Ellington

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State has promoted Geoff Collins to defensive coordinator the school announced on Friday.

Collins has spent the past two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after coming from Florida International in 2011. Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen let Collins handle the defensive playcalling responsibilities in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 after the defense struggled under Chris Wilson in the last half of the regular season.

Wilson remains on Mississippi State's staff. He also coaches the defensive line.

Mississippi State lost five of six games to end the season — including four of those to nationally-ranked opponents. The defense gave up nearly 34 points per game during that stretch.