is fourth, averaging 213 yards per game on the ground.

“Anthony Dixon is a really, really good back,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said this week. “Those guys run the football probably as well as anybody we’ve played against this year.”

Crimson Tide cornerback Javier Arenas said Dixon remains a key to stopping State.

“I think a lot of it has to do with stopping him,” said Arenas, who said his powerful running style is similar to LSU’s Charles Scott and Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty. “He’s a guy that you always got to keep an eye on when he’s out on the field.”

Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain said tackling Dixon is “always a hard task.”

“You’ve got to go and wrap him up,” McClain said. “You can’t just put a shoulder in the guy. You have to wrap him up and wait for everyone else to come.”

McClain smiles when asked about the challenge of facing the run-oriented Bulldogs.

“They’re a physical team; they pride themselves on running the ball. That’s what it boils down to,” he said.

Dixon is looking for exactly that kind of game, too.

“It’s definitely going to be a tough, physical game. That’s all I’m looking forward to,” Dixon said. “I know they’re going to be up for it with the things they’re trying to do with their season over there. And we’re definitely going to be up for it with the things we’re trying to do with our season over here.”

Mullen, who was Florida’s offensive coordinator before taking the State job, said Alabama’s run defense presents a physical challenge for his team.

“They’re able to play man-to-man coverage with their corners which gives them the ability to load up the box,” Mullen said. “They have tremendous size at both the D-line and the linebacker position.”

He sees differences with the Florida defense, but said they both are excellent because both play man-to-man on the outside, creating extra defenders to stop the run.

“How they go about it is different between the two of them, but their ability on their outside guys is what makes them similar,” Mullen said.

Saban said Mullen’s attack and Florida’s spread are similar in philosophy, but not in personnel.

“I think the core, the philosophy, the zone dive, zone option, counter plays and quarterback reads are the same,” Saban said. “... I think the way they utilize their personnel is a little bit different.”

Obviously, Mississippi State doesn’t have a Heisman Trophy winner with linebacker size at quarterback, the way Florida does with Tim Tebow.

But Florida, frankly, doesn’t have an Anthony Dixon at running back.

Ingram, asked about the running back matchup, said it’s not a one-on-one battle.

“I don’t really worry about that too much,” Alabama’s sophomore sensation said. “The defense will take care of that. That’s their responsibility. He’s a good runner, had a great career. I’m sure they’ll be working to get ready for him.”

McClain is sure of that, too.

“We just have to do what we do, play our game and try to take away the run and make them one dimensional,” the linebacker said.