Bulldog quarterback Blake Shapen shares thoughts on offensive talent

Initially, Blake Shapen wasn’t planning on being at Mississippi State for the 2025 season. Obviously, things changed when the former Baylor transfer was injured in the Bulldogs’ fourth game of last season and he took a medical redshirt.

Now grateful to be back, Shapen met with the media on Friday following the second day of training camp. He updated the team’s work thus far in camp and shared his thoughts on several positions:

Q: How does it feel to take ownership of this team again?
Shapen: It is a blessing for me to be able come back. Me getting hurt last year in game four of the season was big for me because I got another year. Year two in the system now, I am still learning, still growing. But when you are in year two, you’re actually more experienced and you come prepared already knowing what is going to be gameplan.

Q: Still early but how’s it been with the offensive line?
Shapen: It’s been good. Obviously right now it’s so hot outside, it’s just getting those guys going. But it’s been good. We’ve added some new guys. Brennan Smith at center, he’s been awesome, Zack Owens, guys like that. And then Blake Steen, bringing those guys in has been good. They’re working their tails off right now. But trying to get those guys going every single day.

Q: Chad Bumphis said this may be his favorite group of receivers. Your thoughts on them?
Shapen: This is definitely the most talented room that I’ve been a part of, and I can honestly say that. Last year we were really talented but it’s pretty crazy to think you can grow from last year and have an even better room. And I think we do.

Me and Coach Bump were talking about it the other day, talking about just how good it is to be around those guys, like just the personality of them. But also they’re also very talented. We retained a few of them like Jordan Mosley, Ricky Johnson, Frisco Magee, guys like that. Then you’ve got Anthony Evans, Brenen Thompson, we just have depth. And especially in this league you want to be able to plug in guys whenever you need them. So it’s good.

Q: Did you expect new guys like Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans to take a leadership role?
Shapen: Yeah, early on BT showed his presence, his leadership skills, everything about him at a very early stage. And it’s good to have those guys, especially when I have something to say or something, I know Brenen can come in or whoever it may be with a powerful voice, too, and be able to back me up. It’s pretty special to have guys like that in leadership roles.

Q: What kind of receive is Markus Allen?
Shapen: He’s awesome. Strong, physical, fast, I mean all the above. He’s learned the playbook really fast and he’s been fun to watch, too.

Q: How is the running back room and that depth this year?
Shapen: Yeah, it’s awesome. When you’re able to run the football and have depth in that room it’s pretty special. That’s what creates throws on the field, screen game, things like that. That’s the key to our success, be able to run the football first and be able to throw the football down the field. That’s a huge part of what we’re going to do this year.

Q: How would you describe the game of the quarterbacks behind you?
Shapen: I think they’re special. I look at Kamario and Luke and those two guys want to come in and learn every single day. Luke, I think he’s very talented, obviously still learning the playbook. When it’s your first year you’re going to struggles just learning it just like anyone would. But he’s looked very good.

And you look at Kamario, very physical, fast, he can throw the ball a long ways. One of the best that I’ve been around. So very two talented guys and awesome to have in the room. A great group of guys just to be able to go to work with every day.

Q: What’s different about the process of working with a new center?
Shapen: I think today I worked with three different centers. So it’s just rotating and kind of getting a feel for it. But it’s obviously different when you’re rolling each and every drive with a different guy. But it’s been good. hey’re competing every day so that’s good to see and they want to be out here and get better. And you can tell by the way they come out to practice.

Q: What’s the relationship like with you and Jeff Lebby in your second year?
Shapen: It’s been good. Obviously when you know somebody a little bit longer you kind of grow that relationship. And I feel we’ve been able to do that on and off the field. I feel communication, he’s the quarterback coach and the OC so you get to be hand-in-hand with him every day and talk to him about just what we’re going through that day. Being on the same page has been critical and I feel our relationship obviously grows whenever you get to know him longer.

Q: How did the offseason contribute to the quarterbacks throwing the ball better?
Shapen: Yeah, I think for us it was just getting with the receivers and being able to build chemistry with them. That’ what the summer is for, to be able to grow that chemistry and be able to get on the same timing, things like that. I think that’s critical for dayone. Whenever you go out there and put on pads it’s different, it speeds up a little bit. To be able to have timing, that’s a big deal.

Q: What goes into recovering from injury and getting back to how you were?
Shapen: I mean, obviously I didn’t know what that would look like whenever I came back. But I told a lot of people it made me stronger just because of the rehab and the different things that I’ve done off the field, just because I had to. I was doing a lot more shoulder stuff, bands, things like that that I didn’t really do previously. So weirdly I came back even stronger. So it’s a blessing, too.

Q: What does that rehab look like on a daily basis?
Shapen: I’ve got to go get in the cold tub. There’s a lot of things I have to do. I’ll have a routine, especially on days I don’t practice is a good day to go in there and do stuff like that, because you’re not throwing the football that day. So fall camp is a little different because you’re practicing every single day. I mean, these are hard practices, so you don’t want to over-do it. But it’s finding off time to do it then.