Media Days Buzz: Jeff Lebby high on transfer-heavy roster in Starkville

SEC Media Days took place this week in Atlanta and Gators Online is diving into what each 2025 Florida Gators opponent had to say. Wednesday, Mississippi State, whom UF faces at home Oct. 18, was among the teams to get its shot with the media. The Bulldogs were 2-10 in 2024, and did not win a conference game. What is the vibe in Starkville, Miss., going into Year 2 of the Jeff Lebby era?

Jeff Lebby loves his QB room in Starkville

MISSISSIPPI STATE COACH JEFF LEBBY ON HIS QB DEPTH: “We have a room right now that’s got great
depth to it. Obviously the addition of Luke [Kromenhoek] coming over from Florida State playing as a true freshman last year, having to live some things, a kid that is incredibly talented, top 75 player in America coming out, just a year removed from that. Excited about him. A big athletic kid that can do a lot of things. He provides great depth.

The signing of Kamario Taylor for us, the highest ranked QB to be signed at Mississippi State. A young man that has an incredible amount of potential. We have a room right now that has layers to it, which I’m
very excited about. Again, Blake [Shapen] has done an incredible job leading that group. Those guys understand, man, the expectation of how we have to work at that position inside our program.”

CONTEXT: Shapen is the Bulldogs’ starting QB. He sustained a season-ending shoulder injury last year in Week 4, later revealed to be a fractured scapula. Shapen received a medical hardship waiver to return for the 2025 season as a redshirt senior. He completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 974 yards, 8 touchdowns and 1 interception in 2024, his first season in Starkville after transferring from Baylor.

The Bulldogs have a ton of new faces in 2025

JEFF LEBBY ON HIS TEAM’S ROSTER TURNOVER: “I couldn’t be more excited to get on the grass with our current roster and our football team.

You think about the transformation. 80% of our players on our roster right now, they’re guys that are in their first or second year of being inside the program. You think about 16 new players since January 1, 43 midyears, then having the ability to sign five O-linemen, a couple of tight ends, a couple others on the defensive side of the ball in the spring portal.

I look back and think about where we are today. I think about how we’ve created some momentum inside of our building by signing a really good high school class, by signing a really good portal class, addressing the needs that we had to address to change the outcome this fall. That’s all we’ve talked about, is our plan and our process to change the outcome. I think about all the new guys that are part of our football team and part of our roster. The thing that excites me the most is their consistency, their buy-in.”

CONTEXT: The Bulldogs not only signed 27 players in the 2025 recruiting class but they added 32 more via the transfer portal.

Jeff Lebby knows his defensive line must improve

JEFF LEBBY ON THE BULLDOGS’ DEFENSIVE LINE: “That was a huge point of emphasis for us.
Again, we’ve talked a ton about roster and the change and the turnover. But inside t he defensive line room and at the defensive end position, 10 new bodies since January 1have come in. And that room has added great depth, but I think we’ve added some real play-making ability.

We’ve talked a ton as a group and a staff and a unit in creating negative plays, creating sacks, finding ways to create turnovers will be a huge part of our success this fall. Those are things that you can go measure every single day.

Having the ability to change the D-line was huge. Again, we’re nowhere close to where we need to be. We got a ton of work to do. From a body standpoint, we’re in a much better position.”

CONTEXT: The Bulldogs were last in the SEC in 2024 in total defense (456.42 yards a game) and scoring defense (34.08) by wide margins in both categories. In the SEC, everything starts on the line of scrimmage so great improvement is needed on the defensive line in Starkville. All three starters on the defensive line potentially will be transfers. One top new addition is Will Whitson, a transfer from Coastal Carolina.

The MSU running game needs more production

BULLDOGS QB BLAKE SHAPEN ON HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE OFFENSE IN LEBBY’S SECOND YEAR: “For us we want to be very explosive, but at the same time we want to be able to run the football. That’s where it starts, is running the football so it can open up avenues for us in the pass game.

I feel like at times last year we struggled with that, so I feel like running the football is where it starts, to be able to open up the touch game and screens and explosive plays down the field with the play-action game. So running the football is going to be huge and making plays down the field.”

CONTEXT: The Bulldogs averaged 377.17 yards per game (13th in the SEC) and 25.83 points a game in 2024. The aforementioned loss of Shapen to injury certainly did not help. But Mississippi State’s 1,655 total rushing yards (137.9) was among the worst totals in the league.

BULLDOGS WR BRENEN THOMPSON ON WHY HE CHOSE MISSISSIPPI STATE AS A TRANSFER: “It was the history I had with Coach Lebby. He knew what he was getting and what I was expecting. And then ultimately Starkville. I’m from Spearman Texas, 3,000 people in the town. So Starkville is very much like
home to me, very.”

CONTEXT: Thompson started 10 games for Oklahoma in 2024. He recorded 19 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns. But in Mississippi State’s pass-heavy offense, many expect his numbers to rise a great deal this year. He is one of approximately 10 transfers projected to start for the Bulldogs.