The spring transfer portal window opens on April 15, but Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby wants to see how the team he has right now looks in practice before evaluating the Bulldogs’ needs.
“We’ll continue to evaluate that as we go through practice. I’m not real comfortable in saying it today,” Lebby said. “I’m going to wait and see a few more practices until I make that decision.”
MSU added 14 transfer players while the portal was open in December, including four offensive linemen — much-needed additions for a team replacing all five starters up front. But just two of those transfers, Jacoby Jackson (Texas Tech) at left guard and Ethan Miner (North Texas) at center, were practicing with the first team during the portion of Tuesday’s practice session that was open to media. Makylan Pounders (Memphis) figures to be a big part of the group as well.
Juniors Albert Reese, Leon Bell and Canon Boone all took first-team reps Tuesday after playing reserve roles in 2023. Also joining the offensive line is sophomore Malik Ellis, who was recruited as an offensive lineman but played tight end as a freshman due to the Bulldogs’ need for depth at that position.
“Coaches have done a good job making sure everybody’s on the same page,” Reese said. “It’s not like old guys know way more than young guys and young guys barely know anything. They’re trying to keep us all mentally in the same place so nobody’s playing catch-up.”
Keyvone Lee, in his second season at MSU after transferring from Penn State, was the first-team running back during the media viewing period. With Seth Davis still recovering from an injury he sustained in last year’s Egg Bowl, Lee has moved up the running back depth chart, with Jeffery Pittman and junior college transfer Johnnie Daniels also in line for key roles.
Baylor transfer Blake Shapen has the inside track for the starting quarterback role, with sophomore Chris Parson in line for the second-string job ahead of veteran Mike Wright and freshman Michael Van Buren.
“(Shapen) injected himself as a leader early,” sophomore receiver Creed Whittemore said. “We’re pretty confident with him right now. He throws a very pretty deep ball and he’s on time. He almost throws it like he plays baseball, which he did for a little bit. In this offense, it’s a good thing. He gets the ball out quick and is on time for us.”
The Bulldogs will be without their two leading receivers from last season with Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin preparing for the NFL Draft and Zavion Thomas now at LSU, but veteran Justin Robinson is back along with Whittemore, Jordan Mosley, Antonio Harmon and Texas-El Paso transfer Kelly Akharaiyi.
Joining them all is a talented trio of freshmen — JJ Harrell, Mario Craver and Starkville High product Braylon Burnside — all four-star recruits according to 247Sports.
“All those guys that came in over the winter, they bought in,” Mosley said. “There was no sense of arrogance. They just wanted to learn, they just wanted to grow, they just wanted to develop. Seeing that out of freshmen, that’s everything you want.”
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