Jeff Lebby names Mississippi State's starting QB vs. Texas after Blake Shapen injury
Along with losing their first game in SEC play on Saturday against Florida, Mississippi State also unfortunately lost starting quarterback Blake Shapen in the matchup. Who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury after joining the Bulldogs this offseason through the transfer portal.
Shapen joined Mississippi State after starting in 23 games in his four-year career with Baylor, but now the Bulldogs will have to pivot at the position. With new head coach Jeff Lebby revealing Monday who will be taking over the offense starting this Saturday against Texas.
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“Chris [Parson] has been unbelievable from being a great teammate, working his butt off, doing some of the things that we needed him to do to create a ton of confidence. But Michael [Van Burden] will run out there first,” Lebby said.
Lebby will be rolling with the true freshman Michael Van Burden this weekend, who will be making his first career college start in one of the most hostile environments in the country. DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium against the No. 1 ranked Longhorns.
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Van Burden saw his first collegiate action in relief of the injured Shapen on Saturday. Completing seven of his 10 pass attempts for 100 yards and leading a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. As Lebby spoke on what’s given him the confidence in his true freshman ahead of his big moment this weekend.
“Just predictability,” Lebby said. “Having some predictable outcomes, knowing what’s going to happen with the ball, taking great care of the ball. He’s got to do that for us on Saturday afternoon. That’ll be a huge part of us having a chance.”
Van Burden played high school football at St. Frances Academy in Bowie, Maryland where he was a four-star prospect ranked the No. 24 quarterback in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Now equipped with a new head coach who has a plan for him to succeed on Saturday.
“You get him to focus incredibly small. You find ways to put him in positions of success. We’ve got to find a way to build on the run game from last week to give him the opportunity to play inside some good situations and that’ll be key for us to get off to a fast start that way,” Lebby explained.
Mississippi State will face off against Texas this Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET in a matchup airing on SEC Network and streaming on Fubo.