Jacoby Jackson helping lead new faces on Bulldog offensive line

An offense is only as good as its offensive line and that’s the unit that Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby is working to improve ahead of fall training camp.

The Bulldogs are bringing back three starters from last year’s offensive line and a few more that played meaningful reps a season ago. However, Lebby brought in a new line coach in Phil Loadholt from Colorado to try and restructure the group and have them playing with more poise and physicality for SEC standards.

With the new voice in the room along with several new faces that have entered the mix, Lebby is seeing a transition period this spring. He’s also looked out on the field and seen a group that is going to need some help from the transfer portal in the next few weeks.

“I think we’re playing with great toughness and great physicality (but) we’re not playing very clean right now,” Lebby said. “Our effort, mindset and mentality has been much improved and need that to continue throughout the spring. We’ve got to play cleaner, and we’ll look to add that group in the spring.”

A player that is one of the leaders on and off the field is Jacoby Jackson. The Texas Tech transfer enters year two of his tenure in Starkville and is looking to close out his career in a big way with the Bulldogs in 2025.

Jackson started in 11 of the 12 games last year at left guard and brings needed experience to the line. He also has the mindset that Lebby is looking for out of his group and spent the entire offseason preparing himself mentally and physically for this year.

“This being my last season, I took a huge responsibility. I wanted to change my body, get stronger and get faster,” Jackson said. “Just doing a lot of things in the weight room and really trusting our strength staff who did a great job with us this winter. I’m feeling a lot better.”

Despite being in year five in a Power 4 program, Jackson has not stopped learning. Loadholt has added another level to his process as a player, too.

Jackson spent last season working with Cody Kennedy and enjoyed his one year with the former State assistant. But Loadholt’s experience in college football and then the NFL has been something that has caught Jackson’s attention. In just a few weeks, he’s already learned plenty more to add to his arsenal as a blocker.

“This is my first time ever being coached by somebody that played at the highest level, and for a long time at that,” Jackson said of Loadholt. “Different insights and different techniques he’s teaching us, a lot of the stuff I’ve never heard of but it’s already translating. It’s helping me out a lot and I’m taking this opportunity very seriously working with him.”

Jackson, experienced Bulldogs key in leading newcomers

Loadholt isn’t the only new face in the room. State added four players from the transfer portal, two from junior college and one from high school this spring.

Adding those players to the mix with what’s returning has made for an interesting dynamic. The new faces have impressed the veteran.

“Koby Keenum has been great. Carson Lee, Trevor Mayberry, Jesse (Ramil). We have a lot of older guys that have been great for us so far that are already stepping into some leadership roles for us.

“Spencer Dowland is going to be a great player. He comes in every day and works. Saquon (Miles) and (Jakheem Shumpert) are JUCO guys that were highly ranked and they have tons of potential. If they just trust in the process and take in everything that coach Phil is teaching us, they’re going to be great.”

With the seven new players in the group comes some time to mesh as a unit. It took last year’s offensive line most of the year to do it, but this year’s group will need to speed that process up with better results at the forefront of their minds.

Jackson is one of the players that will be tasked with bringing that group along and they’ve already started the bonding process. The next few months will be critical in that regard but the Texas native believes they can get it done.

“It’s a bit of a process with the offensive line because there can be different rotations. Guys are still new – we’ve only known each other for a few months,” Jackson said. “Getting to know each other outside of the building translates to doing stuff on the field. It’s a bit of a process, but this group has been doing a pretty good job of getting to know each other and learning how we all play together.”