Lebby Stresses Culture as Mississippi State's Rebuild Continues

ATLANTA — Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby has been done no favors.

First, he inherited a team trying to recover from the sudden loss of Mike Leach and the disastrous short tenure of Zach Arnett. After going 2-10 last year, the Bulldogs face a daunting schedule, including defending Big 12 Champion Arizona State as one of their non-conference opponents. He’s also had to endure a second quick rebuild, as Mississippi State suffered significant attrition through the portal.

But, at least in public, he’s putting on a brave face.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get on the grass with our current roster and our football team,” he said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “You think about the transformation; 80% of our players on our roster right now, they’re guys that are in their first or second year of being inside the program. You think about 16 new players since Jan. 1, 43 mid-years, then having the ability to sign five O-linemen, a couple of tight ends, a couple others on the defensive side of the ball in the spring portal. I look back and think about where we are today. I think about how we’ve created some momentum inside of our building by signing a really good high school class, by signing a really good portal class, addressing the needs that we had to address to change the outcome this fall.”

Quarterback Blake Shapen is one of those second-year players, having joined the Bulldogs before the 2024 season. But he was hurt in the fourth game of the season and was replaced by true freshman Michael Van Buren. Van Buren was one of the players to depart Starkville after the season, heading to LSU. Even though he was complimentary of Van Buren during his comments Wednesday, Lebby feels Mississippi State is in better hands with Shapen and backups Luke Kromenhoek and Kamario Taylor.

“For (Shapen) being year two in the system, year two with me, (I) couldn’t be more excited about him leading the charge on the offensive side of the ball,” Lebby said. “Obviously the addition of Luke coming over from Florida State playing as a true freshman last year … a kid that is incredibly talented, top 75 player in America coming out, just a year removed from that. Excited about him. The signing of Kamario Taylor for us, the highest-ranked QB to be signed at Mississippi State. A young man that has an incredible amount of potential. We have a room right now that has layers to it, which I’m very excited about.”

Lebby exuded excitement about his group of running backs as well. Davon Booth will likely be the starter after leading the team in rushing last year, with Johnnie Daniels and transfer Fluff Bothwell (South Alabama) rounding out the rotation.

“We bring back Davon Booth, Johnnie Daniels comes back. Both those guys for us last year, our two leading returners from a rush game standpoint. Then having the addition of Fluff, that room right now is probably the deepest room on our roster,” Lebby said.

The defense, which averaged 34.1 points per game — 117th nationally — has been revamped. There are 10 transfers in a potential two-deep, including former Texas A&M defensive end Malick Sylla. Improving the rush defense was a particular point of emphasis for Lebby after the Bulldogs were fourth from last in the nation in rushing yards allowed last year.

“Inside the defensive line room and at the defensive end position, 10 new bodies since Jan. 1 have come in. And that room has added great depth, but I think we’ve added some real play-making ability,” he said. “We’ve talked a ton as a group and a staff and a unit in creating negative plays, creating sacks, finding ways to create turnovers will be a huge part of our success this fall. Those are things that you can go measure every single day. Having the ability to change the D-line was huge.”

While other teams may be discussing the desire to chase a national championship, Lebby repeatedly came back to the work being done to change the culture in the Bulldogs locker room.

“I think that people watched us last year and saw us at the end of the season … There was great belief, there was trust. Guys playing incredibly hard. We were nowhere close to having the outcome that we wanted to have,” he said. “That’s what everything has been about since December.It’s been about changing the outcome, finding a way to win, creating that inside the locker room every single day.”

Mississippi State 2025 schedule

Aug. 30: @Southern Miss

Sept. 6: Arizona State

Sept. 13: Alcorn State

Sept. 20: Northern Illinois

Sept. 27: Tennessee

Oct. 4: @TEXAS A&M

Oct. 18: @Florida

Oct. 25: Texas

Nov. 1: @Arkansas

Nov. 8: Georgia

Nov. 15: @Missouri

Nov. 28: Ole Miss

Projected lineup

QB: #2, Blake Shapen (Gr.-TR.)

RB: #6, Davon Booth (Gr.-TR.)

WR (X): #4, Jordan Mosley (RS-Sr.-TR.)

WR (Z): #0, Brenen Thompson (Sr.-TR.)

WR (H): #3, Anthony Evans III (Jr.-TR.)

TE: #8, Seydou Traore (RS-Sr.-TR.)

LT: #51, Luke Work (So.)

LG: #75, Jacoby Jackson (RS-Sr.-TR.)

C: #50, Koby Keenum (RS-So.-TR.)

RG: #76, Albert Reese IV (RS-Sr.)

RT: #54, Blake Steen (RS-Jr.-TR.)

DE: #27, Red Hibbler (Gr.-TR.)

NT: #88, Jamil Burroughs (RS-Sr.-TR.)

DT: #43, Will Whitson (Gr.-TR.)

JACK: #44, Branden Jennings (RS-Sr.-TR.)

MIKE: #10, Jalen Smith (RS-So.-TR.)

WILL: #7, Zakari Tillman (Jr.)

NICKEL: #2, Isaac Smith (Jr.)

CB: #1, Kelley Jones (RS-So.)

SS: #9, Tony Mitchell (Jr.-TR.)

FS: #3, Braylan Lanier (RS-Sr.-TR.)

CB: #4, DeAgo Brumfield (RS-Sr.-TR.)