Mississippi State's Blake Shapen calls decision to play for Jeff Lebby "a no-brainer"

When new Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen made the decision to transfer out of Baylor, he knew he wanted to play for Jeff Lebby.

"For me it was a no-brainer. I knew that if I got in the portal and Coach Lebby called my phone, that would be a spot I would want to go to."

While leading Baylor in the Big 12, Shapen got the chance to see Lebby's wide-open attack up close. In 2022, Shapen and the Bears outdueled Lebby's Oklahoma Sooners 38-35, and while he walked away with the win, Shapen couldn't help but be enamored with what he saw from the OU offense.

"Seeing that in person was a big deal for me. The offense is so fast. It's explosive, and I got to watch that in person."

And luckily for Shapen, once he did choose to transfer, he didn't have to wait long for his dream to become a reality.

"The first day I got in the portal he called me, and he got the job at Mississippi State...and I dreamed to play in the SEC my whole entire life. So I'm excited for the opportunity."

From Jeff Lebby's standpoint, he feels like he found the perfect guy to lead his offense in year one.

"I think for all of us, we understand, being a QB guy, calling the plays, getting the right quarterback was something we had to get done, and we've got our guy...When I watched him play, I said that's our kind of guy, that's my kind of guy, so having him year one has been huge."

Mississippi State is undergoing a major transition on the offensive side of the ball with an entirely new starting lineup primarily composed of transfers, all coming together to learn a brand new offense. For that transition to go smoothly, Lebby knew he needed a piece like Blake Shapen.

"That piece of the puzzle was huge for me and for us being year-one. That gives us a chance to get off the ground the way we want to. If that wasn't the case, then you're looking at something a little different. But we've got a QB that can get it done."

For Shapen, he knows he fits the exact mold Jeff Lebby wants from his QBs and was the right guy to lead this transition.

"It has to do with getting the ball out quick, using my legs when I have to, throwing the ball down the field's a big thing in this offense, and I feel like my arm ability's able to do that. And just being able to master the offense in a quick amount of time. I've been in college football for four years now, so I'm able to learn the offense pretty quickly. And that's been a plus for me."

But offensive acumen isn't the only thing that drew Blake Shapen to Jeff Lebby. Lebby's coaching style and personality has made the transition all the more smooth for Shapen in Starkville.

"He's a great dude, he's energetic. He's got a lot of swagger about him...A lot of people gravitate toward him just by the way he is, his personality. He's a great guy."

And for Lebby, he couldn't be happier with what he's seen out of Shapen so far.

"I could not be more proud of how Blake has gone about his business, how he does what he does every single day...He's put us in a position to get off the ground the way we need to."

Blake Shapen and Jeff Lebby have been a perfect fit for each other. And if they can come together like Lebby has with his previous QBs, there's a chance for an exciting offense at Mississippi State. Shapen says the Bulldog offense will display toughness and physicality while still being lots of fun.

"I think toughness is going to be a big thing. We're going to be physical. And the biggest thing we're going to have fun. You're going to see a lot of guys celebrating and having a good time, enjoying the game of football."