In case any missed the word, preseason practicing for Mississippi State begins this Thursday. Jeff Lebby and staff finally can put the full team to work and under coaching supervision with 25 practice dates until kicking off the real season.

Which means it is time for the traditional Camp Questions piece, a collection of the most important or most interesting queries fans have for a new Bulldog team. Said tradition is usually five questions, too.

But here in 2025 our Genespage team is splitting up the duties and sides of the squad, with three questions each. Jacob Bain is taking the offense, and David Murray the defense and specialists. Yes, David has the easier task on the face of it…because just about every single aspect of the Bulldog defense is a great big question mark. 

However, the offense led by the State head coach is undergoing quite a bit of change, and quite a few new faces have not even gone through spring football with the Bulldogs. Let’s look at that next as we get to our first question.

Offensive line rotation

Lebby made a couple of staff changes this offseason, including bringing in Colorado offensive line coach Phil Loadholt to State to fill the same shoes. Due to the timing of the hire, the former Oklahoma offensive tackle did not get any say on the transfer portal additions for his unit before spring practice. Still, he got to work with Koby Keenum (Kentucky transfer), Jimothy Lewis, Luke Work, Canon Boone, Jacoby Jackson, Trevor Mayberry (Stanford transfer), and a pair of junior college signees. Every one of these guys will likely figure into the starting rotation along with the returning Albert Reese, who was dealing with an injury during spring practice. The picture regarding who would be the starting five along the offensive line for State was already blurry after spring practice. However, there are even more questions now with guys entering the portal and State signing five offensive linemen in the spring portal window.

Loadholt will stand out roaming the sidelines this fall due to his size and people often say a coach recruits in their own imagine and they certainly seemed to be the case for Loadholt during his portal haul signing: Zach Owens (Colorado, 6-6, 340), Blake Steen (Virginia, 6-6, 340), Brennan Smith (UTEP, 6-3, 320), Jaekwon Bouldin (Purdue, 6-6, 340), and Jayvin James (Akron, 6-5, 320). It was a nice haul for the Bulldogs, especially considering the time of the year, but it also speaks to how Loadholt felt about his unit after 15 practices in the spring.

Still, the entire offensive line will not consist of spring transfers. Well, that likely will not happen, but I guess never say never. The Bulldogs return guys with valuable experience like Reese, Boone, Jackson, and Work. Lewis is also a highly talented guy. Also, a bigger question is where all these big bodies will fit on the front line aside from just the starting five.

The most highly regarded transfer offensive lineman State added was Blake Steen. He put together a solid season at Virginia, and I think it is fair to pencil his name into a starting spot at either tackle, not quite in pen, however, outside of that, it is really hard to project because of the new faces and position flexibility. If healthy, Reese will likely find himself in the starting five. The Kent Hull trophy winner has played some guard and tackle during his time in maroon and white and will likely fit in wherever he is needed most.

Keenum is the only guy who is a natural center of the group, but guys like Boone and Smith could also draw the nod in that spot. Work and Lewis arrived in Starkville simultaneously, and both guys got extended reps last year, especially the former. Owens is familiar with Loadholt, James has starting experience, and Bouldin was projected to be a starter before suffering an injury last year at Purdue.

Last season, State experienced a lot of transition on the offensive line, with several new faces and less experienced guys returning. There is a healthier mix this year, but having a lot of change at the offensive line position is a scary thought if you play in the SEC. Figuring out the starting five and who slides to guard and out to tackle will be a big, early decision for Loadholt.

Running back production

Let’s talk about the guys who will be running behind the new offensive line. The running back is a question, but there is no negative in this next question; it is just simple curiosity. Davon Booth will return to maroon and white thanks to his junior college career. The Utah State transfer arrived in Starkville after spring practice last year, like many of his new blockers did. As the season went on, Booth got better and better, finishing the year with 759 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, and had three 90+ yard rushing games during his last five games.

Johnnie Daniels is also returning, and he quietly rushed for 540 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. He and Booth were the two featured backs, which is typically what Lebby likes to do. However, insert South Alabama transfer running back Fluff Bothwell.

Bothwell rushed for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. His 5-10, 230-pound frame will bring a more physical element to running the ball. State’s offense is going to try to run the football this fall, and even moreso than last year, one would suspect. Lebby will use multiple backs, but with Daniels, Bothwell, and Booth, it will be intriguing how the carries are split. The Bulldog running back room is deep and talented. However, how all of the guys will be used is the question, and who will lead State in rushing yards?

Wide receiver room

State did lose a few pieces during the winter portal cycle, but the wide receiver room took the biggest hit, with Kevin Coleman and Mario Craver both hitting the portal. Bulldog wideouts coach Chad Bumphis did hit the portal naturally, bringing in Ayden Williams (Ole Miss), Anthony Evans (Georgia), Brenen Thompson (Oklahoma), Markus Allen (Eastern Michigan), Jaron Glover (Michigan State), and Cam Thompson (Northern Illinois). State did not lose all of its production from a season ago as Jordan Mosley returns along with promising youngsters Sanfrisco Magee and Ricky Johnson.

It is no secret that the Lebby offense is predicated on big plays, but it is not quite the passing offense that it is made out to be. Still, playmakers are needed out wide for this offense to click on all cylinders, and State lost a pair of them. Williams, from Ole Miss, is perhaps the most intriguing addition because the Mississippi native seemed poised for a breakout year a season ago for the Rebels. Thompson played under Lebby a season at Oklahoma, and he was a big-play threat, making seven catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 34.4 yards per catch. That’s a big play threat; perhaps the media day nod is a sign.

Allen and Thompson both had productive years at the lower level of college football, while Evans and Glover have experience at the Power four level, with the former having nice speed. The fact that State was not actively looking for a receiver in the spring portal is likely a sign that the coaching staff feels good about the room. However, replacing Coleman and Craver and their big-play ability will not be easy.