Several major questions will be answered as we enter the 2024 college football season.
Will Ole Miss become a national contender? Will Baylor transfer Blake Shapen help Jeff Lebby’s first season in Starkville be a success? Can Will Hall turn around the fortunes in Hattiesburg after a dismal showing in 2023?
Mississippi State
Jeff Lebby comes to Starkville from Oklahoma, where he served as offensive coordinator the past two seasons. Lebby, whose Sooners offense last year was fourth in the country averaging over 41 points per contest, replaces the defensive minded Zach Arnett.
The first order of business for Lebby was to find a replacement for the most prolific passer in the history of the Bulldog program in Will Rogers, who transferred to Washington. Blake Shapen, who led Baylor to the Big 12 Conference championship in 2021, is the heir apparent to the record setting Rogers. In his three seasons at Baylor, the Shreveport native passed for over 5,500 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 63.7% of his passes.
Lebby, with no offensive starters returning, overhauled the unit through the transfer portal as he brought in nine offensive players and one junior college player to help a unit that averaged only 22 points a game in 2023.
Lebby also raided the portal for four defensive and four junior college players to help new defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler. The Bulldogs returned only three defensive starters from a year ago.
The home schedule has a “winning feel” with three non-conference opponents visiting Davis-Wade along with Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, and Texas A&M. The road schedule is brutal as the Dogs will visit Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Arizona State. The Bulldogs’ 2023 record was 5-7 with only one SEC win. So, if Lebby can simply return the Bulldogs to bowl eligibility this season, he will be considered a success.
Ole Miss
The Rebels are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons and a program record 11 wins last season. Since the Rebels have had much success in the previous four years under Lane Kiffin (34-15), many experts say the Rebels will make their first ever College Football Playoff appearance this season.
The Rebels offense is loaded, and the defense has improved. They have seven offensive and five defensive starters returning. Kiffin has rebuilt both the offensive and defensive lines through the transfer portal.
After the Georgia loss last season, Kiffin realized his team needed to be bigger and stronger, stating, “We’ve got to recruit at a higher level.” His focus was a more physical front seven on defense as well as on the offensive line. Ole Miss brought in four offensive linemen to help returning quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Tre Harris. Kiffin also brought in three running backs and a couple of receivers by way of the portal. To help defensive coordinator Pete Golding, the portal brought in the likes of tackle Walter Nolen and end Princely Umanmielen along with linebacker and defensive back help.
The schedule favors the Rebels. The toughest SEC games will be played in Oxford as Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma visit along with in-state rival Mississippi State while the toughest road game will be at LSU. So, are the Rebels ready for the challenges that await them?
Southern Miss
Southern Mississippi Head Coach Will Hall knows that there is a lot of urgency as he heads into his fourth season in Hattiesburg.
Hall gave up calling offensive plays and hired Chip Long. Long brings a more fast-paced offense. The quarterback situation has been a sore spot since Hall’s arrival. Florida State junior transfer Tate Rodemaker, sophomore Ethan Crawford, and freshman John White will battle for the top spot.
Frank Gore Jr. has gone, so Dreke Clark and Kenyon Clay will share the running back load with Chandler Pittman. Ty Mims and a young bunch of receivers will join a talented tight end room in hopes of improving the passing game. The offensive line has been totally overhauled as the offense looks for more balance.
On defense, Hall hired Clay Bignell to overhaul the Sun Belt’s worst defense. The Eagles defensive line led by Kristin Booth is the strength of this year’s team. They are big and strong and have plenty of depth. The improved linebacker unit is led by Jalil Clemons and the much-improved defensive backfield is spearheaded by Dylan Lawrence.
If the Golden Eagles are to go bowling in 2024, they must win at home and grab a couple road wins. A bounce back season is what Will Hall and the football program needs.
Mississippi SWAC Teams Ready for Battle
Alcorn State will be breaking in a new head coach this season while Jackson State’s T.C. Taylor will return for his second year as will Mississippi Valley coach Kendrick Wade.
Alcorn State will be led by Cedric Thomas. Thomas has some big shoes to fill as former Braves player and head coach Fred McNair bolted for Southern University. Thomas is no stranger to the “Reservation” as he was a defensive coach with the Braves from 2012-17 and returned in 2022 as coordinator.
Alcorn competed for SWAC Western Division title up to the last week of the season. The Braves (7-4, 6-2) tied Prairie View for the Western title only to lose on the tiebreaker. The Braves will depend on junior Taylor Macon to replace last year’s starter, Aaron Allen. Macon has tight end Tavarious Griffin to throw to. The defensive line will be led by lineman Malachi Bailey.
Coach T.C. Taylor has met the challenge of a depleted roster after the departure of Deion Sanders in December of 2022. Taylor has several standout players returning. The Tigers (7-4, 5-3) also recruited well in the high school ranks and transfer portal.
JSU quarterback JaCobian Morgan caught fire in the second half of the 2023 season. Morgan is a dual threat at the position. Fabian McCray returns at receiver as well as running backs Desmond Moultire, Irv Milligan, and J.D. Martin. The offensive line is anchored by Quaveon Davis and Evan Henry. The defensive line is strong again with Tru Thompson, Tyas Martin, Phillip Webb, and Jeremiah Williams. The Tigers will count on Reid Pulliam and Ashton Taylor at linebacker with Esaias Guthrie leading the backs.
Mississippi Valley coming off a 1-8 season is seeking help at most positions. Kendrick Wade did bring in former Hinds Community College quarterback Ruben Lee to lead the offense with returning wide receiver Kendrick Ross. Defensive lineman Jordan Bussey will lead the defense.
