Mississippi State football: What to watch for in Jeff Lebby’s first spring game

STARKVILLE — Davis Wade Stadium won’t be hosting a slam dunk challenge or hot dog eating contest on Saturday – at least that’s the expectation. However, the home of Mississippi State football will be the site of an important day for coach Jeff Lebby.

As his first offseason with the Bulldogs progresses and the regular season approaches, Lebby will get a look at where his team stands with the annual Maroon & White spring game.

As he approaches the regular season with the Bulldogs, Lebby will get his first look at how his team has developed in the spring game.

In a matchup of offense against defense – in which a scoring structure will be put into place for each side to earn points – the Bulldogs will provide their first glimpse into what Lebby and his staff have implemented since he was hired in November.

Lebby came to MSU after serving as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. His ability to build one of the nation’s top offenses made him a lucrative option, and Saturday (1 p.m., SEC Network+) will be his first chance to show off what he’s bringing to Starkville. It will also give a look into how MSU’s defense looks under new coordinator Coleman Hutzler.

Here’s what we’ll be keeping an eye on Saturday.

How comfortable does Blake Shapen look?

Lebby’s hiring came shortly after quarterback Will Rogers entered the transfer portal. While Chris Parson is returning for his sophomore campaign, finding a starting quarterback was an immediate priority.

He landed former Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen to fill the void. After adding the transfer, Lebby made it apparent that he’s felt for a while Shapen was right for his system.

Is Lebby correct in that assessment? Saturday likely won’t provide a definitive answer as Shapen, along with most of the offensive players around him, hasn’t had enough time to develop…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mississippi-state-football-watch-jeff-100521428.html

Author : The Clarion Ledger

Publish date : 2024-04-16 10:05:21

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