100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 66 Days - No. 66, OT Makylan Pounders
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we look at another transfer lineman set to make an impact for Cody Kennedy.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 66 Days – No. 66, Jr. OT Makylan Pounders
In the last couple of weeks, there have been several countdown stories referencing new transfer linemen that are set to do big things for the Bulldogs in 2024. Recruiting the portal to refurbish State’s offensive front was one of the highest priorities for Lebby and Kennedy, and Pounders was one of the most important gets for the Bulldogs this season.
After losing a starting left tackle, State chose to go after another starter instead of having Percy Lewis step into that role. Lewis was being primed to be a guard for the Bulldogs next season, but he would transfer to Auburn after the Bulldogs landed Pounders out of the portal. Pounders is one of the players to watch for that position now heading into the fall.
It was a long time coming for Pounders to end up a Bulldog. He had a complicated journey to get to Starkville but he ultimately lands where he wanted to be several years ago.
It all began for Pounders at Byhalia where he was a Class 3A All-State member and a selection to the Clarion Ledger’s Dandy Dozen in 2020. Leach first got a commitment from Pounders during the spring of 2020 and he held that commitment through most of the season before he decommitted just before signing day and flipped to rival Ole Miss.
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Within days of that commitment, Lane Kiffin and the Rebels would drop Pounders and he would be out of a home. Memphis would ultimately be his landing spot a week after making his decision to leave State’s class.
Pounders made the most of his situation. After redshirting his first year following three appearances in 2021, Pounders would play in seven games and start in two as a redshirt freshman. Last season, Pounders started in 10 games and he helped the Tiger offense become top 20 nationally in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense.
As the Tiger left tackle, Pounders allowed just one sack in over 400 snaps on the season. His big year had entering the transfer portal and immediately becoming a hot commodity among teams around the country.
Ole Miss, Auburn, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and many others came after Pounders, but one offer stood above the rest for him. When State offered Pounders, he was sold on coming home and the Bulldogs landed the No. 2 tackle in the portal.
Pounders slowly got worked in on the line during the spring, but the cream ultimately rose to the top and he was starting at left tackle by the end of the period. He is the front runner to lock that spot down this fall and should provide some really good production for State up front.
