SEC Media Days: UF opponent Mississippi State

[Mark Wheeler]

Courtesy ASAP Transcripts...

Mississippi State Bulldogs​

Press Conference​

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the podium the head coach of Mississippi State University, Jeff Lebby.

JEFF LEBBY: It's an absolute privilege to be here. I think back and think about the things that have gone on inside our program since December, and here we are two weeks away from report day. Man, I couldn't be more excited to get on the grass with our current roster and our football team.

You think about the transformation. 80% of our players on our roster right now, they're guys that are in their first or second year of being inside the program. You think about 16 new players since January 1, 43 midyears, then having the ability to sign five O-linemen, a couple of tight ends, a couple others on the defensive side of the ball in the spring portal.

I look back and think about where we are today. I think about how we've created some momentum inside of our building by signing a really good high school class, by signing a really good portal class, addressing the needs that we had to address to change the outcome this fall. That's all we've talked about, is our plan and our process to change the outcome.

I think about all the new guys that are part of our football team and part of our roster. The thing that excites me the most is their consistency, their buy-in. Inside our walls right now, we have great belief, we have great hope, we have great energy. Our guys are incredibly intent on getting better and changing the outcome this fall.

Everything for us points to August 30th. As we move forward, we think about fall camp, how we change the outcome. We change the outcome by the way we practice and how we do what we do.

As we get into fall camp, what was huge for us is us being able to practice the way we need to. There was a ton of conversation about that in the off-season and changing both lines of scrimmage, changing the second level on the defensive side of the football.

With that, Coach Hutzler has done an unbelievable job on the defensive side creating that belief and buy-in while we've done an unbelievable job, in my opinion, of supplementing the staff, having the ability to go hire three former head coaches, two former head coaches at the Power Four level in Coach Rhoads and Coach Mac. Both those guys being SEC defensive coordinators along their way at different stops, having this great amount of experience to be able to help in the room.

So excited about that.

Vincent Dancy, coaching our defensive ends and outside linebackers, comes to us from Colorado, has added great experience inside the room as he was a former head coach as well.

On the offensive side of the ball, the only change and addition has been Phil Loadholt, offensive line coach, comes to us from Colorado. Done an unbelievable job with our guys in the spring, and then the spring portal class. Phil was with me six years prior before he was at Colorado last year. Got him back with me the 1st of January.

When I think about our players, I think about our locker room. The three guys that I've picked to come with me today are three guys, I mean, they are all about what we want. These are guys that have had great leadership ability. They come from completely different backgrounds, completely different stories.

I mention it, about 80% of our players are in year one or year two of our program. Blake Shapen, our starting quarterback, comes with me today, a guy that went through it last year. Gets hurt week four. Shows a lot about Blake and who he is about how he handled the situation last year, how he mentored the young people inside the building.

For him being year two in the system, year two with me, couldn't be more excited about him leading the charge on the offensive side of the ball. Him year two in the program.

Brenen Thompson year one, comes to us. He's here with me today because this is a young man that, I do, I want to make sure all of our guys inside our locker room understand that transfers, if they can operate as Brenen Thompson operates on a daily level, they're going to set themselves up to have great success.

Brenen is a guy that is about the right stuff. He shows up every single day with great intent. He's an incredible teammate. As much as he works, he teaches, too.

So all these young guys in the receiver room right now have really taken to him, his leadership, and how he's operated since he's been inside the building in January.

Then Isaac Smith. Isaac is a guy that now is going into his third year at Mississippi State, a guy that had a ton of production for us last year. To me there's no greater spokesperson for our locker room or our defense than Isaac Smith.

When you think about the game of football, loving football, that is Isaac. This guy loves to play the game. He's incredibly physical. He's been a great leader for us. Proud of him and who he's been, excited about the year that he has the ability to go have.

Before I open it up, I'd like to thank Zac Selmon, our athletic director. What we've been able to get accomplished in fundraising over the last calendar year has been record-setting for our university. He and his team have done an incredible job creating momentum.

Facility upgrades at our stadium, the announcement of our new indoor practice facility, all the things that have happened to get us where we need to be. Incredibly appreciative to him and his team for that.

Again, privileged to be here. Couldn't be more excited to get on the field with the guys this fall. With that, I'll open it up to questions.

