Jeff Lebby identifies multiple Mississippi State players that aren't being talked about enough

Mississippi State is flying under the radar in Jeff Lebby‘s first season as the program’s head coach. In an interview with On3’s Andy Staples, Lebby revealed which of his players are being overlooked ahead of the 2024 campaign.

“There’s a couple of guys. You look at it on the defensive side of the ball. John Lewis is here. Stone Blanton, I like, has played at South Carolina. Trevion Williams is another one — an interior D-lineman. So we’ve got we’ve got some real pieces in the middle of our defense that are gonna give us a chance.”

John Lewis is entering his redshirt junior season with the Bulldogs. In the 2023 season, Lewis appeared in all 12 games and made three starts. He tallied a career-best 20 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and recorded one blocked punt.

Unlike Lewis, Stone Blanton will be a fresh face for Mississippi State. Blanton spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at South Carolina before transferring this offseason. Last year, Blanton started all 12 games at linebacker, collecting 52 tackles, a sack, three pass breakups and an interception.

Trevion Williams has less experience than Blanton but is expected to play a significant role for the Bulldogs in the upcoming season. Williams only played in three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Now, the former four-star recruit will attempt to put the college football world on notice.

Jeff Lebby is putting together the pieces in Starkville

Defensive talent will be key to MSU’s success. After all, Lebby can find success on offense even when he lacks weapons. Lebby’s units have finished in the top six nationally in total offense three times over the last five seasons, including No. 2 with UCF in 2019 (540.5 ypg) and then No. 3 with Ole Miss in 2020 (555.5 ypg).

Oklahoma finished the 2023 regular season with the nation’s No. 4 ranked offense (502.4 ppg). Lebby obviously didn’t have ample time to recruit in the 2024 class, considering the date of his hire. However, he made the most of his difficult circumstances. Mississippi State ended the 2024 recruiting cycle with the No. 26 incoming class, per On3’s Industry Rankings.

Lebby found more talent in the transfer portal, where Mississippi State gained 19 players this offseason. Former Louisville wide receiver Kevin Coleman headlines the group. In the 2023 campaign, Coleman recorded 26 receptions for 362 yards and two touchdowns.

Mississippi State will kick off its 2024 campaign in a showdown against Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 31.