STARKVILLE — Jeff Lebby said from the onset of Mississippi State football’s spring practices that offensive line was a position of need.
Then, the second-year coach doubled down on it, saying again that offensive linemen were still needed before the spring transfer portal opened in April.
The Bulldogs followed through with it, adding five offensive line transfers in the spring — three of whom were starters at their previous teams. That’s in addition to two offensive lineman transfers in the winter and five high school and junior college signees.
Lebby said at SEC media days on July 16 that the position is “without a doubt” better than it was at the start of spring practices.
MSU doesn’t have clear-cut starters at the five positions, led by new offensive line coach Phil Loadholt. It makes for a crucial month of preseason practices before the season kicks off at Southern Miss on Aug. 30 (11 a.m., ESPN).
“That’s going to be the biggest emphasis on offense is getting these five guys up front,” Lebby said. “Playing the best five, finding the right five, and then getting it ready to roll.”
Who Mississippi State could start at offensive line
Adding to the complexion of MSU’s offensive line for 2025 is position flexibility. MSU didn’t have much of that last season, and didn’t rotate frequently. The entire unit had a slow start to the season.
“The additions in that room are going to create the ability to move some guys inside that need to be inside instead of playing tackle,” Lebby said.
Starters Ethan Miner and Marlon Martinez are out of eligibility while Makylan Pounders transferred to Louisville.
At tackle, Albert Reese IV returns after winning the Kent Hull Trophy as the state’s best offensive lineman. He could be a player who kicks inside to guard, but Reese also missed the spring with a lower right-leg injury. Luke Work made seven starts as a true freshman last season between right and left tackle, but could he be another player who flexes to guard too?
Blake Steen transferred from Virginia in the spring as a tackle who started 17 games the last two seasons. Jimothy Lewis Jr. is a former four-star offensive tackle who redshirted as a freshman last season. Zack Owens transferred in the spring as a former four-star in the 2023 recruiting class, but he didn’t start in 2023 at Clemson or 2024 at Colorado.
At guard, MSU returns starter Jacoby Jackson. Stanford transfer Trevor Mayberry didn’t play in 2024, but was a nine-game starter at left guard in 2023. UTEP spring transfer Brennan Smith started 10 games at left guard last season and one at center.
Canon Boone is another candidate at guard after playing there last season mostly as a reserve until a season-ending injury. He’ll also be in the mix at center though with Smith and Kentucky transfer Koby Keenum.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
