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Mississippi State

100-Day Bulldog Countdown: 77 Days, No. 77 OT Jayvin James

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk06/14/25RobbieFaulkOn3
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Caden Curry (92) fights through the block of Akron Zips offensive lineman Jayvin James (77) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.

Year two of the Jeff Lebby era has arrived and the Mississippi State coach is back to work.

After a disappointing first season, the coach and his staff are doing what they can to get things back on track in Starkville. The players on the field will be the difference for State this season if they are to make a return and we’re going to discuss every single one of them over the course of the next few months.

As we do every year, we’re counting down 100 days until State’s first game at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on August 30. Over this period of time, we’ll breakdown every scholarship player on the roster, look back at great moments in MSU history and even talk about legends that have come before the current Bulldogs.

Today, we look at a transfer portal lineman that could develop into a good piece.

77 Days: No. 77, Sophomore OT Jayvin James    

Bulldog offensive line coach Phil Loadholt came to town in January and the coach did not like what he saw up front.

In the spring transfer portal, Loadholt went to work trying to find some quality players to provide a push up front and, at the least, some solid depth. James was one of the final pieces that Loadholt would add from the portal as the Florida native has made quite the journey in the last two years.

A former standout at Blanche Ely, James would start his career with former State coach Joe Moorhead and Akron. In year one, James redshirted after playing in three games with the Zips, but he earned a starting spot on the team as a redshirt freshman last season.

James started in nine of the 12 games that he played with Akron and finished the season looking for another opportunity. After entering the transfer portal following his redshirt freshman year, James would land at Maryland and go through the spring with the Terrapins.

It didn’t take long for James to want to pursue another opportunity as he entered the portal for the second time in just a few months. He decided to get back to the south as he committed to State.

It’s unlikely that James factors much into State’s plans this season, but it could be a really good development year for him. At 6’5, 320 pounds, James has good size and ability to work with and Loadholt will have a chance to develop him over the next few months. We’ll see where things go.  

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