Predicting Mississippi State football's offensive depth chart entering the 2024 season

Finally, the college football season is here. Week 0 action for the 2024 season kicks off Saturday, and in just one more week, Mississippi State football will take the field to begin a new era under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby.

Jeff Lebby was hired to bring an explosive offense to Starkville. After tons of success as a coordinator at UCF, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma, Lebby has made one thing very clear: he knows how to call an offense that's plenty of fun to watch and, most importantly, scores lots of points.

In order the make that happen in year one, he's leaned heavily on the transfer portal to fill out an offensive roster that returns zero starters from last season (which may not be bad thing considering how that unit performed...). So who will make up that brand new starting lineup on the offensive side of the ball?

Predicting Mississippi State football's 2024 offensive depth chart

Here's how we expect Jeff Lebby's offense to look when it takes the field for the first time this fall...

Quarterback

Starter: Blake Shapen (Sr., Baylor)

Backups: Chris Parson (RS Fr.), Michael Van Buren (Fr.)

Blake Shapen was Jeff Lebby's hand-picked guy to run his offense. The veteran seems poised to excel in Lebby's system, but he'll need to stay healthy with inexperienced QBs backing him up.

Running Back

Starter: Davon Booth (Sr., Utah State)

Backups: Jeffery Pittman (Sr.), Keyvone Lee (Sr.), Johnnie Daniels (Jr.)

We'll almost certainly be getting a "RB by committee" approach, and there's a chance all four of these backs contribute and find themselves filling specific roles. But Booth is the most explosive of the group and was great running this same offense at Utah State.

Outside Receivers

Starters: Kelly Akharaiyi (Sr., UTEP), Jordan Mosely (Jr.)

Backups: Trent Hudson (Jr., New Mexico State), Braylon Burnside (Fr.), JJ Harrell (Fr.), Jaden Walley (Sr.)

Akharaiyi, a deep threat in every sense, will likely become the lead receiver in this offense, and Mosely is a prime breakout candidate this fall. Hudson could be the Bulldogs' redzone target, and it'll be impossible to keep Stonka Burnside off the field.

Slot Receiver

Starter: Kevin Coleman (Jr., Louisville)

Backups: Creed Whittemore (So.), Mario Craver (Fr.)

I expect all three here to play a huge role. Coleman is an incredibly explosive player, Whittemore impressed in the opportunities he got last season, and Craver hasn't stopped grabbing everyone's attention in the offseason.

Tight End

Starter: Seydou Traore (Jr.)

Backups: Justin Ball (Sr., Vanderbilt), Cameron Ball (So., Buffalo)

Traore immediately becomes one of most talented receiving TEs State has ever had once he finally takes the field for the Bulldogs, and the Ball Brothers should serve as nice compliments to him.

Offensive Tackles

Starters: Makylan Pounders (Jr., Memphis), Albert Reese IV (Jr.)

Backups: Jimothy Lewis (Fr.), Leon Bell (Jr.)

Pounders will be tasked with protecting Shapen's blindside at LT, and the time as come for Reese to emerge as one of the top players on the team. Bell will in all likelihood be the team's sixth lineman, and Lewis, while a true freshman, is incredibly talented.

Offensive Guards

Starters: Jacoby Jackson (Jr., Texas Tech), Marlon Martinez (Sr., LSU)

Backups: Grant Jackson (Sr.), Amari Smith (RS Fr.)

Jackson and Martinez both have power conference starting experience, and immediately slide into starting roles at State. There's some concern about what's available behind them, although Albert Reese could easily slide inside in a pinch.

Center

Starter: Ethan Miner (Sr., North Texas)

Backup: Canon Boone (Jr.)

Miner was one of State's top additions in the portal and will be the leader of the OL. But similarly to at guard, there's very little experience behind him.