Spring Football is Here: Mississippi State Has Several New Faces on the Offensive Line

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs are opening spring football under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. The former Oklahoma offensive coordinator will bring a plethora of new stuff to Starkville, but the most noticeable is his high-tempo offense.

Since 2020, the Bulldog offense has been under Mike Leach and Kevin Barbay, and both schemes were played at a slow tempo. Both offenses were also primarily run or pass, and Lebby will do a 180 this season as they will run a high-paced, balanced scheme.

The position group that must adjust to the speed most is the offensive line. Albert Reese worked at left tackle today and thought the first day of practice went well.

“It went smoothly as far as the first days go,” Reese said. “We just learned all these plays… people knew what they were doing.”

Along with adjusting to a new playbook, Reese has a handful of new teammates via the transfer portal. The Bulldogs will rely heavily on Jacoby Jackson, Makylan Pounders, and Ethan Miner to immediately produce on the offensive line after losing six major contributors off last year's group.

“They have been settling really well, and coaches have done a good job making sure everyone is on the same page,” Reese said.

Due to the attrition on the offensive line, Reese, who is just a junior, is now the veteran in the offensive line room. The 6-7 320-pound offensive tackle will be leaned on heavily in the Lebby downhill running scheme.

“That makes me feel really old being one of the upper-class men,” Reese said. “I like it (run blocking) a lot.”

Lebby and new offensive line coach Cody Kennedy heavily emphasized the offensive line in the transfer portal, which paid off. The Bulldogs needed to replace several pieces, and they did; they perhaps even upgraded at several positions.

Lebby’s offense flashes off the screen and is often confused with being a heavy pass scheme, but at its best, they are running more than passing. A more balanced up-tempo attack will keep the defense line on their toes and out of breath.

The new-look offensive line will determine how effective the offense is.