OL additions

Howiefeltersnstch

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2019
2,304
2,932
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Im seeing that DJ Chester and Isaiah Autry Dent are in the boat. Chester has played a good bit at LSU. We may keep chipping away at this until we have a decent line. I was hoping for older guys but if you can put a young group out there maybe they can all play together for the next 3 years. Like continuity.
 

HailStout

Heisman
Jan 4, 2020
4,877
13,773
113
Im seeing that DJ Chester and Isaiah Autry Dent are in the boat. Chester has played a good bit at LSU. We may keep chipping away at this until we have a decent line. I was hoping for older guys but if you can put a young group out there maybe they can all play together for the next 3 years. Like continuity.
If our o-line isn’t better this year our head coach Is toast and we will have a mass exodus of the players we have, including O-line.
 
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bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,281
1,823
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Im seeing that DJ Chester and Isaiah Autry Dent are in the boat. Chester has played a good bit at LSU. We may keep chipping away at this until we have a decent line. I was hoping for older guys but if you can put a young group out there maybe they can all play together for the next 3 years. Like continuity.
Autry-Dent appeared in just one game against Maine in 2024 while redshirting and then didn't see the field at all this season as a backup.

Chester struggled at center in 2024 as a freshman and that regression carried over this season, as he barely saw the field in a meaningful way, appearing in 6-7 games as a backup.

We’re probably way overspending for both. Lebby’s Tempo-Tax.
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,099
10,086
113
If our o-line isn’t better this year our head coach Is toast and we will have a mass exodus of the players we have, including O-line.

I was scrolling down to say the exact same thing. Lefty doesn't get "3 more years" to "develop" this team. He may not even get another full season if he soils the bed early
 
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golferdog

Senior
Jan 1, 2024
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I was scrolling down to say the exact same thing. Lefty doesn't get "3 more years" to "develop" this team. He may not even get another full season if he soils the bed early
Agree, we want to win next year, not in 2027, please get 1-2 legit OL starters for next year, not a bunch of projects. At least 1-2 experienced guys. We cannot go into next year with a bunch of unproven OL.
 

bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,281
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Struggled at center as a freshman. How many linemen wouldn't ? Freshman ? He has played every position filling in for injuries including left tackle. I'm sure he will be fine
I understand your point. After struggling at center, the staff tried moving him to LT to address line needs/injuries, but it didn’t yield success. Thus, he became rotational, filling in very sparingly at a few positions as a backup rather than a fixture. My point is regression and limited quality experience. The Tempo Tax of Lebby’s system is not attractive to veteran experienced linemen. Unless we way overspend for them. Even then they still say no thanks. Even our own young guys that gained experienced are saying bye-bye. Lebbys Tempo Tax will only be able to over pay for young, inexperienced, or not that good linemen- every year. It’s not Loadholt’s problem or issue, it’s the fundamental nature of Lebby’s scheme and system.
 

bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,281
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Germans
👇🏻
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
55,854
24,802
113
I like getting OL that have a few years to play so we can in theory develop them. But Lebby doesn't have time for that so I hope these guys are ready to play this year.
This is exactly what we should NOT be doing. There's no such thing as developing and keeping players any more. Use the portal for players who can play NOW, cause they're probably going right back in the portal next year.
 

Maroon13

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2022
3,497
3,594
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Autry-Dent appeared in just one game against Maine in 2024 while redshirting and then didn't see the field at all this season as a backup.

Chester struggled at center in 2024 as a freshman and that regression carried over this season, as he barely saw the field in a meaningful way, appearing in 6-7 games as a backup.

We’re probably way overspending for both. Lebby’s Tempo-Tax.
I agree with your thoughts on tempo and OL play. But if we over pay, you can very easily argue it's a play for Miss State tax.

Also just because someone sat the bench at lsu or OU, means nothing to me. He can be very good and was behind older better players at those schools.
 

TrueMaroonGrind

All-Conference
Jan 6, 2017
3,952
1,412
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Isn’t Steen is back next year too? He wasn’t amazing in his playing time last year but it was honestly too short of a time to know if he was good or not. Not saying he is the silver bullet but he’s an option.

It would be nice to get a for sure starter to help stabilize things. Just one known starter would make me feel better.
 
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Howiefeltersnstch

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2019
2,304
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Isn’t Steen is back next year too? He wasn’t amazing in his playing time last year but it was honestly too short of a time to know if he was good or not. Not saying he is the silver bullet but he’s an option.

