Mississippi State’s offensive line room is a good representation of college football’s current era.
Of its projected starters, just one has spent his entire career in Starkville. Of MSU’s forecasted starters and backups, eight played elsewhere before coming to State, five transferring to MSU in the 2026 portal cycle.
MSU quarterback Kamario Taylor brings a lot of hype into this season, but who’ll be protecting him? According to OurLads.com, here is MSU’s offensive line projected depth chart.
The starters
LT Jakheem Shumpert-Perkins, redshirt junior
Jakheem Shupert-Perkins hasn’t seen the field much in Starkville, but was one of the better junior college offensive lineman during his time at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
He was ranked the No. 2 JUCO offensive lineman in the portal in 2025, and was the No. 22 overall JUCO player in the portal according to 247sports. Measuring at 6’ 5 330 pounds, Shumpert-Perkins is originally from Plantersville and appeared in two games for the Bulldogs last season.
LG DJ Chester, redshirt junior
DJ Chester is one of the two transfer guards projected to fill the O-line as a starter in 2026.
He started 14 games at LSU over three seasons, and earned Freshman All-SEC status in 2024 with the Tigers. Chester was a 3-star recruit in the transfer portal. Originally from Conyers, Georgia, Chester measures at 6’ 6, 315 pounds.
Center Canon Boone, graduate
Canon Boone is the most experienced starter on this MSU O-line.
Boone, a graduate student from Kemah, Texas, has spent his entire career in Starkville. He jumped into his biggest role last season, starting all 13 games at center. Boone allowed five sacks last season according to PFF.
He measures at 6’ 4, 315 pounds.
RG LJ Prudhomme, redshirt freshman
Prudhomme made an inner-SEC jump to MSU in the offseason.
He spent his first season at Arkansas, playing in four games and earning his redshirt. He was a 3-star recruit in the portal, and a 3-star recruit coming out of high school in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He measures at 6’ 3, 320 pounds.
RT Blake Steen, redshirt junior
An injury kept Steen off the field last season.
He suffered a left arm injury in the season opener against Southern Miss. He started all 12 games as a redshirt-sophomore at Virginia and was a 3-star recruit in the 2025 transfer portal.
He measures on the bigger end for MSU’s projected starters, coming in at 6’ 6, 340 pounds.
The backups
LT Tyler Miller, redshirt freshman
Another one of the many transfers on this offensive line, Miller comes to Starkville by way of LSU.
He didn’t see any action and earned a redshirt as a freshman last season. He was a 4-star recruit out of high school in Laurel, Mississippi. He measures at 6’ 6, 335 pounds.
LG TJ Lockhart, redshirt sophomore
Lockhart could see an increase in production after two years of limited playing time.
He earned his redshirt as a freshman after playing in one game as a true freshman, and appeared in three last season as a redshirt freshman.
The brother of MSU linebacker Tyler Lockhart, TJ Lockhart is from Winona, Mississippi and measures at 6’ 5, 360 pounds.
Center Mario Nash, redshirt freshman
Mario Nash came back to Mississippi after a year at Florida State.
He did not see any action with the Seminoles last season, and earned his redshirt. Originally from De Kalb, Mississippi, Nash comes to Starkville as a 3-star portal recruit.
A 4-star prospect out of high school, Nash comes in at 6’ 4, 305.
RG Miles McVay, redshirt junior
Starkville marks McVay’s third stop in the journeyman’s college career.
He spent two years at Alabama before playing under Bill Belichick at North Carolina last season. He’s played in 24 games so far in his career. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school in East St. Louis and a 3-star recruit out of the transfer portal.
He measures at 6’ 6, 350 pounds.
RT Saquon Miles, redshirt junior
Saquon Miles is another one of MSU’s O-linemen with a history of success at the JUCO level.
Miles was the No. 1 JUCO transfer offensive lineman in 2025 from Hinds Community College. He appeared in just one game last season at MSU, earning a redshirt.
He is originally from Greenville, Alabama and measures at 6’ 5, 320 pounds.
Also on the roster
Redshirt senior Jamari Freeman – 6’ 4, 300 pounds.
Redshirt senior Wesley Davis – 6’ 4, 300 pounds.
Redshirt senior Isaiah Dent – 6’ 6, 320 pounds.
Redshirt junior Matthew LeFeau – 6’ 5, 350 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Ja’Elyne Matthews – 6’ 6, 350 pounds
Redshirt freshman Breyden Turnage – 6’ 7, 320 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Spencer Dowland – 6’ 6, 300 pounds.
The true freshmen
Jayden Ross – 6’ 6, 330 pounds.
Dalton Toothman – 6’ 5, 320 pounds.
Dylan Steen – 6’ 5, 295 pounds.
Leon Noil Jr. – 6’ 5, 285 pounds.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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