WATCH: Mississippi State receiver Creed Whittemore updates spring progress

Mississippi State receiver Creed Whittemore showed a lot of flashes during his true freshman season in 2023. The former On3 composite four-star prospect totaled 11 catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns along with rushing four times for 61 yards and one touchdown.

This spring Whittemore and his offensive teammates are learning a new system under head coach Jeff Lebby. Following Tuesday’s practice, Whittemore met with the media to discuss spring ball among other topics:

Q: How excited are you guys to get back in Davis Wade Stadium for the spring game?
Whittemore: Yes not only for us but for the new guys to experience the fans and the cowbells. I know a lot of the transfers are really excited to experience that and we’re excited to show them what it’s all about.

Q: How different is it for you this spring compared to last spring?
Whittemore: For me it is a big jump. I got hurt a little bit last year during the first quarter. But to just catch a ball in a college stadium, I know for some of the freshmen that is going to be huge.

Q: Your thoughts on tight end Seydou Traore this spring?
Whittemore: I think he’s caught my eye, for sure. He’s a guy that can run a route and also set up a good block. So he is somebody that we are going to use a lot this year. He can do it all and he’s a great player.

Q: From the start of spring ball, what area has the offense improved the most going into the spring game?
Whittemore: I think even from the winter OTAs we’ve come a long way. Just being able to throw and catch is huge in this offense and drop back and throw a five-yard route. You know, we’re not going to throw the 60-yard ball every time like some people might think. The most important thing is really completing the short routes because that sets up the long routes.

Q: Your thoughts on the quarterbacks and how Blake Shapen has adjusted here?
Whittemore: Like last time, I said he has come in and is being a really good leader. I think he has continued that and he is consistent. He might not be the huge talker but he’s going to be out here every day and he’s going to be in the facility watching film and consistently showing an example.

Q: How important is it for the receivers to block in this offense?
Whittemore: I think it’s huge. The running backs block for us for our deep balls so we owe them what we can do. We do a lot of RPOs so we’re not blocking a ton. But when we do it’s super important. We got to set up big runs.

Q: How much can the receivers help the quarterbacks in this offense?
Whittemore: It’s up to us to go make the play. They are going to throw it but they can only do so much. It’s up to us to get open and go make the big play. We take all the pressure on ourselves. We take it all off of them and try to put it on us. We’re the ones that need to go make a play.

Q: How important is it for receivers to make plays after the catch, too?
Whittemore: I think that’s huge in this offense. Like I said, completing the short routes, it’s up to us to go make the yards. I think that is big and we got a lot of guys that can go make plays after the catch.

Q: What defensive backs have given you the most trouble so far?
Whittemore: I think Tre (Wright) from Memphis. He has stood out to me and Brylo (Brylan Lanier). Those two guys have stood out to me. They are physical, come down and hit and they can also flip their hips and go run with somebody.

Q: What’s your impression as a whole of the defense and what Coleman Hutzler is doing with his group?
Whittemore: I think with the defense, y’all are going to see more flying around. They are running from sideline to sideline. John Lewis is a big factor this year. He’s caught my eye, too. He is somebody that can move sideline to sideline just like me. He is extremely fast and also a big dude. You are going to see a lot of big hits and big plays.

Q: Who has hit you the hardest this spring?
Whittemore: Isaac, Isaac Smith. That was my roommate and one of my best friends. We go at it at practice and he lays it on me a little bit sometimes.