STARKVILLE — Lots of eyes, for good reason, are on Mississippi State football’s offense entering the 2024 season.
The Bulldogs landed their starting quarterback in Blake Shapen from the transfer portal. They also hired coach Jeff Lebby, an offensive guru whom former Alabama coach Nick Saban tried to bring to his staff.
Yet Lebby, speaking after Wednesday’s preseason practice, said the defense has been the impressive group lately.
“The last two days, defense really dominated the practices,” he said. “Today was a little more even-matched, but defensively, a lot of really good things. Creating turnovers, having unbelievable energy and toughness and physicality.”
The Bulldogs’ practices have been closed to reporters this week, except for a 20-minute viewing period during warm-ups at Monday’s practice. That snippet didn’t allow for any conclusions.
Lebby said redshirt freshman cornerback Kelley Jones provided one of the defensive highlights.
“Today he got beat on a couple things that were bang-bang plays,” Lebby said. “But what I loved about it is that he just ended the day with a 60-yard pick-six. He’s just playing the next play. He’s a guy that’s getting out of his own way, he’s preparing the right way and he’s taking care of his body.”
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Jones appeared in just three games last season but is expected to take on a bigger role in Mississippi State’s secondary. He is tall at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and is also regarded as one of the fastest players on the team.
“That guy’s incredibly talented,” Lebby said. “He’s a dude that is thankful for the opportunity here. You can see it on his face. You hear it in his conversations. He’ll be a guy that maximizes his potential.”
Sam Sklar is the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jeff-lebby-said-unit-dominated-183257697.html
Author : The Clarion Ledger
Publish date : 2024-08-07 18:32:57
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