Senior Jacoby Jackson talks Mississippi State line of scrimmage

Mississippi State has a lot of new faces in the trenches this spring via the transfer portal. But there’s still a few veterans sprinkled along the offensive line, including senior Jacoby Jackson.

Of course, Jackson himself was a transfer that joined State’s program last year after beginning his college career at Texas Tech. Now entering his second season in the Maroon and White, Jackson has been encouraged by the new faces that arrived in Starkville for spring practice.

Earlier this week Jackson shared those thoughts with the media:

Q: What are you trying to get accomplished in the last week of spring practice?
Jackson: Still trying to come together as a group, you know, figure each other out. Keep building that chemistry but at the same time, individually working on whatever we need to work on. Is it steps? Is it communication in pass pro? As the spring has went along it’s been great, though. We come together as one. Coach Phil (Loadholt), Coach Tawwater, Coach AJacks (AJ Jackson) have done a great job with us and it’s been pretty good.

Q: What’s it been like working with Blake Shapen this spring?
Jackson: Oh, it’s been great. Giving that experience coming back is always awesome, especially for the quarterback room. He’s a great leader. He’s a great locker room guy, just somebody you actually enjoy being around. So being with Blake has been awesome.

Q: What positions are you working at this spring?
Jackson: I’ve been playing both left and right guard this spring and getting some action there. Everybody has been playing multiple positions. You always need that. You never know what could happen during the season, especially in the SEC. You’re banging a lot and people get hurt. So you always have to be prepared to go in wherever coach needs you.

Q: Your thoughts on the defensive front and some of those newcomers?
Jackson: Man, they have been great. It’s definitely been the definition of iron sharpens iron. The guys they brought in, just like Hunter (Washington) said earlier, we’re bigger, stronger and faster. That’s definitely been the case with the D line. It’s been great, guys like Jamil Burroughs, Jaray Bledsoe, Will Whitson, they’ve all been great, and there’s more guys than that. There’s definitely been some great competition in the trenches this spring.

Q: What guys have stood out to you on your side of the line?
Jackson: Jimothy Lewis, a freak of nature. Luke Work has been great. I’ve enjoyed playing next to Carson Lee and Koby Keenum. A guy I know who has gotten a lot better is Canon Boone. He’s one of the only guys who has been here his whole college career and just seeing Canon grow as a person and football player. He’s come a long way. He’s doing great. So we’ve got a lot of guys who have stepped up.

Q: What does the schedule look like for you guys after spring practice ends this weekend?
Jackson: Honestly, we really haven’t gone over that too much. So I couldn’t even tell you what next week is going to look like. But if I had to take a good guess, it would be open weight room kind of stuff. They want us to come in and get a little pump in, just make sure we’re still here getting our body right and a lot of recovery, if I had to guess.

Q: Where do you feel you’ve made your biggest gains over the past year?
Jackson: I definitely think pass pro. The different techniques Coach Phil has taught us, especially with punching, staying inside-out of the defender. I feel like I’ve made great strides in pass pro. I’m gonna keep working on it, and keep working on my run game too. There’s always room for improvement.

Q: What do you hope to get out of the spring game on Saturday?
Jackson: I just want y’all to see us as a team play together, and us as a whole offensive line be physical. What it says on that wall, effort, physicality and execution. That’s what I want everybody to notice this team doing on Saturday.