Assistant coach Phil Loadholt beefing up Mississippi State's offensive line

Unlike other positions on Mississippi State’s roster, the offensive line has a new coach this season. Back in January, Phil Loadholt left his post at Colorado to join Jeff Lebby’s staff and replaced last year’s offensive line boss Cody Kennedy.

After arriving in Starkville, Loadholt immediately hit the transfer portal hard and continued that process in the spring portal with five new transfers in the trenches. Last Tuesday, Loadholt, a former NFL standout, met with the local media to discuss his group:

Q: How important was it for you to upgrade the talent in the spring portal?
Loadholt: I definitely wanted to bring some size in. I have an affection for big guys as you can see, I am a big dude. I like big linemen. I was able to upgrade a little bit on the size part of it and happy that we did. We get a chance to see those guys in the fall and excited to see how they can help us coming up here in the fall.

Q: How is the competition at center and who are those candidates?
Loadholt: There’s competition all across the room, first of all. But we got Koby Keenum at center, Canon Boone is working some at center and Brennan Smith at center. There will be 4-5 guys in there that will be working at center trying to figure out the right combination.

Q: According to his teammates, it sounds like Canon Boone had a solid spring. What have you seen from him?
Loadholt: I agree with his teammates. He really did, he had a good winter and spring. He stepped up into a leadership role in the room and was able to play multiple positions inside. He is one of the bigger guys that I like. Then like I said, being able to play multiple positions has helped him to compete in the room. I am excited to see him in the fall.

Q: What are your plans for Albert Reese?
Loadholt: The first plan is to get him healthy. That is my main thing with Albert right now, to get him healthy and see where he can help us out. He does have some good versatility for us. He’s played multiple spots in this league so he is going to help us out in some form or fashion. I am not sure exactly where right now but the main thing is to get him healthy so we can see what he can do for us.

Q: Luke Work and Jimothy Lewis had to play early last year. How much of a step forward cna they take in Year 2?
Loadholt: They already have. You look at the work Jimothy has put in, especially Jimothy and Luke, the work they’ve put in over the winter and spring, just continuing to get better. Showing the natural progression coming from freshmen at this position and being forced to play earlier than maybe you would like to. But the progression they’ve shown has been great. Really looking forward to those guys getting to camp and see how they help us.

Q: What have you brought here from what you learned at Colorado?
Loadholt: I would say that was my first time having that title and having my own room. But I feel like I’ve been that kind of way at other places before that. For me, it was a chance to have full control over the room and see how it goes from there. For me personally, it wasn’t too much of a change. Honestly, it was fun and I had a good year with those guys. I am happy to be here now.

Q: What are you looking for in evaluating the offensive line in camp?
Loadholt: I am trying to find the leadership in the room and that would be one thing. Then also the physicality. Who is going to bring it every day and who can we trust every single day. We need five of them or if we can get, six, seven or eight guys in there. I am not scared to rotate guys up front. I’ve been known to do it in the past and I am looking forward to finding out who those guys are. Basically, Coach has challenged us all to find the leaders in our room. So I am looking forward to getting that done early in camp.

Q: What are your expectations for the group you brought in from the spring portal?
Loadholt: Same thing. Basically just trying to figure out how they are going to help us, where they are going to be able to help us at. Blake (Steen) has played a lot of ball. Obviously, in a different conference but he’s played a lot of snaps and one of the most experienced guys in the group. Then you talk about Zack (Owens) coming in from (Colorado). He hasn’t played a lot but I have familiarity with him from the other place. It’s really about all these guys, just trying to find out who can help us, where they can help us and how fast they can help us. Trying to find the first six, seven or eight guys we can count on. If it’s more than that, great. But we got to at least get to that.

Q: What have you seen from Zack Owens that makes you think he can help?
Loadholt: He has some versatility inside, as well. I think he can play tackle eventually. he knows what he has to do to play tackle for me. But I think he will be able to play tackle at some point. But right now I think he can help us out at either guard spot. His size alone is a plus in this league. He is going to help us out when we are facing some of those bigger interior guys. Then also his work ethic. I’ve seen him and worked with him over the last year. He is a grinder and he is going to be one of those guys I count on in the room.

Q: How was the process coming from Colorado to Mississippi State?
Loadholt: After the season, obviously me and Coach (Jeff) Lebby have a long history together and a lot of the guys here I’ve coached with in the past, as well. So after the season, everything went the way it went and I am here now.

Q: What goes into getting so many new guys to gel together?
Loadholt: We just got to spend a lot of time together. Last year I took six guys out of the portal over there so I am used to doing it a little bit. You are exactly right wanting the guys to gel together and looking forward to that. The more time we spend together the better. Just trying to get everyone on the same page and moving in the right direction. We’ve been working towards that since I got here.

Q: What is your favorite part about coaching?
Loadholt: Working with the guys, just being around the guys every day. It gives me that feeling like I am in the meeting room again, in the locker room and seeing them grow. My favorite part is seeing them grow and take the next step. We got a freshman coming in and to get to see him be a sophomore, junior or senior, and then they call you and it’s draft day. That is pretty exciting. Talking to Tyler Guyton last year when he got drafted, remembering the time when I spoke to him and his dad when he first got to where we were at, that right there make it all worth it for me. That is what I want to be a part of.