The 2025 edition of Mississippi State football will take the field in front of fans for the first time this year with the playing of the Maroon and White spring game on Saturday, April 19. While it's impossible to have any major takeaways from spring games, especially in this era, we can still look to learn from them.
The Bulldog program faces many questions coming off a 2-10 campaign in Jeff Lebby's season at the helm. Going into year two, here are some big questions we hope to have better answers to after the spring game.
Has the offensive line progressed?
The biggest reason MSU didn't experience the immediate success expected for a Jeff Lebby offense in 2024 is because their offensive line was a massive liability. Now in year two, there's a new OL coach in Phil Loadholt, a trio of starters returning, and plenty of depth. But can those returning starters and the new faces to the unit come together as a better unit? They'll have to for this offense to take a step forward.
Is there an alpha in the wide receiver room?
State lost a lot from its WR room, most notably star slot Kevin Coleman. A bevy of transfers, headlined by Brenen Thompson, Anthony Evans, and Ayden Williams, enter the room and starter Jordan Mosley returns. There are some promising pieces, and at a minimum, the needed roles should be filled. But can one of these pass-catchers emerge as a true consistent threat and reliable option in the way that Coleman did last year?
Is the defensive line power conference caliber?
Notice I said "power conference caliber" as opposed to "SEC caliber" because last year, MSU's D-Line wouldn't have even cut it in the Big 12 or ACC. It was a Group of 5 quality unit both in terms of talent and depth. This year, they've at least got more bodies, and transfers like Will Whitson and Jamil Burroughs could help this group be serviceable. Asking them to get back to being a true SEC caliber DL might be too big of an ask. But can this group at least pass as P4 quality? Because if it can't, you won't see much defensive improvement at all.
Can State finally generate a pass rush?
Sticking with the defensive front, there are few things the Bulldog defense needs more than a capable pass rush. Last season they managed just 10 total sacks. That's never ok. To address the issue, State added transfers such as Red Hibbler, Malick Sylla, and Nevaeh Sanders, and returnee Branden Jennings still has promise. They need a few faces from that group to really emerge as threats off the edge.
Who steps up at cornerback?
Despite playing as part of an awful unit, CB Brice Pollock was a talented young player who had a chance to take the next step towards being a good starter in the SEC. He instead chose to transfer out of Starkville, leaving a void in the secondary that still hasn't been obviously filled opposite of returning starter Kelley Jones. Transfers Jayven Williams and Dwight Lewis III could be candidates to step in. Perhaps RS freshman Elijah Cannon. How this group looks in the spring will let us now how important landing another CB from the portal will or won't be.