The Jeff Lebby offense is a wide receiver's dream. Few coaches are better at scheming up plays to get his pass-catchers open and making it simple for the QB to get them the ball than Lebby. Knowing that, it's no surprise Mississippi State was able to attract loads of wideouts to Starkville this offseason. Let's look at a room full of new faces coming out of the spring.
Who are you people?! Mississippi State's wide receiver room is almost entirely new
If you're looking for much experience in the Mississippi State wide receiver room, you're going to have to look hard. Well technically, you can find one veteran to Starkville pretty easily. Jordan Mosley was a starter for the Bulldogs last season, finishing second on the team with 405 yards and three TDs. He's back and figures to play an even bigger role this year.
But after him? It's a whole lot of new faces. State has added six wide receivers through the transfer portal since the end of last season. That's out of necessity. Only four wideouts regularly played last year, and three of them are gone. With lots of lost production and the need to add more depth, State went portal heavy here.
Leading the way are speedy Brenen Thompson from Oklahoma and shifty Anthony Evans III from Georgia. Thompson looks to be the burner/deep-threat on the outside while Evans III mans the slot. But there are several others who will factor in.
Eastern Michigan's Markus Allen and Michigan State's Jaron Glover will have roles on the outside. And then there's Ayden Williams and Ricky Johnson. Williams transferred from Ole Miss, where he was buried on the depth chart. But many have raved about his talent, which was on full display in the spring game. Johnson is a RS freshman that was praised during the spring working in the slot behind Evans III. Reading the tealeaves, those two in particular may see major playing time in the fall.
Finding the alphas at wide receiver is the next question for Mississippi State
State has plenty of bodies at wide receiver. It looks like they've got a capable enough group with talented options that can fill the needed roles. But do they have any alphas? When it's third down and State needs a conversion or whenever they need a big play, is there someone that both Jeff Lebby as play-caller and Blake Shapen at QB can trust to go to?
Lebby's teams always seem to find that guy. Last year for State is was Kevin Coleman. Chances are, we'll see that player or players emerge come fall. They've definitely got options to choose from.