Jeff Lebby explains positions Mississippi State can attack in transfer portal

Mississippi State still has a few positions that need to be addressed in the transfer portal this offseason.

As first-year head coach Jeff Lebby explained, he’s currently seeking out every possible solution for those holes in the Bulldogs lineup.

“We’re looking at a couple of different things,” Lebby said after the spring game last month. “We’re looking at running back situation. We’ve got the ability to maybe take one more offensive lineman and maybe take another edge player on defence and a corner. So that’s kind of where it’s at.

“You know, we’re looking to fill some needs and do a great job of creating a ton of depth throughout these next 12 to 15 days and I think we’re gonna be able to pull that off.”

It’s been nearly two weeks since Lebby addressed the need to acquire talent from the transfer portal, where multiple moves have since occured.

The only position that the Bulldogs have covered (that Lebby mentioned) in the time being is the running back position. On April 30, they acquired the services of former Utah State running back Davon Booth — however, that only came after incoming transfer Rashad Amos flipped his commitment from MSU to Colorado four days prior. In that case, Mississippi State is still in need of another running back.

As far as the other positions — two offensive tackles, Jayden Hobson and Zay Alexander, entered the transfer portal days after the spring game on April 23. No other linemen have committed to Lebby and the Bulldogs. Mississippi State is still looking for an additional edge rusher as well, however have appeared in Illinois transfer defensive lineman Anthony Johnson’s top four schools in the portal. Of course, DL Wilky Denaud re-etered the portal on April 29 so the need for another body is once again present.

On top of that, ever since the spring game, Mississippi State has also lost the services of linebacker Avery Sledge and quarterback Mike Wright to the transfer portal. That accounts for five players lost compared to one brought in since the spring game occured.

There could be good reason for this — the transfer portal window closed at the start of the month and Lebby could realistically have been waiting for all of the names to enter before attempting to pluck the best at each position of need. Whether this was the case or not, the needs are there and will likely be addressed by the time the Bulldogs come back together for summer practices.

“I like where we’re at,” Jeff Lebby said. “I think it’s going to be completely different come fall. Just from the standpoint of understanding. I love that we got to live a bunch of game situations whether it was [the spring game] or earlier in the three scrimmages we had in the spring, and our guys understand what this thing needs to look like.”