Canon Boone pushing to finish strong in Mississippi State career

It’s becoming increasingly tougher to find the players like Canon Boone in college sports.

Boone has been with Mississippi State for five seasons, he’s played in 16 games and he has yet to crack the starting lineup. Even with playing time being a scarcity in his first couple of seasons and more competition being brought in at his position, he hasn’t hit the transfer portal and he hasn’t lost faith.

Now that Boone hits his senior season in Starkville, he’s right in the mix at multiple positions. With a chance to play either center or guard, Boone is working to do whatever is needed to get on the field and stay there.

“Bringing in a bunch of new guys every six months or so, it’s trying to get to know the guys and get comfortable playing with them. Just trying to get comfortable with them in the playbook and getting them ready to play too,” Boone said.

“There’s a lot of competition going on with those two positions with a lot of different guys. I’m obviously comfortable with both but I’m trying to be as good as I can at both to be wherever I’m needed. It gives you more of a chance to be on the field.”

Last season’s injury giving Boone incentive for strong finish

After playing in just one game his first two seasons on campus, the Texas native got a chance to get some playing time in eight games as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. Last season saw Boone break into the rotation and he was pushing for reps at left and right guard while also getting time at center.

Boone went down with a season-ending injury against Arkansas and started a rehab process that would linger into the spring. A relentless pursuit to get back in the mix this year has the fifth-year senior firmly in position to play three different spots, but he has really emerged at the center position.

Along with Boone at center are two transfers in Koby Keenum from Kentucky and Brennan Smith from UTEP. While the competition has been fierce between the trio of players, they have built a bond and helped each other along this training camp.

“Koby has improved tremendously. I felt like he had a great summer coming in here and working every day to get stronger and faster to compete with me and Brennan in the fall,” Boone said. “I didn’t know Brennan in the spring, but he adds a lot to the group too and a lot of experience where he came from. He’s coming in here to compete too, so he brings a lot to the team.”

Just as iron sharpens iron in positional competition, the battles that Boone is having in the trenches with the men across from him works, too.

State had a major problem last season in the form of the defensive line. Coach Jeff Lebby and the defensive staff set out to change that in the offseason and the Bulldogs feel they got deeper and more talented at every position up front. So far, Boone can tell.

“Huge improvement – all across the board,” Boone said. “We’re bringing back a lot of the guys that helped us last year like (Kedrick Bingley-Jones) and getting (Kalvin Dinkins) back is a big deal. Adding guys like Jaray (Bledsoe) and Jamil Burroughs make be better going against them every day, trying to get me at my best so we can get ready to go kick it off.”

With two weeks left until game one at Southern Miss, the work doesn’t stop for Boone and his teammates.

There are no guarantees for anyone on the offensive line as position battles continue and Boone knows that as well as any. Every day at practice is a challenge to himself to lock down a starting position and take hold of it. It’s a chance for him to show everyone just how hard work and trusting the process pays off.

“It’s about taking advantage of every rep that you get, every time you’re out on the field, whatever group you’re in,” Boone said of the competition. “Doing the best that you can, every chance you get. Also, when you’re off the field, it’s taking mental reps and seeing what those guys are doing. If they do something wrong, go out there and correct them, helping them out. At the end of the day, we’re a team and we’re pulling the rope the same way.”