Report: Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State expected to hire Arkansas OL coach Cody Kennedy

Jeff Lebby is reportedly making a crucial hire to his Mississippi State staff that’ll have an impact on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

According to John Brice of FootballScoops.com, the Bulldogs leader is adding Arkansas assistant Cody Kennedy to his staff, and he’s slated to coach Mississippi State’s offensive line.

“Jeff Lebby has made the crucial decision to retain a couple of key Mississippi State assistants, including former star wideout Chad Bumphis, and Lebby also has elected to move on from numerous former Bulldogs assistants,” wrote Brice. “Now, sources tell FootballScoop, Lebby has worked to execute a foundational move for the future of his Mississippi State program.

“Cody Kennedy, a multi-time honoree as an Broyles Award candidate and former semifinalist for the award given annually to college football’s best assistant coach, is set to move on from his spot on Sam Pittman’s Arkansas Razorbacks staff to join Lebby’s inaugural Bulldogs staff, numerous sources tell FootballScoop. He will coach State’s offensive line. It’s viewed as an absolutely crucial addition for Lebby from a noted conference rival, per sources within the Southeastern Conference.”

Alas, it seems as if Jeff Lebby is already making a splash as a head coach. He’s looking to build something special in Starkville.

Greg McElroy reacts to Mississippi State hiring Jeff Lebby

Moreover, the Mississippi State Bulldogs made a splash by hiring Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby to be the team’s next head coach. With him, the Bulldogs hope he’ll bring his explosive offenses from the past.

During his show Always College Football, former SEC quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy praised the hire but did note that there are some questions that Lebby needs to answer moving forward. 

“I like the hire,” Greg McElroy said. “Obviously, a little off-topic here. My mind’s in Playoff mode, but I like the hire. I mean, I like Jeff and have known Jeff for a long time now and have a lot of faith in his system offensively to be able to put up a lot of points. He did it at Ole Miss, did it at UCF, did it at Oklahoma.” 

This season, under Jeff Lebby, the Oklahoma offense has put up massive numbers. The Sooners ranked fourth in total offense, averaging 502.4 yards per game this season while also ranking third in scoring offense this season, with 43.2 points per game.

Prior to being the offensive coordinator at UCF, Lebby was a longtime Baylor assistant under his father-in-law, Art Briles. Influence from those offenses is still seen in Lebby’s offenses today.

“He came up in the Baylor system that is kind of universal now. It’s all over the place. So, if you look at what Tennessee‘s done with their style of attack, it’s gonna be comparable, not exactly the same but comparable. So, I think there’s a lot to like about the hire.”