Q. With some of the Blake Shapen's injury history in the past, could you go a little in-depth of your quarterback depth?

JEFF LEBBY: We have a room right now that's got great depth to it. Obviously the addition of Luke coming over from Florida State playing as a true freshman last year, having to live some things, a kid that is incredibly talented, top 75 player in America coming out, just a year removed from that. Excited about him. A big athletic kid that can do a lot of things. He provides great depth.

The signing of Kamario Taylor for us, the highest ranked QB to be signed at Mississippi State. A young man that has an incredible amount of potential.

We have a room right now that has layers to it, which I'm very excited about. Again, Blake has done an incredible job leading that group. Those guys understand, man, the expectation of how we have to work at that position inside our program.

Q. After seeing Michael Van Buren up close last year, how would you assess what his future could be as a quarterback?

JEFF LEBBY: He's a talented young man, a talented young man that has the ability to be a good player as he continues to grow at the position.

Q. Commissioner mentioned something about family, how important family is. When you think about your family, in particular coaches' wives, what role do they play in your personal success?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, she frees me up to be able to do exactly what I love to do every single day. They're the head coach of the household. That's a very, very real thing.

My appreciation is unmeasurable for everything that, man, they go through. It's fun as heck to have them so connected and right in the middle of the chase.

Q. Yesterday Steve Sarkisian talked about how joining the SEC has opened some recruiting grounds for his program. Does that go both ways? You're the son of a Texas high school football coach. Does that help y'all recruit Texas when you have two schools in the SEC?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, I think just the ties help. Then obviously just some regional awareness with both of those schools being inside the league now.

I think there's no doubt us having the ability to go into east Texas as much as anything, be able to pull from there, will be something that's critical for us.

Q. When you have this much roster turnover as you guys have this season, how do you go about achieving consistently this year?

JEFF LEBBY: For us again, we're going to get things done and change the outcome this fall because of how we practice and how we prepare. That's the reality of it.

I've talked a ton all day about, man, we also have to become a team. I feel like our football team today is a lot closer and a lot more connected than it was a year ago, even with all the turnover. I'm excited about that.

I believe that's because of guys like Brenen Thompson. When you find a guy that's, one, flat good enough to be able to be a difference maker on your team, but is about the right stuff and the right person, they have a chance to truly impact not just in between the white lines on the field but in your locker room.

That's what we're looking for constantly. A guy like Blake Shapen being able to be back for year two, that's how that happens. Isaac Smith, now year three for him at Mississippi State. You have to have guys that are about the right stuff.

Then we have to go practice the right way to change the outcome.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. You look at the running back position, you bring in some transfers, including Fluff Bothwell, bring in some freshmen. What is that position looking like in 2025?

JEFF LEBBY: I'm excited about the running back room. We bring back Davon Booth, Johnnie Daniels comes back. Both those guys for us last year, our two leading returners from a rush game standpoint. Then having the addition of Fluff. That room right now is probably the deepest room on our roster.

There's a great expectation for production from that group. It's a group that has done a great job. They were third on our football team from a GPA standpoint, have just crushed it on the field and off the field. Proud of where that room is, but excited about their chance to go have great production.

Q. We continually mention the new faces on your roster. What is the identity of Mississippi State football that you want to instill in those guys to see success on the field?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, we do. We talk about fast, physical, fearless across the board. So we want our guys to understand that's how we're going to operate. When we talk about how we will win in the fall, we talk about effort and we talk about physicality, execution. Those three things are what is going to give us the opportunity to go win. But our day-to-day, being fast, physical and fearless in everything we do is a huge part of who we are.

Q. (Question about the defensive line.)

JEFF LEBBY: That was a huge point of emphasis for us. Again, we've talked a ton about roster and the change and the turnover. But inside the defensive line room and at the defensive end position, 10 new bodies since January 1 have come in. And that room has added great depth, but I think we've added some real play-making ability.

We've talked a ton as a group and a staff and a unit in creating negative plays, creating sacks, finding ways to create turnovers will be a huge part of our success this fall. Those are things that you can go measure every single day.

Having the ability to change the D-line was huge. Again, we're nowhere close to where we need to be. We got a ton of work to do. From a body standpoint, we're in a much better position.

