Mississippi State Bulldogs

Head Coach: Jeff Lebby (2nd year)

Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Lebby

Defensive Coordinator: Zach Arnett (1st year)

Spring Game: 11-Apr-2026

2026 Schedule

Most Likely: 4-8(expected 4.1)badge = team's win probability; ⚡ = toss-up (45-55%)

ULMSep 560% -6.5

@ MinnesotaSep 1224% +19.0

@ South CarolinaSep 1916% +27.5

MissouriSep 2638% +8.0

AlabamaOct 335% +10.0

@ LSUOct 1714% +29.5

OklahomaOct 2425% +18.5

@ TexasOct 3113% +31.0

VanderbiltNov 740% +6.5

AuburnNov 1424% +19.0

Tennessee TechNov 21W

@ Ole MissNov 2716% +27.5

The Bulldogs enter 2026 with new defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.

Jeff Lebby lost QB Blake Shapen (NFL Draft) but returns TE Seydou Traore (119), a three-deep secondary with Kelley Jones (109), Jardin Gilbert (105), and Brylan Lanier (104), and RB Davon Booth (98). Twelve transfer starters reflect Lebby's portal-forward approach as Mississippi State rebuilds around defensive depth in the SEC.

Key Games

Toss-up: edges ULM (Sun Belt)60% win

Toss-up: trails Vanderbilt (SEC)40% win

104Total Players

30Transfers

46Returning

28Freshmen

Starter Quality (out of 100)

Overall

Returning

Transfer

Quarterbacks(4)

Jaden Rashada

6'4" · 210 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

AJ Swann

6'2" · 210 lbs · Age 23

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#1Kamario Taylor

6'4" · 230 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Starter

#15Parker Puckett

6'0" · 180 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Running Backs(4)

#24Fluff Bothwell

5'10" · 230 lbs · Age 20

Transfer

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#22Xavier Gayten

6'0" · 205 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#21Geron Johnson

5'11" · 195 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#26Kolin Wilson

5'9" · 190 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Wide Receivers(10)

#3Anthony Evans III

5'11" · 180 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Marquis Johnson

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Zion Ragins

6'3" · 200 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#11Ayden Williams

6'3" · 205 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#13Sanfrisco Magee

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#80AJ Lewis Jr.

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#83Ferzell Shepard

6'2" · 170 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#14Gracen Harris

5'11" · 175 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#81Isaiah Mitchell

5'11" · 210 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#89Jessie Primer IV

6'0" · 175 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Tight Ends(5)

Riley Williams

6'5" · 245 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#84Emeka Iloh

6'9" · 265 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#42Sam Paxton

6'3" · 240 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#87Sam West

6'4" · 250 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#88Joeseph Skipworth

6'5" · 225 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Offensive Line(21)

#72Canon Boone

6'4" · 315 lbs · Age 22

Returning

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#75Jacoby Jackson

6'6" · 320 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#73Jaekwon Bouldin

6'6" · 340 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

LJ Prudhomme

6'4" · 315 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

Miles McVay

6'7" · 330 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#71Saquon Miles

6'5" · 320 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Tyler Miller

6'6" · 315 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#54Blake Steen

6'6" · 340 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

DJ Chester

6'6" · 320 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Isaiah Dent

6'5" · 310 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Ja'Elyne Matthews

6'6" · 310 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#55Jakheem Shumpert

6'5" · 330 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Mario Nash Jr.

6'6" · 315 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#60Matthew Lefeau

6'5" · 350 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#61Trevor Mayberry

6'3" · 325 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#56Wesley Davis

6'4" · 300 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Brandon Sneh

6'5" · 305 lbs · Age 23

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#53Brennan Smith

6'3" · 320 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#70Breyden Turnage

6'7" · 320 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#65Spencer Dowland

6'6" · 300 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#58TJ Lockhart

6'5" · 360 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Defensive Line(15)

Dealyn Evans

6'3" · 295 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#92Jaray Bledsoe

6'4" · 315 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#6Deonte Anderson

6'3" · 280 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#99Diesel Moye

6'5" · 345 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Gus Cordova

6'4" · 250 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#88Jamil Burroughs

6'3" · 330 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Jayson Jenkins

6'3" · 255 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#25Ray Thomas

6'4" · 300 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#55Colin Coates

6'2" · 320 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#42DJ Reed

6'4" · 285 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#35Kalvin Dinkins

6'2" · 320 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#27Red Hibbler

6'2" · 275 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#23Trevion Williams

6'4" · 295 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#43Will Whitson

6'5" · 295 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#97Terrance Hibbler Jr.

6'3" · 310 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Linebackers(16)

Amaree Williams

6'4" · 250 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Gav Holman

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#10Jalen Smith

6'2" · 230 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

#31LaKendrick James

6'2" · 250 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#8Malick Sylla

6'6" · 255 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#44Branden Jennings

6'3" · 240 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#16Derion Gullette

6'3" · 240 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#7Zakari Tillman

6'2" · 235 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Fatt Forrest

6'2" · 235 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#36Ja'Bryis Stewart

6'1" · 215 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#37Nevaeh Sanders

6'4" · 230 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#40Nic Mitchell

6'2" · 230 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#32AJ Rice

6'1" · 240 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#48Turner Reeves

6'0" · 200 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#11Tyler Lockhart

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Starter

#41Tyshun Willis

6'2" · 250 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Defensive Backs(24)

#3Brylan Lanier

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#4DeAgo Brumfield

6'0" · 190 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

Jamroc Grimsley

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

Jardin Gilbert

6'2" · 205 lbs · Age 23

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Kendel Dolby

6'0" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#20Amarien Jefferson

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#26Dwight Lewis III

6'1" · 195 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#21Hunter Washington

5'11" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#2Isaac Smith

6'0" · 220 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

Kaylib Singleton

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#1Kelley Jones

6'4" · 195 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

Marcus Williams

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Quentin Taylor Jr.

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#29Boogie Johnson

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#33DK McGruder

6'2" · 175 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#13Jahron Manning

5'10" · 195 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#28Tanner Johnson

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#34Vic Sutton

6'3" · 215 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#29Jatavious Johnson

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#38Jaylen Antoine

5'11" · 180 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#17Kyle Johnson

5'11" · 185 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#14Lo'Kavion Jackson

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#47Sean Pleasant

6'2" · 170 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#18Sekou Smith Jr.

6'0" · 180 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Kickers(2)

#80Kyle Ferrie

6'1" · 205 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#47William Wilkinson

6'2" · 185 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Punters(1)

#88Ethan Pulliam

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

Long Snappers(2)

#45Ethan Myers

6'1" · 220 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#39Kallen Cosper

6'4" · 215 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Rotation