Takeaways From State’s SEC Media Days Trip To Tampa
July 23, 2026 | Football, Joel Coleman
TAMPA, Fla. – Kickoff will be here soon enough for Mississippi State and the rest of the college football world. For now, it's talking season.
MSU head coach Jeff Lebby and Bulldog players Kamario Taylor, Anthony Evans III and Kelley Jones all represented the Maroon and White as State made its annual trek to Southeastern Conference Media Days on Thursday. As is typical at the event, much was said.
So what did we learn, and what do you need to know with preseason camp nearing for the Dawgs? Here are a few takeaways from all the talking down in Tampa:
State's Mission Is Clear
After taking the main stage, Lebby didn't take long to outline his goal for MSU's upcoming campaign.
"As I think about year three for us, I think about taking the next step," Lebby said. "That's what it's all about this fall."
There's no denying MSU's progress under Lebby. The Dawgs won two games in 2024, then upped that total to five last season. They knocked at the door for much more.
It's said that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. While that may be true, lessons were surely learned by the Bulldogs last year that just might enable them to indeed take that next step Lebby is yearning for.
"We're tired of coming close," Evans said. "That's something we preach all the time. With three games being one play away, just finishing, paying attention to the little details – that's going to change the ending result of everything."
Many of the guys that went through all that are back, and they're joined by incredibly talented additions. That's part of what gives Lebby faith in his squad as the year gets going.
"Our roster is in a much better place than it's been the last two seasons," Lebby said. "So, that immediately gives you a chance to upgrade and change the outcome. I think the next thing that I'm most excited about is just the retention. So, guys being back that had to live some of the things that we lived last year and go through some of the things that we went through [is big].
"So great confidence starts with the roster and the retention of the guys that we needed to come back."
Taylor Is The Truth
Taylor won a pair of SEC Freshman of the Week awards last season and was MSU's starting signal caller by the end of the year. Well, that was enough to catch the eye of one of the very best coaches in college football history.
"This guy could be the truth," Nick Saban said of Taylor a day before State arrived in Tampa. "He is really, really good."
Taylor's potential is unlimited. He is young, but the highest-rated quarterback prospect in MSU history certainly isn't planning on using age as an excuse to temper any excitement. He just expects to produce and doesn't mind the hype that's coming his way.
"My whole life, pressure has always been a part of it," Taylor said. "So, it's nothing new. But I was always taught that pressure is a privilege. If you receive the type of pressure of a starting quarterback, that means you deserve the title. You've earned it. So, you just gotta go live up to it."
The Bulldogs certainly believe Taylor has the skillset to allow the pressure on him to turn him into a diamond.
"With him being the quarterback, I feel like we have the chance to beat anybody," Jones said.
Said Lebby of his sophomore dual-threat star: "I don't necessarily put a ceiling on K1. He's a special young man…We're going to be incredibly aggressive from an install standpoint. The way this guy retains, the way he goes about his business on the day-to-day to be able to prepare to put himself in position to go have success in between the white lines, it's elite."
Sure sounds like Saban might be right.
"To be recognized by him is a very, very surreal feeling," Taylor said of Saban's comment. "It's a blessing, and it shows me and tells me that the route that I'm going on, if I keep going, I'm going to be able to do some special things."
Jones Has Loftiest Of Goals
Come the spring, Jones very well could become the next Bulldog great to be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft.
That's then.
In the now, he's got one thing on his mind.
"[I want] to be the best corner in the country, to win the Jim Thorpe Award," Jones said.
But don't get it twisted. Jones is far from selfish. He knows if he does his job, that can only mean good things for the Bulldogs as a whole.
"When my teammates look to the left of me and look to the right, they know that I got their backs," Jones said. "And they know that I'm coming out with our team and ready to win."
It's safe to say no opposing receiver wants to go against Jones. He allowed the fewest receptions of any SEC corner last season.
"No one wants to throw to this guy,' SEC Network reporter Alyssa Lang said on air.
Added analyst Cole Cubelic: "He plays like he's 240 pounds. You say no one wants to throw to him? I don't think you want to run to him either. He will come up and attack you."
Jones Island. Population: one. Visit at your own risk.
A New Day For The Dawg Defense
The presence of Jones is just one of the reasons State has much to be excited about on defense. Don't forget who's now calling the shots on that side of the ball.
Zach Arnett has returned to MSU as defensive coordinator – a role he thrived in from 2020 through 2022 when he orchestrated three consecutive top-five SEC defenses.
Lebby is beyond thrilled to have Arnett back in Starkville.
"The biggest thing for me was wanting to add a piece inside that defensive staff room to be able to go run it that had ran it, that had called it and that had called it inside this conference," Lebby said. "I coached against him and didn't enjoy going against him. He made it really, really hard. And that for me was just another great stamp and a check-the-box situation where I knew what I was getting.
"I've talked a ton about being the aggressor, being able to affect the quarterback, creating negative plays. He's done that. And he has been awesome in the building. He's been great from a leadership standpoint on that side of the ball for us. I feel like it does free me up in a great way, which has been awesome."
Evans One Of Many Offensive Weapons
Last season, Evans says he was the Luigi to Brenen Thompson's Mario. He thrived in that role, but now, Evans has his sights set on surpassing what Thompson did on the way to being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers.
"My goal, the reason I came back instead of going to the league, was to break the single-season receiving record here at Mississippi State," Evans said. "My teammate doing it last year, I feel like that's what I'm chasing."
Thompson racked up 1,054 yards in 2025. What a feat it'd be if Evans can top it.
He certainly has a chance, especially given how many weapons wearing Maroon and White that opposing defenses will have to try to stop.
There's Taylor. There's Evans and a whole crop of talent in the receiver room. And don't forget about running back Fluff Bothwell, who flashed his remarkable talent last year even as he dealt with injury over the last half of the season.
"[Bothwell] has had a great spring and a great summer and he's ready to go have a big year," Lebby said.
Of course, offensive weapons all fire the best with a strong offensive front. It's an improved group, Lebby said, with even more improvement to come when camp begins.
"As we sit here today, we're in a much better spot than we were a year ago," Lebby said of his offensive line. "We've got very capable people inside that room.
"We've got six guys that I'm incredibly excited about having the ability to go play winning football for us. Being able to continue to develop the depth in that room, man, that's going to be huge, even the next two weeks and then into fall camp, so that we do have the depth that we need. We're going to be able to do it all up front, though. We've got to have great balance. That's going to be a huge part of our success."
