'Now It's Time To Go Do It'
August 06, 2026 | Football
STARKVILLE – Momentum has been building during Jeff Lebby's tenure at Mississippi State.
Last season, Lebby led the Bulldogs back to a bowl game and is now looking to not only maintain that success but continue building upon it. MSU made their first strides toward that goal with their initial practice of the preseason on Thursday morning.
"Since the day we got here, we've talked about building something sustainable," Lebby said. "Now we're in Year 3. There's no question this is the best roster we've had and the best staff we've had. It's only Day 1 of camp, but we're much further ahead than we were a year ago, and it's not even close compared to two years ago. Now it's time to go do it."
With the season opener set for Sept. 5 against ULM, Lebby is looking to establish more depth throughout his roster over the next few weeks to give the Bulldogs as many viable options as possible this fall.
"We have more competition today than we've had before," Lebby said. "There's no question about it. There's competition in the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, in the secondary and at receiver. That's a great motivator. That's why we've got to continue getting reps and developing the entire (roster).
"We have to continue developing the back half of our roster while making sure our best players keep improving and getting the right reps. By that first Saturday, though, we've got to be fresh and fast. We understand that and we'll manage it the right way."
One player that continued to develop during his freshman year and ultimately ended up starting the final two games last season is quarterback Kamario Taylor. The ultra-talented 6-foot-4, 230-pounder threw for 629 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception last fall while also chewing up 513 yards and scoring eight times on the ground.
"He's extremely hard on himself, and I love that," Lebby said. "He coaches himself well. When he makes a mistake, he immediately wants to fix it. That's exactly what you want. He's got a lot of work to do, but his intent, focus and willingness to learn are exactly what you're looking for. He's putting everything into it, and we're going to be in a good spot."
Day ₖ1 pic.twitter.com/DkjpHvY98c
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) August 6, 2026
One of Taylor's favorite targets from last year was Anthony Evans III. The now senior wideout produced seven games with five or more catches in 2025 and eclipsed the century mark three times during his first season in Starkville. Evans led State with 67 catches and finished with 831 yards and four TDs.
"I'm really excited about where he is," Lebby said. "He's invested so much in becoming a better person and player. His work habits, recovery routine and daily approach are night and day compared to when he first arrived. Because of that preparation, his confidence has grown. It's been fun to watch, and I'm excited to see what he can do this year."
The Bulldogs also bring back bruising back Fluff Bothwell. The 5-foot-10, 230-pound junior topped the team with 677 yards and six touchdowns last season while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
One of the top priorities on Lebby's to-do list during camp is to develop some depth behind Bothwell. Junior Xavier Gayten has showcased some big-play ability in limited action during his first two seasons at Mississippi State and averaged 7.4 yards per attempt in that span. The Bulldogs also brought in a pair of homegrown freshmen in Cooper Crosby and J.J. Hill to help bolster the backfield.
"You need that depth, especially in this conference," Lebby said. "You know how important running the football is to us, and that's a huge emphasis. Having depth in that room is critical. (Crosby and Hill) are physically where they should be for 18-year-old freshmen. I'm proud of where they are, and they've worked incredibly hard to give themselves a chance to have a great camp."
MSU also returns veteran center Canon Boone, who was tabbed to the Rimington Trophy watch list on Thursday. Boone has been with the Bulldogs since 2021 and started all 13 games in the trenches last season.
However, there will essentially be an all-new crop of offensive linemen on both sides of Boone and the coaching staff will spend the next several weeks identifying which players will join him on the line of scrimmage and who they can count on for depth in the trenches.
"We'll move some guys around, with a couple playing both inside and at tackle as we figure out the best combination," Lebby said. "I love the competition, and I like where our bodies are physically. It's about finding the right five starters, but really it's about finding the right eight or nine players who can play winning football—not just play, but help you win games. Developing that depth is going to be huge."
State will scrimmage three times prior to the season opener. But before the Bulldogs take the field for real, the focus will be on improving one day at a time and establishing solid work habits that will carry the team well beyond training camp.
"There's still a ton of work ahead, but the intent, effort and energy were really good on Day 1," Lebby said. "Those are things we can control. I'm looking forward to watching the tape, getting a good lift, recovering and doing it again tomorrow."
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on X, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
