Jeff Lebby has made some key moves to his Mississippi State coaching staff. Phil Loadholt is taking over as the OL coach, Vincent Dancy will coach the edge positions, and Paul Rhoads will serve as a defensive analyst. Now, another new face is joining the Bulldog coaching staff, and he's someone State fans couldn't be more fond of.
Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker alum Erroll Thompson joining football staff for 2025
Sunday night, former Mississippi State linebacker Erroll Thompson announced on social media that he was accepting a role as as linebacker assistant on Jeff Lebby's Bulldogs staff for 2025. Thompson spent five years in Starkville from 2016-2020, leading the defense his final three seasons.
Blessed to be able to come back home where it all started - as a linebacker assistant. Thank you Coach Lebby for the opportunity time to get to work. #Hailstate
— E. Thompson Jr. (@Im3Fly) January 6, 2025
After emerging as one of the team's top linebackers as redshirt freshmen in 2017, the Florence, AL native would become a full-time starter in 2018, posting an impressive 87 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions as part of the nation's #1 defense and earning All-SEC honors. He would lead the Bulldogs with 84 tackles in 2019. In his senior year, he would again be State's leading tackler with an impressive 96 stops in 11 games to go along with 3.0 sacks and a pick.
Erroll Thompson would end his Mississippi State career as one of the most beloved Bulldogs in school history. His willingness to give his all amidst ever-changing circumstances (he would have three head coaches and four defensive coordinators during his career plus deal with a COVID-shortened senior year) as well as frequently lay the lumber cemented his legacy as one of the Maroon and White's best representatives.
Now, Erroll Thompson gets to return to his alma mater to help pass along his wisdom to a promising group of Mississippi State linebackers. It's great to see Jeff Lebby giving an opportunity to one of MSU's finest.