Peter Sirmon already making an impact as Miss. State DC

HOOVER, Ala. -- When Mississippi State had a position to fill on its defensive staff this offseason, head coach Dan Mullen took a look at quite a few different options. But once he zeroed in on Peter Sirmon, he knew he had found his man. Sirmon was coming of two-year stints at USC, Washington and Tennessee as a defensive coach.

“He and I met and you could see he had a great passion for the game and as a guy that was not afraid to think outside of the box,” Mullen said while speaking at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. “That really fits who we are as a program. He and I hit it off with great personality. He's a guy that not only played the game, has a passion to coach and teach the game, and is a real up-and-coming star in the coaching profession.”

Sirmon played six years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and his pedigree as both a player and a coach have already helped him earn credibility with the Bulldogs players.

“Coach Sirmon is great … He has done a lot for our defense already,” senior linebacker Richie Brown said. “He relates really well to the players, NFL guys tend to relate to us a lot better because they kind of know what we have been through. He is bringing new things to the table but we are still Mississippi State defense. I’m really excited for this season.”

But it’s not just on the field where Sirmon’s impact has already been felt. He’s also played a vital role in recruiting, helping the Bulldogs build a class currently ranked No. 17 overall in the Rivals.com team rankings. Mississippi State senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson credited Sirmon’s personality as a major asset in both coaching and recruiting.

“Coach Sirmon is a great guy, a real people person,” Jefferson said. “You can tell he’s been in California for a while, because he really just brightens up everybody’s mood. I can tell he’s very passionate about what he does, and he loves it.”

Jefferson added that he expects the defense to make major strides this season and Sirmon will play a major part in the team’s development.

“He’s in the business of getting you better, and I like that about him,” Jefferson said. “He wanted me to learn every position up front. I can tell he wants me to be versatile so I can show what I can do. He’s taking that approach with everyone.”