Bulldog offensive line continuing to progress ahead of season opener

Just over two weeks before the start of the season, things are starting to come into focus for Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs are breaking in a new head coach in Jeff Lebby, but his offense is also going to be made up of almost entirely new faces. The spot with quite possibly the most newness will be the blockers up front in the offensive line.

Lebby will be starting at least four new players up front next Saturday and a fifth, junior Albert Reese, only started in two games a season ago. Despite that, the former lineman Lebby has been impressed with the unit this training camp.

“We’ve got guys in that room that are doing a really good job of getting better every day and being intentional when they’re in the building,” Lebby said. “We’re moving some guys around to make sure we have the best eight or nine with position flexibility as we get into it. I think we’re finding the right ones. I’m proud of that group. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a long way to go, but that group is in a good spot.”

Reese leading new faces up front

Reese quickly became one of the unit’s biggest leaders in the offseason. The big Canadian was one of three team representatives in Dallas for SEC Media Days in July and he’s been sharpied in as a starter since the spring.

While he can play either guard spots as well, Reese appears destined to be the Bulldogs right tackle in game one according to sources. He’s also worked at left tackle and at the guard spots at times as coach Cody Kennedy tries to have his guys prepared for any and everything.

Makylan Pounders looks to be the favorite at left tackle with Texas Tech transfer Jacoby Jackson at left guard, North Texas transfer Ethan Miner at center and Marlon Martinez at right guard.

All five guys are playing together for the first time this season, but the comradery hit a high point this summer. With relationships intact the biggest thing now has been being on the same page before the snap and ready for the high pace that Lebby will run his offense.

“It’s coming along well,” Reese said of being disciplined up front. “That’s very important. You can’t be shooting yourself in the foot with things that happen pre-snap. That should be clean all the way through. We’ve definitely come a long way.

“The tempo was hard at the beginning, not just because it was hot but because I don’t think any of us have gone through a lot of tempo from wherever we came from.”  

Kennedy has helped his group stay locked in as a cohesive unit through camp. The former Arkansas line coach has been in this league before and knows the challenges ahead. On top of that, he knows what this offense demands, having coached in it before.

Reese himself has picked up something nearly every day from his coach.

“He’ll get on you, (but) it’s inspiring that he makes sure you’re on your ‘A’ game at all times,” Reese said of playing for Kennedy. “He’ll flush any mistakes and even flush good things that you did. He wants to just keep rolling.”

Young pups standing out on the practice field

Along with the projected starters, Lebby wants to have a strong two-deep of players. The depth chart hasn’t been set yet, but Reese has seen competition rise among the group as camp has progressed.

Among some of the younger players standing out, Reese has been most impressed with true freshmen Luke Work and Jimothy Lewis and said both could factor into State’s plans this year. Others, like those on the scout team, are going to play their part as well.

“They see it as an opportunity to elevate their role on the team. If you have a scout guy that is doing well against the starters, they can earn a ticket on the bus,” Reese said. “Whenever they get tired, you can tell them that this will help the team. We just go over the toughness and building each other up.”

Training camp has now completed and the Bulldogs are officially preparing for the opening game of the season.

Moving from the dog days of summer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel has made for some more excited players around the building. The offensive line is at the top of the list as they’re ready to put all of the preparation into action.

“We’re excited to gameplan against new opponents instead of each other,” Reese said. “I can’t wait (for game one). It’s unreal every time you go out there. Having 60,000 cowbells is exciting and playing for great fans means a lot.”