Q. Your schedule ranks among the toughest in the nation, particularly the home slate. How do you, as a relatively new head coach in the league, view some of these matchups as opportunities rather than obstacles?

JEFF LEBBY: For us it's all about opportunity. I think I had a great awareness of what the league was when I was able to get the job. That part of it wasn't going to change.

For me and our guys, we understand what the gauntlet looks like. That's exciting. What a great challenge, what a great opportunity. Our guys will be excited to go chase it.

Q. What stood out to you about Mario Craver and his time with the program?

JEFF LEBBY: When Mario was with us, he was a guy that had the ability to make big plays and stretch the field. That was in between the white lines, that was the kind of player that he was. That's who he was in high school. That continued.

Q. What are your thoughts on the eight-game versus nine-game schedule? Revenue sharing kicked in July 1st. Lane Kiffin was here a couple days ago saying that the cap enforcement is something he's concerned about. Your thoughts on that.

JEFF LEBBY: I think for us from a scheduling standpoint, it is, at the end of the day, it's going to be what's best for the league. I think all of us as coaches have our own opinions, but the conference at the end of the day is going to do exactly what we need to do to continue to strengthening our position.

That to me is exactly what it's going to look like. The rev share position, a ton of unknowns. We're going to have to go through this cycle, see where things land. Everybody has questions on it. That's where we're at.

Q. I think you were the only program to play the three SEC Playoff teams on the road and the Big 12 champion on the road as well. How did you keep the team as engaged and competitive throughout the year? About the schedule, I'm wondering what the attrition was like by the end of the year with the schedule you played.

JEFF LEBBY: For us, the second piece to the question, attrition was very real. Again, I talked a ton about roster, as you guys know. We've had to change and flip the roster so that we can go practice the way we need to practice and to have the ability to sustain at the back end of the schedule. That is something that's going to be very real.

As we went on the road to four Playoff teams, last year four Playoff teams will come to us this year. To me, you keep the belief by exactly who you're supposed to be.

I think that people watched us last year and saw us at the end of the season, anybody with a football eye saw a team that did. There was great belief, there was trust. Guys playing incredibly hard. We were nowhere close to having the outcome that we wanted to have.

That's what everything has been about since December. It's been about changing the outcome, finding a way to win, creating that inside the locker room every single day. To me, again, we change the outcome because of the way we practice and how we do what we do throughout fall camp and the week.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. Other than California, state of Mississippi has more junior colleges than any state in America, 17. Recruiting has changed a lot. Per capita Mississippi puts out more NFL players than any state in America. How do you look in state to do something other people can't?

JEFF LEBBY: To me, one of the greatest things about my job is there's great proximity to players. From a junior college, high school players, we have great proximity players. We have to keep the best at home. That's something we are straining to do every single day, finding ways to evaluate from a junior college standpoint, know exactly what you're getting is an advantage for us. Finding the right ones to be able to take.

I think it is an advantage when you're looking from a roster standpoint that back half of your roster, the last 20 to 25 spots, having the ability to have some older guys from a junior college standpoint that can fill some of those spots to be able to create and the size and physicality and just the maturity you need to go practice the way you need to.

We're always trying to create advantage. That's what my job is all about. We're trying to do that with the proximity to players.

Q. You go way back with Brent Venables, played and worked for him. What intangibles does he bring to the table that will help OU get back on track?

JEFF LEBBY: Toughness. Consistency. Conviction. He is going to be very, very true to his process. He is the same man every single day, not letting result dictate who's going to show up in the building every day.

Those are the things to me that are going to create stability and help them down the road.

Q. We talked about your on-field staff. As far as part of your off-field staff, the strength and conditioning coach probably spends more time with the players than anyone. I was blessed to have Shaud Williams on my show when he retired from the NFL, getting ready to start his journey. Talk about his impact on your team. Also one of year young coaches, Erroll Thompson is trying to climb the coaching ranks now.

JEFF LEBBY: Don't have enough great things to say about what he's done for the program. His impact, the day to day. To me he's a guy that gets it. He's lived it. He's played it. He's not asking anybody inside that locker room to do something he didn't do. I think there's great value in that.

