Mississippi
Mississippi State football spring game: Top three things to watch
STARKVILLE — More college football teams are opting out of hosting traditional spring games, but Mississippi State isn’t.
“Our guys need to play,” second-year coach Jeff Lebby said at the start of MSU’s spring practices. “We’ve got such a new roster and different roster. There’s been so much turnover. Our guys need to be in competitive situations and go play and be put in positions to make the play or guys not make the play. We need to be able to evaluate that for 15 true practices. The more game-type situations I think we can be in, the better for us.”
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on April 19 at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs haven’t announced the exact format for the game, but it won’t be televised.
Here are three things fans can track as Mississippi State strives to improve from its 2-10 record.
Would it be good if Mississippi State’s defense dominates the offense?
The Bulldogs fielded the worst defense in the SEC last season. And it wasn’t particularly close. They allowed 34.1 points per game, nearly 10 points more than the next-worst team.
The entire defensive coaching staff was retained, including coordinator Coleman Hutzler. Vincent Dancy was hired as the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach, while Mike MacIntyre and Paul Rhoads were hired as senior defensive analysts. But for the most part, MSU is relying on new defensive players to be the fix.
The defensive line has been a focal point after Mississippi State managed only 10 sacks last season, the second fewest in the country.
So if Mississippi State’s defense dominates the offense in the spring game, would that be a bad thing?
Lebby probably deserves the benefit of the doubt based on how his offenses have performed, especially in his time as an assistant coach before Mississippi State. The MSU offense was still productive last season after starting quarterback Blake Shapen’s season-ending injury in Week 4. Shapen is back, and there aren’t as many concerns with this season’s offense.
A strong showing by the defense could be the indicator of an improved team.
What is Mississippi State’s depth chart at running back?
Mississippi State’s running backs appear to be a strength of the team.
Leading rusher Davon Booth is back and so is second-leading rusher Johnnie Daniels. MSU also added South Alabama transfer Fluff Bothwell, who was an All-Sun Belt second team selection as a freshman last season. Seth Davis is returning after missing all of 2024 with an injury, and MSU also has underclassmen Xavier Gayten and Kolin Wilson.
That’s a lot of talent for only one football. Booth, Daniels and Bothwell are likely the frontrunners to share carries, but there should be a clearer picture in the spring game.
Will Mississippi State football lose players to transfer portal before spring game?
Tennessee’s spring game was filled with drama after quarterback Nico Iamaleava didn’t show up to practice the day before because of an NIL dispute. Iamaleava is no longer at Tennessee.
The timing of the spring transfer portal makes it tricky. The spring transfer window is already open, meaning players can leave their teams before spring practices end. It’s a big reason why many teams have scaled back their spring games or aren’t televising them at all.
Saturday’s MSU spring game can be an attendance of sorts for who has and hasn’t entered the transfer portal.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Inside the new Lego retailer, Bricks & Minifigs
Customers can buy or sell Legos and get individual bricks at the new store in Montrose.
Shoppers visiting Renaissance at Colony Park later this month will notice a big change.
Apple is moving to a new and larger store within the Ridgeland shopping center, while LEGO plans to take over Apple’s current location once the move is complete, according to Apple and other industry sources.
Apple has announced that its new store will open July 24 near the development’s Show Fountain. The company is not leaving Ridgeland. Instead, it is moving to a new location a short distance away inside Renaissance at Colony Park.
The company has operated a store at Renaissance for more than a decade. Once Apple moves into its new store, LEGO plans to open in the company’s former space. The addition will bring another well-known international brand to central Mississippi and give LEGO fans a dedicated store in the Jackson metro area.
It is another win for Ridgeland with last week’s announcement that a Dave & Buster’s that will be located at the PradoVista development near Topgolf. A site plan and architectural review for Dave & Buster’s was approved at the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, July 7.
Renaissance at Colony Park continues to thrive
Over the years, the center has attracted a mix of national retailers, restaurants and specialty stores. Previous developments at Renaissance have included luxury retailers, popular restaurant chains and entertainment options that draw shoppers from across Mississippi and neighboring states.
Apple’s new location will continue offering product sales, technical support and repair services. Customers will also be able to attend the company’s “Today at Apple” classes and workshops, which provide free lessons on photography, video, music and other topics.
Apple has not released details about the size of the new store. The Ridgeland project is one of several store moves announced this summer.
Renaissance keeps storefront
For Renaissance, the deal works in several ways.
Apple stays at the shopping center and receives a newer storefront. At the same time, the center fills Apple’s former location with another high-profile retailer instead of leaving the space vacant.
LEGO stores are often considered destination retailers because customers will drive long distances to visit them. Families, collectors and hobbyists frequently seek out official LEGO stores for exclusive products and special events.
For shoppers, the most immediate change will be Apple’s July 24 opening. Customers who need repairs, technical help or product purchases will be directed to the new store after the move.
LEGO has not yet announced an opening date.
Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi leaders across the board are reflecting on the legacy of service Sen. Lindsey Graham had in Washington, D.C.
3 On Your Side spoke on the phone with Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith who shared that Graham treated her like a little sister when she arrived to the Senate.
Their friendship grew outside of work, but one thing she’ll really cherish is the teamwork they developed to get things done with President Donald Trump.
“There were times he would come to me and say, OK sister, you’re going to have to break this news to Trump. If it was a difficult situation, he would say you got to soften him up, you call him and then I’ll call him after you but you’re the one that’s going to have to take care of this. Or you’ve got to go to Mar-a-Lago and handle this, but we were a pretty good team together because we were both close to the President,” said Sen. Hyde-Smith.
Sen. Hyde-Smith added, since coming to Washington, D.C., she looked up to Sen. Graham like an older brother in the chamber.
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball signee Landon Brown will play for the Bulldogs instead of signing a pro contract, he told the Clarion Ledger on July 12 during the 2026 MLB Draft.
Brown, a right-handed pitcher from Rosharon, Texas, was ranked as the No. 77 prospect by MLB.com. He pitched and played corner infield for Iowa Colony while winning Brazoria County Player of the Year.
He won’t be eligible again for the MLB draft until 2029.
Brown is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. He has a fastball that reaches 98 mph as part of a four-pitch mix. He also throws a slider, cutter and splitter.
Brown committed to Mississippi State in 2024 under previous coach Chris Lemonis.
He is the third high school draft prospect to reveal he will play for MSU instead of signing a pro contract. Shortstop Noah Danza withdrew from the MLB draft before it began, and pitcher Denton Lord announced after the fifth round that he was heading to Mississippi State.
Three Mississippi State signees were drafted in the first 10 rounds: shortstop Rocco Maniscalco, catcher Will Brick and outfielder Martin Shelar.
Landon Brown stats
- 66⅔ innings
- 0.63 ERA
- 110 strikeouts
- 13 walks
- .424 batting average
- 13 home runs
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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