Four reactions from Mississippi State football practice: Receiving room ready to show improvement

STARKVILLE — Close to a week ago, Mississippi State football wide receiver Jordan Mosley saw the name of a group text that he and other receivers had and didn’t like the ring to it.

Mosley consulted with MSU wide receivers Kelly Akharaiyi, Kevin Coleman, and others after listening to a group called Concrete Boys, which rapper Lil Yachty donned. He figured that name might be related to their wide receiver room. Mosley brought it up around the group, and thus, the name stuck: the “Concrete Boys.”

“We think we’re the hardest group in the nation,” said Mosley on Friday, who wouldn’t say what the name of the previous group text was. “We all think we’re good, and I think that’s the best part of our team. I think we have a very competitive team. Everybody feels like they’re the best in their position.”

Receiving room looks to improve from bad year in 2023

When Mosely was asked his thoughts on the 2023 season, he didn’t remember how many wins or losses the Bulldogs had. He just knew it wasn’t enough wins for the standard he and his team wanted.

“I think we had a good room last year, but I think we were missing that (competitive) component,” he said.

Last season, MSU ranked second to last in the SEC with 2,182 receiving yards and last with 15 receiving touchdowns.

During preseason practices, Mosley said stiff competition within the group is a clear advantage because it forces each receiver to work for a starting spot.

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“We have a lot of guys who can play for effect,” he said. “… But having that competitive spirit just helps a lot more. It makes us good. It makes us who we are.”

Blake Shapen confident in MSU, Jeff Lebby offense

Blake Shapen points to a unique area he’s experienced here in Starkville with Jeff Lebby, which is being pushed to a limit he hasn’t had before.

“There’s an expectation level, and if you don’t reach it, obviously you need to figure out a way to reach it,” Shapen said. “I think that’s the biggest thing that I haven’t had in the past is to be pushed like I’m being pushed right now up to a level that I need to get to. I’m very blessed to have that’s what I need right now. In my career.”

With skillful transfers and a good young core on offense, Shapen said he likes where the teams currently at but can see it reaching highs outside of MSU being picked to finish 15th in the SEC.

“We don’t sit there and look at that all day, but we’ve all seen it,” he said. “… We brought in some transfers have young guys that have come in and had a big impact on our receiver core. They want to get better every single day.”

Seydou Traore hopes to make impact in first eligible season at MSU

Tight end Seydou Traore was forced to sit out the 2023 season due to NCAA transfer rules and is looking to make an immediate impact.

“I mean, I just want to get the ball in my hands. I want to make plays, and I want to score. I mean, anyway that we have to do that, I’m open to it and I’m excited about it.”

A potential battle between him and Justin Bell is set to take place, which adds to the depth at the tight end position with Justin’s brother Cameron, along with Nick Lauderdale and Sam Paxton.

“We’ve had a lot of transfers come in, and I’ve been a transfer before, so I know how it is,” said Traore, who transferred from Arkansas State. “It’s really competitive. Everyone wants a starting spot, and everyone wants to play. When you have that iron sharpens iron.”

Offensive lineman off-field bond aims to replicate on field

Senior Ethan Miner said he’s been at a few football programs that don’t accept new transfers. But when Miner and others arrived at MSU, he said it was an experience he’d rarely felt.

“They were very accepting of us,” he said. “I’ve been at places where your transfer in guys don’t like you because it’s a threat. I mean, it’s a threat to come in to compete for a spot, and (here) that wasn’t the case at all.”

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It was also shocking for Miner to suit up alongside linemen with a bigger frame than him.

“Coming from (Group of 5) schools where I was one of the biggest guys definitely feels nice having somebody 6-5 next to me and 320 (pounds),” Miner quipped. “So I’m very confident.”

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.