Talk about consistency, Shaud is incredibly consistent. Thankful for what he's doing as he's continued to grow our program, the strength and conditioning program, the way he has and we have.

Getting E.T. to come back home, he's been great. I do, I love having the ability to hire former players. Mississippi State means something to E.T. I want it to mean as much to everybody in that locker room as it means to me. That's definitely the case with him. He's got a bright future.

Q. You talked about so many of your players having only one or two years of experience with this team. How are you hoping to create a new culture with so many incoming transfers and recruits?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, we're not trying to create a new culture; we're going to be exactly true to who we are supposed to be, what we're creating.

I think the difference in the team today compared to a year ago today, besides the physical parts of it, are we closer as a football program and as a football team.

The only way you do that is you spend time, you have to take the right people. I've continued to talk about that. Protect the locker room, protect the pig by taking the right people. That's what it's all about.

Again, I think from a culture standpoint, that is the buzzword. I think the people inside our building love being there, they love each other, they embrace the hard, are ready to go chase it.

Q. Mississippi State baseball, new head coach coming in, basketball doing great right now. How does Mississippi State football get back to the top?

JEFF LEBBY: Yeah, I'll continue to talk about it. We're going to change the outcome because of how we do what we do. It's not going to be anybody talking about it; it's going to be the work that we put in, the ability to go practice the way we need to practice with everything pointing towards August 30th. That's how we change that.

Again, women's basketball, men's basketball in the tournament. Baseball, the excitement with Coach O coming in. Softball getting in the post-season. It's our turn to go do our job.

It's not a turn that you get; you have to go earn it.

Q. You touched on there the job that Zac has done as athletic director. When you look at the athletic department as a whole since he's been here, what have you seen that has been the greatest, I don't know, improvement that he's done in his time, short time, so far?

JEFF LEBBY: Most administration staff was in place when I got here. I think what you see from the top down is connection. You see trust. You see people wanting to do it for each other.

When you see that every single day, just like we all know, it does, it starts at the very top of it. There is, there's great alignment, great connection, constantly fighting to continue to build these relationships with our fan base, but also our donor pool, continue to grow that the way we need to to be able to go sustain the way we need to.

Q. Could you talk about the role and impact that Coach Rhoads and Mike MacIntyre have had on your staff.

JEFF LEBBY: Both have been great for us. Again, they're both guys that have lived it, been coordinators inside this league, been Power Four head coaches, and they love to teach.

I think the coolest thing about both of them is there's zero ego. They're trying to make Mississippi State football as good as they can possibly can as fast as possibly they can. They are all into that.

Having the ability to go supplement and support Coleman as he leads that room and leads the unit, I think has been awesome.

Q. To be able to have a guy like Isaac Smith buying into the culture and the identity that you have in an era where so many players see results and want to enter the transfer portal, what does that do for your development?

JEFF LEBBY: It does a ton. For me that was a great statement in that he has great belief in what is going on. Again, the result was far from what it needed to be.

Isaac sees what we see. He has great understanding of what it expectation is. This is a guy that does it the right way. Proud of him. Love coaching him and excited about his opportunity.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you for your time.

JEFF LEBBY: Awesome. Appreciate it. Hail State.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. Personal goals for the season and things you felt like you needed to improve on after last season?

BLAKE SHAPEN: For me, just staying healthy. That's the first thing that comes to mind. I want to be able to play a full season of college football. I haven't been able to do that since like 2022, so that's the biggest goal for me.

For our team, I think we just want to go 1-0 every single week; don't look too far ahead. Obviously we play a tough schedule, but just staying true to each week and being very focused on it individually.

Q. Just along those lines, how eager are you to get back out and actually start throwing it around on the field?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, I'm so excited. I've never missed eight games before, so last year was tough sitting out and be removed a little bit. So being back healthy is a blessing, and I can't wait to go back on the field.

Q. Anthony Evans, what have you seen from him so far and what do you know about him and his time at Georgia?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, obviously adding Ant was huge for us. Lost Kevin Coleman this past year, so being able to add Ant was huge. He's a explosive player, very shifty, can make plays in space; down the field he's vertical threat.

And then the person that he is an awesome dude. I love to hang out with him outside the building. We've built a great relationship. Can't wait to see what he does this year.

