As Mississippi State football gears up for Jeff Lebby's second season, the Bulldogs are attacking the spring transfer portal window to get the roster into form. No position group was in more need of upgrading than offensive line.
The unit was the weak-link in the State offense in 2024, and coming out of spring practices, State still feels it could use some improvements. Lebby and new OL coach Phil Loadholt have been aggressive to upgrade the room, already adding a pair of transfers at offensive tackle in Virginia's Blake Steen and Purdue's Jaekwon Bouldin.
The interior OL is an area that could use some upgrading as well, and now the Bulldogs have landed a new face to step-in and battle for a starting job.
UTEP center Brennan Smith transferring to Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State is in need of a new center for the 2025 season, and there's a new candidate for that role. UTEP transfer center Brennan Smith has committed to the Bulldogs. The 6-3, 305 senior started all 12 games for the Miners at center in 2024.
let’s get to work! @HailStateFB #HailState pic.twitter.com/NzTaMadrX0
— Big B (@brennansmiith) April 27, 2025
A Pensacola, FL native, Brennan Smith began his college career in the FCS ranks at Austin Peay. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he made eight starts for the Governors at right tackle. He continued that role through his sophomore season, starting all 12 games.
In 2024, his head coach, Scotty Walden, left Austin Peay to become the new coach at UTEP, and Smith followed Walden to El Paso. A bit undersized as an FBS tackle, Smith made the move inside to takeover as the starting center for the Miners.
Brennan Smith looks to be a solid addition for the offensive line. On3 Sports rates him as an 86.00-overall 3-star transfer prospect. There are some similarities to the Bulldogs' 2024 center, Ethan Miner. Both Miner and Smith played in up-tempo spread systems not unlike Jeff Lebby's.
Smith figures to battle with Kentucky transfer Koby Keenum for the starting job at center. EMU transfer Carson Lee, who was also fighting for the job, is already back in the portal, which clears things up a bit. Mississippi State should have a good option at center either way.