Mississippi State's first spring transfer portal commit comes at big position of need

With spring practices having come to an end, Mississippi State football is now shifting towards rounding out the 2025 roster with the final needed pieces for the coming season. There are still some positions in need of bolstering, and the spring transfer portal window affords everyone the opportunity to fill those needs. The Bulldogs is off to a solid start at addressing their biggest need on the roster.

Transfer portal offensive tackle Jaekwon Bouldin commits to Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State football's first spring transfer portal commitment is in the boat. On Tuesday, Purdue transfer offensive tackle Jaekwon Bouldin announced his commitment to the Bulldogs.

At 6-6, 345, Jaekwon Bouldin is a massive piece along the offensive line. He missed the 2024 season with injury, but just last year, he was a coveted recruit at his position.

A Canton, MS native, Bouldin began his college career in the JUCO ranks at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. A 3-star prospect out of JUCO according to 247 Sports, Bouldin held offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Auburn before ultimately signing with the Boilermakers. Now, he returns to his home state.

Bouldin is an important addition for the Bulldogs. Improving the offensive line is the top priority for Jeff Lebby and MSU in the spring portal window, and specifically, they want to improve the offensive tackle position. Landing Bouldin is the first step in doing so, but he won't be the last.

Mississippi State is not done targeting offensive lineman in the transfer portal

The biggest thing that held back the Mississippi State offense in 2024 was poor offensive line play, and Jeff Lebby is set on making sure that doesn't stifle his unit once again. He brought in Phil Loadholt as the new OL coach along with adding a handful of transfers. With those new faces plus more continuity in the room, there's reason to believe it could be an improved unit.

But the OL isn't yet to Lebby's standards. It's been known for weeks now that State would pursue multiple lineman in the spring portal window, and the spring game showed why. There aren't enough SEC-level bodies in that room yet.

Adding Jaekwon Boulding is a good start, but State has other targets they're actively pursuing. Virginia tackle Blake Steen, Florida State guard TJ Ferguson, and Colorado center Cash Cleveland are among the transfer portal offensive lineman the Bulldogs are in the running for.

It all comes down to getting as many capable players in that position room as possible to assure the MSU O-Line is as solid as possible for 2025. If the Bulldogs can land a few more, they'll feel a lot better going into next season.