Q. You didn't get to play against Georgia last year, but you do have a chance to play against them this year if you stay healthy. What were your impressions last year and what did you look forward to them this season?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, obviously you kind of got to look at it like every other game. Georgia is a very talented team, like always. Very disciplined. I'm excited to be able to play against them this year.

Like I said, very talented team. You got to look at it like every other week. It's going to be a fun game. Obviously it's different because we're playing them at home instead of their place.

Watching them play last year, they were a very good football team.

Q. Obviously with your injury last year, didn't really get to see the full scope of Jeff's offense at Mississippi State. What can you tell us from the meeting rooms, preparation? What do you expect from Jeff's offense with you leading it this year?

BLAKE SHAPEN: For us we want to be very explosive, but at the same time we want to be able to run the football. That's where it starts, is running the football so it can open up avenues for us in the pass game.

I feel like at times last year we struggled with that, so I feel like running the football is where it starts, to be able to open up the touch game and screens and explosive plays down the field with the play-action game.

So running the football is going to be huge and making plays down the field.

Q. Another receiver that you guys -- or that left out of the portal, freshman Mario Craver. What kind of player is he and what kind of potential have you seen?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, he's a great player, one of the best that I've been around, and I wish him nothing but the best at A&M. Very special player. Good dude. I have nothing but good things to say about him and I hope he has a great year.

Q. I know you didn't get to throw with him a ton last year, what can you speak about Kevin Coleman, Jr. and what he can bring to MIZZOU this year?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, same thing with Mario -- I mean as Mario. Very special. Playmaker in space. Became very close with Kevin, so I wish him nothing but the best moving forward at Missouri. I feel like he's going to have a good year.

Q. What can you say about your relationship with Coach Lebby and how important is that to you staying at Mississippi State?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, I think it's very special. Ever since he started recruiting me, I feel like me and him hit it off right off the bat. We have a good relationship outside of the building, but also inside the building from coach to player.

I feel like we do a good job communicating, especially within the scheme and then defensive ID and things like that. So he's a great coach, but he's also a great father to his kids, husband. He's great to be around, and I'm glad I get to learn from him.

Q. With the changes in how college sports with revenue sharing, working with NIL and all that, obviously you're in what looks to be your final season of playing, but how do you feel like that changes things like recruiting for a team that's building like Mississippi State?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, at the end of the day we need to focus on the year we're having and go win football games. I think it'll take care of itself.

Obviously revenue sharing, where college football is compared to where when I first came in is completely different. I think if you win games no matter where you are it's going to take care of itself.

Q. You've obviously been around this game a while now. How do you evaluate the quarterback class this year with Arch, LaNorris, all of them really? Just this year's class of SEC quarterbacks, evaluate them and thoughts in general.

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, they're all special players. All very talented. Very smart. Good dudes.

I was just around a lot of them at the Manning Camp, so got spend time with them. But very talented quarterbacks. You look at every year there is a lot of good guys that play this position, and nothing but props to them and what they're doing in their career.

Q. There is a lot of talk about rivalry in the SEC. Folks mention the Iron Bowl, Oklahoma-Texas. Egg Bowl is a big deal in the state. What would you say about the Egg Bowl to folks that aren't familiar with how important it is to the people in the state of Mississippi?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, you don't really realize it until you play in the game or you're around it. You kind of understand the rivalry of the game and why it is the way it is. We respect them a lot. They got a great football team.

Yeah, that's a game you definitely want to go and win and we want to win this year.

Q. Brennan Thompson is one of your new teammates coming in. Have you been able to form some chemistry with him yet? What's he like as a teammate and throwing to him?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, explosive. He can make plays down the field. A lot like Ant, just outside. Quick. Twitchy. Has all the characters of a great receiver.

But great human being, too. I love hanging out with him outside the building. Great dude to be around. Leader of the wide receiver room. Does well with just the young guys that come in.

He leads them in the right way. Helps them with the offense. Things like that. But, yeah, he's a great dude and a great player.