It would be nice to get a for sure starter to help stabilize things. Just one known starter would make me feel better.
Steen, Jayvin James and Zac Owens are back. Dowland and Turnage are 2 huge freshmen that are returning. Plus these additions. If Loadholt can coach he should be able to find 8 guys that can play
 
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Nov 16, 2005
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This is exactly what we should NOT be doing. There's no such thing as developing and keeping players any more. Use the portal for players who can play NOW, cause they're probably going right back in the portal next year.
Have you looked at what’s out there in the portal for linemen? It’s by far the hardest to get in the portal.
 

Howiefeltersnstch

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2019
2,304
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I hope we get Tyler Miller to sign. I will be fairly satisfied with this portal haul. Chester should be about 22 years old for you guys wanting older dudes. And I agree completely that you just aren't gonna get a 2 year starter from Texas out if the portal. If one was in there he would not be coming here. That's just a fact.
 

Ranchdawg

All-Conference
Dec 13, 2012
4,329
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Have you looked at what’s out there in the portal for linemen? It’s by far the hardest to get in the portal.
I would rather pony up the money for OTs than other skills positions. The "rundabawl crowd" needs to see some success so they will shut up.
 

paindonthurt

All-Conference
Apr 7, 2025
3,361
2,486
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Maybe we should have worked harder to keep the ones we had then.
As i stated before and you ignored "FALSE!!!"

Would you rather have something you know won't work or take a chance on something that might? Me? I'm not insane so i'm gonna try something different.
 
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bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,281
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Chester was freshman all sec in 2024. He played out of position out of necessity this year.
He lost his job from 2024 and then backed up a couple of positions this year, with not playing significantly in 6-7 games this year. I’m not saying there isn’t potential, but you’re making it sound like he switched positions to help his team out. He switched positions and became a backup because he struggled and others took his spot.
 

o_Hot Rock

Senior
Jan 2, 2010
1,750
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3 years of eligibility should read 3 years to transfer 3 times. Eligibility is meaningless.
That sounds like you think we should quit.. Nope, State is getting as much talent as they can get and intend on raising the funds to keep them.

Lead or get out of the way.
 
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o_Hot Rock

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He lost his job from 2024 and then backed up a couple of positions this year, with not playing significantly in 6-7 games this year. I’m not saying there isn’t potential, but you’re making it sound like he switched positions to help his team out. He switched positions and became a backup because he struggled and others took his spot.
Guy was a TR FR starting in the SEC... I will take it. Sophmore last year and still played a bunch.. Really? Guys don't start or even play that young if they can't play.
 

bulldoghair

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2013
2,281
1,823
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Guy was a TR FR starting in the SEC... I will take it. Sophmore last year and still played a bunch.. Really? Guys don't start or even play that young if they can't play.
Is he better or worse or a wash with what and who we just lost to the portal on the line? And he didn’t play a bunch last year, your making it sound like he was a starter and played in every game or something. Again I’m not saying there isn’t potential, but I am saying he’s a wash at best with a Lewis or a Work. Definitely not a veteran upgrade. Glad to have him though.
 
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paindonthurt

All-Conference
Apr 7, 2025
3,361
2,486
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Lead or get out of the way.
Incorrect.

Lead or get the 17 in line and be a GD good follower.

So many people wanna be the leader but they can't even be a good follower. You CAN'T be a good leader if you CAN'T be a good follower.
 

johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,126
4,635
113
This is exactly what we should NOT be doing. There's no such thing as developing and keeping players any more. Use the portal for players who can play NOW, cause they're probably going right back in the portal next year.
You say that but show me these portal OL that you are going to build a ready OL with. You're not having a lot of proven OL enter the portal and the ones that do are in high demand. If you built your ideal 1st and 2nd team of OL from teh portal, how good would that 2nd team even be?

If we can't develop OL and keep them, then we might as well throw in the towel because we're not going to outbid people for finished products in the portal. Doesn't mean the majority of our starters won't be from the portal every year, but it does mean we better get some guys with multiple years of eligibility and develop them some because unless we just out evaluate everybody else, we're not going to get OL from the portal ready to immediately be quality SEC OL.
 
Oct 27, 2022
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He lost his job from 2024 and then backed up a couple of positions this year, with not playing significantly in 6-7 games this year. I’m not saying there isn’t potential, but you’re making it sound like he switched positions to help his team out. He switched positions and became a backup because he struggled and others took his spot.
He’s definitely potential. I think he’s better than what we had on the interior, but that’s not a lot to brag about.
 
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Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
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As i stated before and you ignored "FALSE!!!"

Would you rather have something you know won't work or take a chance on something that might? Me? I'm not insane so i'm gonna try something different.
Theoretically, players could get better from year to year...