Zakari Tillman ready for major step in 2025

Players like Zakari Tillman have helped build Mississippi State football over the years.

Dan Mullen made a successful tenure in Starkville finding instate players that fell under the radar and he developed them into stars. Tillman is a player that could do the same for head coach Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler.

For the last few seasons, Tillman has been developing more and more every year, and the flashes have been there. Now, Tillman is stepping into the leadership position where he was meant to be.

“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,” Lebby said. “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.”

Tillman showed signs in high school at Florence, but not everyone had him on their radar back in the 2023 class. Indiana was State’s only competition in the Power 4 as he picked up offers from Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane and others in the Group of 5. State felt they had a diamond.

The Mississippi native was good enough to earn playing time mostly on special teams as a freshman and he played in 11 games with five tackles. Last year, he started to get into the mix at linebacker and would play 12 games with 30 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, block and interception.

In those seasons, however, State came away with a losing record. This offseason has been about getting that taste out of their mouths.

“It’s a lot more competitive. The intensity is amped up and everybody is coming ready to work,” Tillman said of the offseason. “The coaches are on us hard about making everything looking different this year. They harp on us everyday that we can’t go 2-10 again, so everybody comes ready to work.”

Tillman one of few to have pass rushing success in 2024

While Tillman’s production wasn’t where he wants it to be, it was still as good if not better than most on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs had one of their worst defensive seasons in modern history because they struggled to get to the quarterback.

Tillman’s 3.5 sacks were the most on the entire team as State was far and away the SEC’s worst team at applying pressure. A lot of that looks to improve in 2025 with Hutzler’s defense gaining depth, pass rush and size from the transfer portal and junior college.

“It’s amazing knowing that we’ve got a good group of guys that will go get the quarterback,” Tillman said. “The way that the coaches explain it is pass rush works with coverage and that plays a major role in the defense and I’m very excited for the guys that just came in. We’ve got some dogs up front.”

As a junior, Tillman knows that his time is running out to really make an impression for the next level. With that comes the pressure to lead a defense that has been desperate for voices over the last two years.

It’s why a switch has flipped for the talented linebacker this season. He knows that his time is now and that his team needs him to take that next step. With players like Isaac Smith and Tillman leading the way, the Bulldogs are clawing their way back.

“Everything for me has been a mental thing. I’m just building a strong mindset for myself. Coming ready to work every day and finding something new that I need to work on. Reflecting off of what I did last year and figuring out how I can be better this year,” Tillman said.

“I feel like the coaches are looking at me now as a leader and I have to step up every day. Me and (Smith) are taking the leadership role being some of the top guys on the defense. Coach trusts us to take that upon ourselves.”