Q. You mentioned the Manning Academy. Of those quarterbacks, who stood out to you? And if you hung out with Gunner Stockton, what were your thoughts on him?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, like we talked about earlier, every quarterback at that camp is very talented. Gunner, I goat to spend time with Gunner. Great dude. Very talented player. It was good time just to be around all the different quarterbacks because it's just fun picking their brains and being around them, spending time with them.

Q. That first game, also an in-state game. (Zoom froze.) What goes through your mind with that kind of being set up as an opportunity to play them?

BLAKE SHAPEN: Yeah, I mean, for me personally it's going to be exciting to get back on the field. For our team, they are going to be excited to get back on the field too. The biggest focus is just going 1-0. Got a lot of talented players, so we got to be ready to go week one.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Isaac Smith from Mississippi State.

Q. It was Coach Lebby's first year as a head coach in his career. Have you noticed any differences in him this offseason, any growth, any development from Coach?

ISAAC SMITH: Leb comes in every day with the same energy, the same vibes. He's always fun to be around and just comes with a lot of energy.

If I'd say anything, he's been more locked on us being better than what we were last year.

Q. SEC changed a little bit yesterday. Some of the rivalries aren't getting to be played like they were. What did you miss last year about teams that you faced earlier in your career?

ISAAC SMITH: I loved playing against LSU and just the energy that they brought when they played. It was always scrappy. That was fun.

Kentucky as well. We had to play Kentucky, I think, 14 years in a row before last season. That was always a fun rivalry. But I miss playing those guys a lot.

Q. What about the Egg Bowl? How big is that in Mississippi? You're a Mississippi native.

ISAAC SMITH: It's awesome, just playing those guys year in and year out. You know what you're going to get that week. You know what you're going to get that game. It's going to be scrappy.

So a lot of respect for those guys. But at the same time, neither one of us like each other.

Q. Wanted to ask about the changing landscape of college sports, with revenue sharing starting and NIL, of course, a few years now and transfer portal and all that. In your experience, as a student-athlete yourself, how do you feel like all of this, with the money and everything, could potentially change recruiting going forward, especially for a team that's continuing to build, like Mississippi State?

ISAAC SMITH: I feel like it just takes kids getting to go see these places. I try to tell all the recruits that come that money is going to be there. At the end of the day, you're still playing football.

I feel like now it's like a job. You can get cut. You can lose money, whatever. But at the end of the day, you're still playing football.

Q. What would you like to see from the defense this year that will lead to improvement?

ISAAC SMITH: I would just say execution. We had a lot of missed execution last year. Coach Hutzler preaches it day in and day out. We lacked execution the whole season, really -- missed tackles, missed assignments. And, quite frankly, that's why we lost a lot of games. I think we were last in about everything.

So having 10 sacks, you can't win that way. So we've got some guys out of the portal that's come in and is ready to work and compete. And I think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year defensively.

Q. Going back to your recruiting, you had taken a visit at A&M. What were your impressions there at College Station, at Texas A&M?

ISAAC SMITH: I loved College Station. That was one of my top five schools. I liked Coach Fisher that was there at the time.

And at the end of the day I felt home in Starkville. There's no distractions in Starkville, small town, real pretty community, the people are awesome. I fell in love with it. And I'm still in love with it, and will forever always be in love with it.

Q. If you had a message to State fans ahead of the season what would it be?

ISAAC SMITH: We've been working our tail off all summer long. We had a great spring. The new guys we've got, they've been working real hard.

The offense, they look really, really well. The defense, we did a lot of things to fix what we had last year, and it's going to be a fun season.

Q. Jeff Lebby was talking about earlier that despite the struggles that the defense had last year, that they see the vision and specifically shout it out you, said, Isaac Smith sees the vision and what we're trying to accomplish on our defense. What are you seeing on the defense that maybe some people are overlooking?

ISAAC SMITH: Last year, I feel like a lot of the criticism got put on our coaches. But I always tell, like the guys, the coaches can't go out there and play for us. It's up to us to go execute and make the plays. That's what we didn't do last year.

Defensively, if we can go out there, get stops this year, I have all the faith in the world that Blake is going to go get the ball to guys like Brenen, Anthony Evans. And Leb's going to call the plays to get the ball in the end zone.

Maybe this year we'll be on the other side of things instead of going home sad and mad that we lost close games that we should have been winning.

