STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs have been in spring practice for about a month under their first-year head coach, Jeff Lebby. Fans and players alike are excited to return to Davis Wade Stadium and usher in a new era of Mississippi State football.
This year will be vastly different than the previous year from a scheme perspective as the Bulldogs have been either heavy run or heavy pass since 2020, but now they run a more balanced scheme. Lebby is also about tempo, which will be a breath of fresh air after a pair of methodical offenses.
Fans must have their roster ready for the game due to the presence of many new faces, as MSU welcomed 30 new faces from both the transfer portal and high school ranks to the roster. Sophomore receiver Creed Whittemore says the new faces are the most excited for the Maroon and White game.
“A lot of the transfers are really excited,” Whittemore said. “Just the experience, the fans and the cowbells.”
The transfer that will garner the most attention is former Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen. The Louisiana native has been taking the first team reps this spring and will replace long-time starter Will Rogers.
As for the freshman, the trio of 4-star receivers Braylon “Stonka” Burnside, Mario Craver, and JJ Harrell will be watched closely. These guys will come in with a lot of hype, but they are taking a significant jump, and the spring game will give them valuable experience.
“For me, it was a big jump,” Whittemore said. “Just to be able to catch a ball in a college stadium, I know for the freshman it will be huge.”
The defense will also look different this year as the Bulldogs are transitioning from a 3-3-5 scheme to a more 3-4 look. Coleman Hutzler, the former Alabama outside linebacker coach, is the new defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs, and fans will enjoy how much energy he brings.
The defense will also be able to score their points in the spring game without turnovers. John Lewis was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, and he is expected to have a breakthrough year this fall.
Lewis says the different looks they have will lead to many points from them on Saturday.
“There is so many different play calls and things we do,” Lewis said. “So you never know where we are coming from.”
In the modern age of college football, the spring game has lost a lot of its luster, but it will be an exciting day for Mississippi State as they welcome a new coach and a host of new impact players. Kickoff time for the game is at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, which will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Source link : https://www.si.com/college/mississippistate/football/mississippi-state-football-players-are-anxious-to-get-inside-davis-wade-stadium
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Publish date : 2024-04-16 03:00:00
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