Mississippi State University’s 2024 football season was a difficult one. First-year head coach Jeff Lebby inherited a program mired in turmoil, reeling from the unexpected and tragic death of Mike Leach in the previous offseason. For the 2023 season, in an effort to project stability, the university quickly promoted defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach under the leadership of an interim athletic director, as the administration was still searching for John Cohen’s replacement. However, this rushed hire threw the team’s structure into turmoil. A dismal year was marked by a lack of focus, a lack of competitiveness and a mistrust of leadership.
While Leach’s offensive genius earned him praise during his tenure, his recruiting left gaps that became evident after his passing. Arnett’s attempt to implement Leach’s philosophy ultimately faltered, resulting in his dismissal following a blowout loss to Texas A&M. After a 5-7 season, new athletic director Zac Selmon conducted a nationwide coaching search, and Mississippi State landed on Jeff Lebby for its 38th head coach.
Although there were moments of competition during Lebby’s debut season, the team only managed two victories, against UMass and Eastern Kentucky, neither of which are football powerhouses. Bulldog supporters’ patience was put to the test by a winless SEC schedule, and they started to wonder where the team was headed. Significant improvements had to be made quickly if Lebby was to continue to make it after 2025.
In his first full recruiting cycle, Lebby made strides by signing the nation’s No. 22 class, according to On3 Sports. The class featured standout in-state prospects, including Elite 11 quarterback Kamario Taylor and four-star linebacker Tyler Lockhart. While this influx of young talent may yield a future, the team needed fixes now.
The transfer portal, with its new free agency-like rules, provided Lebby with an opportunity to address needs quickly with more development. So far, his efforts have produced the nation’s No. 12 transfer class per 247Sports.com, with the spring portal window still to come.
A key addition was quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, a five-star talent and the No. 3 quarterback in the portal, who transferred from Florida State following the departure of starter Michael Van Buren. At wide receiver, the team worked to fill the void left by the transfers of Mario Craver, Kevin Coleman and Creed Whitmore. To bolster the receiving corps, Lebby added players like Michigan State’s Jaron Glover and speedster Brenen Thompson, a deep-threat option he had previously recruited at Oklahoma.
As a former offensive lineman, Lebby made it a priority to bolster an offensive line that allowed 3.17 sacks per game in 2024, ranking among the lowest in the nation. Veterans Koby Keenum from Kentucky and Jesse Ramil from James Madison should help fortify the trenches and offer guidance to a youthful unit that already has Luke Work among its rising stars.
Defensively, the Bulldogs also made significant upgrades. The front seven gained size and versatility with edge rushers Red Hibbler from NC State and Malick Sylla from Texas A&M, as well as interior offensive linemen Darron Reed from Auburn and Rashein Thomas from Northern Illinois. In the secondary, key additions included Jahron Manning from Old Dominion and Dwight Lewis III from Marian College, while the linebacker corps added proven SEC talent with Derion Gullette from Texas and Jalen Smith from Tennessee.
Lebby revamped his coaching staff after seeing that adjustments were needed. Phil Loadholt, a former NFL veteran and offensive line coach from Colorado, took Cody Kennedy’s place after his team struggled in run blocking and pass protection. Loadholt is an ideal candidate to improve the offensive line’s performance because he is familiar with Lebby’s scheme from their time working together at UCF, Ole Miss and Oklahoma.
On defense, Lebby brought in Mississippi native Vincent Dancy, the former head coach of Mississippi Valley State, as the defensive ends coach. Additionally, Paul Rhoads, a former head coach at Iowa State, joined as a defensive analyst, adding valuable experience to help out defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and his defensive staff.
While the moves Lebby has made so far have not yet translated into on-field success, they have given fans reason for a little bit of cautious optimism. The combination of a strong recruiting class, impactful transfer additions and a semi-revamped coaching staff lays the foundation for some sort of improvement.
There is a newfound sense of hope in Starkville, even though the team’s full potential remains to be achieved. Lebby has the opportunity to fill in more holes and assemble a team that can contend in the SEC during the upcoming spring transfer window. The fire beneath the seat has not yet been completely extinguished, even though Jeff Lebby’s hot seat may have cooled for the time being.