Q. Blake was in here earlier. He talked about being more comfortable and working on his leadership this offseason. What have you noticed as far as Blake being more of a leader? Where is the leadership on the team coming from?

ISAAC SMITH: Blake has been a lot more vocal. I feel like this has been his second year here, he's starting to understand that Mississippi State culture and what it used to be like in Starkville and what it can be in Starkville again.

We've got a lot of guys that lead that's been at Mississippi State for two or three years now, that understand the purpose behind everything that Coach Lebby is doing and the strength staff, and what all the coaches are preaching, as well as we've got players that lead by example, that don't like to talk but they come, they work hard each and every day. And those young guys get to see that. It's, okay, maybe they don't talk but they show it by work.

Just having different types of leaders on the team, it goes a long way.

Q. With a game against Southern Miss, it's not the same as the Egg Bowl at the end of the season. But to you, I guess, what do you make of having another in-state game and being able to start off the season that way?

ISAAC SMITH: It will be fun. It will be a bunch of Mississippi fans throughout the whole state. If they like Mississippi State or Ole Miss, that game is going to be packed at the Rock. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a hot game. I think it's a 3:30 kick in Hattiesburg.

It's going to be really fun down there, especially seeing a bunch of guys that you played in high school. So it will be fun.

Q. One of your new teammates Malick Sylla, what is he like as a teammate and what do you feel like he's going to bring to this team?

ISAAC SMITH: That was a great addition we added to our edge group. I feel like he's going to be one of the guys that can come in and get after the quarterback and help us get more than ten sacks this year. His work ethic is really, really good, and he's been around great players at A&M. And now he's going to come here and show everybody what he can do.

Q. As much as you can go into it, is there anything different from the defense schematically that maybe you think we could see? And also, Mississippi State having been around there, has a very different mentality, as kind of an underdog with something to prove but has been on top several times historically, what does it mean to play for Mississippi State and how do you describe how it might be different from other places?

ISAAC SMITH: Schematically, Coach Hutzler does a great job day in and day out of doing things to help us, if it's changing calls so where we understand it or to where certain players understand it, he does a great job being a DC and being a leader there. And it's going to be a good season. I think it will be a lot similar, but there's not much there to that.

Then Starkville, Mississippi State, we're blue-collar. That's what I love about it. Really got it at the (indiscernible). I love that. That's really the whole state of Mississippi. I love the fact that Mississippi State has always been about that. Just working hard and going to prove something that maybe people don't think that you can do.

Q. Brenen was in here earlier. He mentioned he's a small-town guy and that's one of the things that attracted him to Starkville. Does it take a certain kind of personality and the right kind of attitude to embrace the city of Starkville and playing for Mississippi State?

ISAAC SMITH: The people there are so welcoming. But when it comes to football, you're going to have to be ready to get dirty, down, have some fun, playing some football, you've got to really love the game.

I would say it's not a place for everybody because it's not these big cities and big towns. It's a small, pretty place that is just awesome to be at. There's no distractions in Starkville. It's strictly football and school, and just having fun and playing ball.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. I wanted to get some of your perspective, having been in college sports, the changing scenery we're seeing with things like the revenue sharing that just started and NIL recently and all of that. How do you see maybe recruiting changing, especially for a team like Mississippi State that's looking to recruit and rebuild?

BRENEN THOMPSON: Money isn't everything. It shouldn't be. Obviously we're in a new world and it is. Just focusing on football, I think when you go to a school somewhere, you're there to play football. So that's the most important thing.

Q. You've transferred in to Mississippi State. What does it mean to be selected to represent the team at SEC Media Days before you've worn the uniform in a game?

BRENEN THOMPSON: It's an honor. It really is. It's a blessing. It really is. It's an honor. I think all my teammates trust me and I trust them. It's really a blessing to be here today.

Q. Obviously you're looking ahead to the upcoming season last year you got to play with Jackson Arnold, who also transferred he's going to be the starting quarterback at Auburn this season. What can you say about the player that Auburn is getting?

BRENEN THOMPSON: They're getting an amazing player amazing athlete, but even a better human. He's an amazing human on the field and amazing human off the field. He's a great guy. I enjoyed my time with him. He actually hit me up this morning. Shout-out to Jackson.

