Jeff Lebby talks middle of spring work and first scrimmage for Bulldogs

Mississippi State is in week three of spring practices and the Bulldogs are making progress.

Jeff Lebby’s second Bulldog team has a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball and those players donned full pads for the first time last week. That led to the spring’s first scrimmage and has provided plenty of competition across the board.

The coach spoke to the media for the second time this spring after Tuesday’s practices. He discussed that first scrimmage, the wide receiver and offensive line group, Stonka Burnside and much more.

Question: What has been your impressions of the team since being able to make full contact?

JL: “Since we’ve put pads on, there’s been a bunch of back and forth. Defensively, we’ve shown some signs of real physicality and being able to situationally play better all the way around which has been really good to see. We’ve got so many new guys that we’re getting a ton of reps and a ton of film to watch so that part has been really good.”

Q: What stood out about the first scrimmage?

JL: “Definsively we started the scrimmage really well and then had some great moments situationally that I thought was really good for us to be able to build on. We were able to roll multiple guys on the defensive line and get a bunch of reps. There and inside backer has been really good for us. We made some explosive plays offensively, but we’ve got to find ways to be better on 1^st and 10 and stay ahead. That will continue to be a big stress and strain for the offense moving forward.”

Q: Understand that it was the longest day as far as play count that y’all have had in scrimmages. What does that say about your depth this year?

JL: “Total snaps we were right at 160. Last year we were never at more than 120. Having extra snaps because of body, I talked about that all last season. Being able to practice the way we need to. Right now, we’ve done a good job of practicing the right way and we have to continue that because we have to get a lot of reps and a lot of work.”

Q: What has been your thoughts on the wide receiver group so far?

JL: “I’m proud of that group right now. It’s a group that is incredibly unselfish. They’re all about the unit and that has been really good for us to see. Of course, great familiarity with Brenen (Thompson) being able to have him before and he’s really year three instead of year one so that’s been awesome for everybody in the room. He’s got such great knowledge of the offense and so many answers to the test.

“(Anthony Evans) has had a real good last four days of practice. (Jordan Mosley) has continued to get better and we have to get him healthy and rolling. Ricky Johnson has done a great job and we’re looking for huge things out of him as he continues to make his strides. Ayden (Williams) has done well.

“We’ve got a really strong group there but I think we’re going to be able to roll guys and play with some depth. What I really like about them the most is they’ve been about the right stuff. They’ve been team first and that’s important.”

Q: What has stood out about Stonka Burnside so far in his move to safety?

JL: “He’s done a really good job. What I love is he’s having fun doing it. That’s the exciting part to me because his ceiling – he doesn’t have one. For him to be able to be both feet in and excited as he can be to play safety and play defense, he’s ate up with it. Every rep he gets he gets a little bit better and he’ll need to continue to operate that way.”

Q: Talk about the safety room with him added to it.

JL: “Being able to move Stonka over has been really good. (Brylan Lanier) being back there instead of at corner has been really good. Obviously, with Hunter (Washington) back it’s been great. We’ve seen some really good growth from young guys which we’re excited about. We need great depth in that room and something last year we did not have. We’ve got to be able to play more than two guys and we’re building that as we speak right now. That’s why getting all these practice reps is so meaningful for us.”

Q: How much of Davon Booth’s late start last year have to do with the fact that he didn’t have spring practice and what has having spring practice done for him this year?

JL: “I think that’s a big part of it. We got him in here so late, he was really just hitting his stride. I remember talking about it halfway through the season that man I wish we had this guy another year and now we do. He’s worked incredibly hard and he’s trying to elevate and get better. He’s done a great job in that room trying to lead so we’re looking for big things from Von.”

Q: You had talked about trying to get more offensive linemen in the transfer portal this spring. What have you thought about the job that group has done?

JL: “I think we’re playing with great toughness and great physicality (but) we’re not playing very clean right now. 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.”

Q: What do you make of the defensive line so far?

JL: “We’ve got enough bodies to be able to practice like we need to and roll guys. We got through the first scrimmage and there’s this line where we have the ability to go play two and a half to three deep at each position. Those guys that are on the line of the cutoff, they’re going to play above the line. We’ve got to get those guys ready to go play and have an impact to where we can roll nine to 10 guys and do what we want to do on the defensive line.”

Q: Tight end Emeka Iloh looks really good physically. Where would you say he is right now?

JL: “He didn’t play at all last year and has played very little tight end so the learning curve for him is probably greater than it is for a lot. Since he’s gotten in here, Emeka has worked to try and improve every single day. I like who he is. He has a long way to go to be where we need him to be.”

Q: What did you think of Ethan Pulliam’s decision to be full time with football?

JL: “Incredibly supportive of Ethan. I love the fact he was playing baseball. I’m fired up about having him. I don’t necessarily love how it worked out being in the middle of things and obviously supporting our baseball team like crazy. I want Ethan to have the ability to be as special of a punter as he can possibly be. With him being full time now, he’s an incredibly talented guy that has a chance to be really good for us and I hope we don’t use him much.”

Q: Zakari Tillman was one of your most explosive players on defense last year. What steps does he need to take for you to see that all the time?

JL: “There’s been growth in Kari because of how he’s living inside and outside the building. He’s a guy that is incredibly bought in right now. He’s a guy that has the opportunity to be a really good player. He has a chance to make those strides and create consistency inside the building. He’s doing that right now. Excited about where he’s at but excited to see where he’s going with continued reps and work.”