Think that Mississippi State football was done adding offensive lineman through the transfer portal with the addition of Jayvin James? Think again. The Bulldogs have kept their foot on the gas in the pursuit of lineman.
Colorado offensive lineman Zack Owens commits to Mississippi State Bulldogs out of transfer portal
Zack Owens is Mississippi State's fifth spring transfer portal offensive line commitment and their second interior lineman. The 6-6, 345 sophomore began his college career at Clemson before transferring to Colorado. Now he heads to Starkville where he'll play for his third school in three years.
Zach Owens was a high-profile recruit coming out of high school. The McDonough, GA native was a 93-overall, 4-star prospect in the Class of 2023. He was a Top 200 prospect nationally and the nation's 18th-best offensive tackle according to 247 Sports. Owens signed with the Clemson Tigers and redshirted his first season of college football.
In 2024, Owens transferred to Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes. He primarily played special teams in Boulder, logging only a handful of offensive snaps. Owens likely would have contributed more for the Buffaloes this fall, but he instead chose to enter the portal. And he's made the decision to follow his OL coach Phil Loadholt to Mississippi State. The 86-overall transfer prospect will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Zack Owens is yet another quality addition for the Bulldog offensive line. His ceiling should still be quite high, and he's got fantastic size. Since getting to college, Owens has made the move inside to offensive guard, and that figures to be where he'll factor in for a Mississippi State team that's already added three transfer tackles this spring.
It should also be viewed as a great sign that he followed Phil Loadholt to Starkville. For one, it's a positive that Owens sees Loadholt as a coach he wants to play for. Second and more importantly, the fact Loadholt would offer Owens a spot on the roster, considering how relentless he's been about improving the OL room, suggests he believes Owens can play.
Jeff Lebby wasn't lying when he said Mississippi State would be looking to upgrade its OL room. He and Phil Loadholt have done a great job doing so over the last week.