STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football is in its second week of fall camp ahead of the 2025 season, and many of head coach Jeff Lebby’s team leaders have had their turn speaking to the media about their return to practice.
But one especially notable presence, literally and figuratively, has been guard Jacoby Jackson. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior guard was a reliable presence on the line in 2024, earning a pass-blocking grade of 81.1 from Pro Football Focus while allowing just two sacks all season.
“It’s been great,” Jackson said of the early fall work. “A lot of new faces and tons of competition everywhere. Nothing solidified, but competition is what you need and it should be what you want, because competition keeps you going. You can’t get too complacent. We’ve got tons and tons of talent in this room, and I’m excited to see how things end up.”
Jackson joined the Bulldogs in 2024 and started 11 games at left guard after transferring from Texas Tech. His familiarity with the playbook has made him one of the guys to lean on in his unit, and has helped bring the new arrivals along in preparation for a retooled starting group.
“It’s real familiar,” he said of the playbook. “I wouldn’t say things are easier, but being able to know the plays, and now I can help guys if somebody needs extra help after hours or anything. I can go in the film room and help those guys out.”
Fellow senior Albert Reese, who joined the program as part of Mike Leach’s 2021 recruiting class, has played under three different head coaches and three different styles of offense in his time as a Bulldog. His versatility was reflected in his play last year, operating at both right tackle and right guard as he won the Kent Hull Trophy for the best offensive lineman in Mississippi. Now, he’s doing his part to bring along the rest of the group, a unit with which he has already seen chemistry develop.
“I think guys have picked it up a little faster than last year because we also did some things outside the building that helped us gel,” Reese said. “This year we’ve done even more of that, so it’s better.”
But Reese isn’t taking all the credit for the offensive line’s newfound confidence.
“The entire O-line helped with that,” he said. “We would have player-only meetings in the building and out of the building, and just talk ball. We really kind of came together to help us gel.”
The pair of seniors named several new transfer arrivals they think are making an impact early.
“Tons of talent and big size,” Jackson said of the new faces up front. “Zack Owens is great, Jayvin James is another guy that has tons of talent and Blake Steen is a big body that’s been showing a lot of good stuff. It’s been good. We got bigger, we’re more talented overall and those guys have been great for us.”
The senior duo also noted several underclassmen they thought had taken steps forward, including sophomore Luke Work and freshmen Spencer Dowland and Breyden Turnage.
Additionally, both Jackson and Reese have noticed how an improved defensive line – a major weakness in 2024 – has led to increased competition in the trenches during camp.
“It’s a lot different,” Jackson said. “It looks more like what we’re going to see throughout the season as far as the SEC is kind of a standard of size, strength and twitchiness within the O-line and D-line room. I feel like you truly see that SEC size and talent in the room this year.”
“We’ve got some big guys for sure,” Reese said. “I’m always happy to see that because it means more competition for us to help us get better, and hold each other to a higher standard.”
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