Q. What can we expect from this offense this year. Obviously with Blake's injury last year, didn't get the full scope of it. What you know of the offense, what can we expect?

BRENEN THOMPSON: We're going to play fast and we're going to be explosive. And we're going to put up a lot of points.

Q. With the game against Southern Miss also an in-state game, not necessarily a rivalry, but I guess they all are in Mississippi, you're new, can you talk about starting off the season that way against a team that's also with a new head coach and a lot of new players?

BRENEN THOMPSON: I'm excited. Obviously I'm excited to put on the uni for the first time and actually take the field with my brothers.

Game one, I think the jitters are always there. Being right there in Mississippi, a lot of family will be there with me. I'm just excited to get that game started too.

Q. You had options in the transfer portal. What was it about Mississippi State, Jeff Lebby, that made it the right move with you?

BRENEN THOMPSON: It was the history I had with Coach Lebby. He knew what he was getting and what I was expecting.

And then ultimately Starkville. I'm from Spearman Texas, 3,000 people in the town. So Starkville is very much like home to me, very small town, country. That's what I'm about.

Q. Do hometown people come over? Do you think you'll see some in Starkville?

BRENEN THOMPSON: No doubt. My family has always been a big support of mine. They'll definitely be there.

Q. What are you learning about the passion of football in Mississippi that you haven't maybe experienced yet?

BRENEN THOMPSON: It's a big deal. It's a big deal. Obviously coming from Texas, it's a big deal as well. But Mississippi State football, to me it's everything now. It's where my feet are. It's where God has led me. I'm excited to go put on for the State.

Q. Being from Texas, going back to recruiting, how close of a decision was it for you? I know Texas A&M, you had taken a visit. What were kind of your impressions of A&M?

BRENEN THOMPSON: It was a hard decision for me, ultimately. I think if I could go back and do it again, I probably would have done it a little differently. We're all human.

We're at the end of the day 17-, 18-year-old kids trying to make a life-changing decision. For me, choosing Austin, I just wanted something a little different from what I grew up in, a small town community.

Ultimately realized maybe that's not what I want. So trials and tribulation and errors and learning from my mistakes, it's made me the man I am today.

Q. You have pretty deep convictions for a young man. Where does that come from?

BRENEN THOMPSON: My mother, for sure. My mother raised me right. Shout out to Bonnie, she's probably listening right now. She's amazing.

Q. Obviously you transferred out. Oklahoma has undergone some big changes especially in this offseason. From the outside looking in -- you have your inside knowledge -- what do you expect from them this year? I know you don't know the quarterback, necessarily, but just the newness there.

BRENEN THOMPSON: I expect great things from them. Nothing but respect for Coach Venables and the entire staff. They treated me with utmost respect. I enjoyed my time there. Definitely think they have a good squad. Wish them nothing but the best this year.

Q. What is the process for the team and players to get to know each other at a level where you can perform to your maximum capacity when there are guys like you coming in and others like and freshmen starting, and just in general a lot of moving pieces. What is that process like?

BRENEN THOMPSON: I think it all starts in the locker room. And then going from the locker room, it all starts on the field. When we're out there and it's 100 degrees, and we're all sweating and dying during workouts, you really have to lean on a brother.

And then obviously off the field as well, getting to know them as a person, not just a player is huge. Not everyone is the same on the field as they are off the field.

Isaac has this aggressiveness and this passion on the field, but off the field, he's just this outgoing guy that's just down to earth.

So just getting to know each and every player so I can help lead each and every player a little differently. I don't think you, as a leader, I don't think you can lead everybody the same way. I think everybody requires something different.

So just learning off the field, whether that's we're go fishing, we're going hunting, we're going -- hanging out in the backyard, smoking some ribs -- whatever that is to just get closer together as a person and brother, it's going to help me on the field as well, whenever we're on third-and-2, and I gotta count on that man to make that block or that catch, whatever it is, I have the utmost trust in him to do that.

Q. As part of Oklahoma, you had a pretty thrilling match-up with Mizzou last year. Obviously a different team now, but what do you expect from that match-up this year?

BRENEN THOMPSON: I expect it to be competitive. Obviously wish nothing but the best, and I expect it to be a good game.