Mississippi
How Buffalo Wild Wings, Bible study build cohesion for Mississippi State’s new offensive line
STARKVILLE — Grant Jackson appears to be the chicken wing-eating champion among Mississippi State football’s offensive linemen. At least he was one night near the start of the Bulldogs’ preseason camp.
“I think Grant had over 30 (wings) and his fiancé had to stop him,” center Ethan Miner said in early August.
Trips to Buffalo Wild Wings for all-you-can-eat chicken wings are one example of how Mississippi State’s offensive linemen are gelling together before the 2024 season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Eastern Kentucky (5 p.m., SEC Network+).
The group is completely revamped with all five starters from last season departed. The Bulldogs also have a new offensive line coach in Cody Kennedy, hired by first-year coach Jeff Lebby after three seasons at Arkansas.
Talent is necessary at offensive line, but so is the cohesion that’s been noted by Mississippi State coaches since the start of preseason practices.
Miner, a North Texas transfer who’s started 35 consecutive games, appears to be a leader of the group. According to Jacoby Jackson, another offensive lineman transfer, the position group has made trips to church together and had Bible study sessions. Miner conducts it.
“Sometimes we go to Ethan Miner’s house,” Jacoby Jackson said Tuesday. “We go, eat some good food, just bond. You know offensive linemen, nine times out of 10 when we bond, we’re going to bond over some good food, so it’s a good thing that we do.”
MORE: Why this junior college could affect Mississippi State football’s defense in multiple ways
Mississippi State’s coaches have pointed out the offensive line’s chemistry
At the start of preseason practice, Kennedy said the group’s closeness has been something he’s already picked up on.
“That’s been the biggest thing that I’ve seen through my time here is their ability (to) want to hang out with each other,” he said. “They care for each other. That used to always be a given in the O-line world. Now with the fabric of the game and how you’re managing rosters, it’s kind of been a lost art.”
Then after Sunday’s first Mississippi State preseason scrimmage, Lebby noted the offensive line as one of the most improved positions on the team.
“I think the group is really taking great strides since we ended spring ball, and maybe the group that’s made the most improvement between the end of spring and fall camp,” he said. “And then it’s continued to get better. I appreciate their spirit, their work ethic, their toughness and their camaraderie.”
Strong friendships aren’t interfering with competition
Jackson and Miner are about as experienced as teams can find in the transfer portal. Mississippi State also added Memphis transfer Makylan Pounders, who started 10 games last season, and LSU transfer Marlon Martinez, who’s made 45 appearances and four starts in four seasons.
They mix with a group that lacks experience.
“I’ve been at places where you transfer in and the guys don’t like you because it’s a threat,” Miner said. “They’re coming in to compete for a spot. That wasn’t the case at all. It’s definitely brought us closer together.”
Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time
Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever
The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015
MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3
Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament
Mississippi
George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.
Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.
Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.
The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.
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Mississippi
Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances
Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.
It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.
The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.
Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.
“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”
They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.
It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.
If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.
“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”
Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.
There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.
But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.
They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.
Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.
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