Assistant coach Matt Holecek 'super-excited' about Mississippi State's quarterback room

Mississippi State entered training camp with a very talented quarterbacks’ room. But that talented room is also short on experience. Yes, senior veteran Blake Shapen is back in the fold but the top backups are sophomore Luke Kromenhoek, a former Florida State transfer, and true freshman KaMario Taylor.

On Tuesday and before camp started, quarterbacks coach Matt Holecek met with the media to discuss his group and share his thoughts on the Bulldog signal-callers:

Q: How excited are you about your group as a whole?
Holecek: I think those guys are really talented players. We’re super excited about what the room is going to do this year. Obviously with Blake returning, that’s huge for us, second year in the system. And you add two really talented guys in Luke, who we had recruited a little bit before and really enjoyed getting to work with him through the spring and summer. And KaMario who obviously we had recruited for a long time. We’re super excited to have both those guys in the room.

Q: What have you seen from Blake Shapen since returning from injury?
Holecek: In general, there’s a confidence in knowing what to expect in the offseason. Knowing what spring ball is going to look like. Knowing what the coaches are looking for in a certain route combination or in some sort of technique or whatever it is where he’s not only able to communicate with us more confidently and clearly. But then he’s able to communicate with the left tackle or the receiver or whoever it is. Just the communication.

And then the leadership perspective. Part of being a great leader is being a great player and for him continuing to grow in confidence and know exactly what to expect every day and exactly how to go operate. He’s been in college a long time, an old guy now. The guys joke with him and call him ‘Unc’. I’m excited about where he’s going and the season he’s about to have.

Q: How has Blake been as a mentor to the two younger guys?
Holecek: He can help prepare them from a player’s perspective of what every day is going to look like, what the expectations are going to be if he can lead by example and by his words with those guys.

Q: Blake mentioned last week said he didn’t take strength conditioning serious until he was injured. Do you see that from him?
Holecek: Yeah, I think the urgency to play a full season and stay healthy. He got something taken away from him last year and we’re all fortunate that we get him back for a sixth year.

The strength and conditioning part of it, all that is a way to help him maintain. Stay up in the pocket, but also withstand this conference. Because the reality is every single week you’re going to be playing against great people up front and guys. He’s got to protect himself against that. So he’s put on good weight and gotten stronger. He’s in the best shape of his life and I think it shows in how he interacts not only in the weight room but also out on the field.

Q: Have you seen a difference in the way the ball comes out of Blake’s hand?
Holecek: Yes but I would say there is a strength component in that. There’s also a lot of technique and God-given ability in that part of it. But he spins it at an elite level and I’m excited about it for that reason.

Q: Do you know who the backup is right now?
Holecek: That’s not for me to comment on. I’ll defer to Coach Leb (Jeff Lebby) on any of those kind of questions.

Q: Coach Lebby said they talked to Blake about his style and staying healthy this year. Have you had any of those conversations with him?
Holecek: Yeah, I think the conversation is about when you have a moment to choose. There are times you don’t have a moment to choose between what’s more valuable, a yard or taking a hit. There are definitely moments where he’s got to make the decision to get down or get out of bounds or whatever that looks like. That conversation is constant. The beauty of the immediate practice is he doesn’t get hit but it does set us up to have that conversation day-in and day-out any time he’s in those positions where there is a chance he would get hit on this play. Well, let’s talk through it, what is going to trigger you to make that decision?

Q: Can you see a difference in KaMario Taylor from now to when he came in back in January?
Holecek: Yeah, I think he came in like maybe 200 pounds, 195 pounds. He’s 225 every day right now. Physically you can definitely see a difference. And he came in as a 17 year old kid so there’s obviously a maturation process his first year in college, his first time being away from home. He’s done a great job of handling all that and he’s done a great job of spending time in the building trying to get as good as he can, as fast as he can.

There’s always urgency. But him, his first time through it, he’s done a great job of preparing the right way and trying to take everything that we’re giving him, which is a ton at his position and more stress on them than anybody. So for him how good can he get, how prepared can he be as quickly as he can.

Q: What does Luke Kromennhoek bring to the offense?
Holecek: Luke is a big, strong kid that can really throw it. An intelligent player, moves well in the pocket. A guy that his teammates really like and trust, and I think he’s got a bunch of great skills.