Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen grateful to be healthy and back on the field

After getting off to a solid start in a new program, Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen saw his 2024 campaign cut short due to a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the season. These days, the former Baylor transfer is back healthy again and going through his second spring session with the Bulldogs.

After Thursday’s practice, Shapen met with the media for the first time since last September and discussed his return to action among other topics:

Q: What’s it been like with the recovery process and how do you feel?
Shapen: It’s been good. Obviously, it’s pretty long but I feel good and glad to be back out there.

Q: How was it to throw that first pass in motion again?
Shapen: It felt good. It was definitely different. This is the longest I’ve been out. Definitely weird at first but it felt good and I am just glad to be back.

Q: Your thoughts on quarterbacks Kamario Taylor and Luke Kromenhoek?
Shapen: Those are good dudes. Luke is coming from Florida State and is a good player. Same thing with Kamario. Both have a good ceiling, and good players and good dudes, also.

Q: Last year the run game got stronger at the end of the year and have added a couple more pieces there. How good is that group looking?
Shapen: I think everybody knows the running back room is pretty stacked. I think we’ve got five or six guys really in that room that can go out and play. So obviously you, need depth at that position, especially in this league, and I think we have four or guys that are ready to play and can go out there any time. Adding Fluff (Bothwell) was huge and then returning Davon Booth, Johnnie Daniels, Xavier Gayten, guys like that is huge for us.

Q: What about the new additions to the wide receivers’ room?
Shapen: Yeah, it’s been good. A lot of new faces in that room, too, and we returned a few of them from last year. So it’s good just trying to get in sync, trying to be able to grow and get better. Obviously, we’re not where we want to be right, now but we’ll get there. We just have to keep working and stick together. They’re good dudes, also, so it’s good.

Q: Obviously, full pads are not on yet. But early on, what differences do you see with the defense?
Shapen: I think, obviously, we’ve added pieces on the defensive line and some in the secondary. So I’d say just the feel of the defensive line. I can tell that those guys are very physical. I think we’ve added a lot of depth in that area, too, and also in the secondary. You can tell that those guys are flying around and they’re fun to watch. We’ve got a bunch of good players and a lot of guys returning in the secondary. Some on the d-line, too, so that’s good.

Q: Jeff Lebby talked of your dedication and having to get you out of the building sometimes. Your thoughts on that approach?
Shapen: Yeah, I think I’ve always loved the game of football. I feel like my work ethic has always been pretty good. I continue to kind of base my play off of how much I’m in the building and how much I’m studying, whether it’s the playbook, the other side of the ball, things like that. I take pride in that and I take pride in getting better and being knowledgeable about the game.

Q: How do you feel going into the second year of this system?
Shapen: I think there’s so much things I didn’t know coming here and learning about this offense compared to where I was at before. Obviously, there was a lot of growth that had to be taken last year with me when I was playing. Even when I wasn’t I was able to learn a lot. I feel like having a full year under my belt has been huge for me, going into this next season with some more experience and having another spring ball under my belt and things like that.

Q: First day of spring you walk in and get the first-team reps. How did that feel?
Shapen: It was good. The first day was good. I felt like it could have been better in some areas. But I feel like it was a pretty good first day. Obviously, it wasn’t a ton. But felt good, like I said earlier, just being out there and being with the guys. I feel like you don’t really understand what it’s like without the game until you get it taken from you. I’ve been able to go through what I just went through so now I’m able to see the game in a lot different ways. So that’s good.

Q: How was the offseason with Matt Holecek and Jeff Lebby getting ready for the spring and the season?
Shapen: It’s good. Those guys have been huge for my growth as a quarterback. I feel our communication is very clear and direct, just because we meet with each other every single day. So having those two guys able to help my growth as a quarterback and helping this team win has been good.