Year two of the Jeff Lebby era has arrived and the Mississippi State coach is back to work. After a disappointing first season, the coach and his staff are doing what they can to get things back on track in Starkville. The players on the field will be the difference for State this season if […]
Year two of the Jeff Lebby era has arrived and the Mississippi State coach is back to work.
After a disappointing first season, the coach and his staff are doing what they can to get things back on track in Starkville. The players on the field will be the difference for State this season if they are to make a return and we’re going to discuss every single one of them over the course of the next few months.
As we do every year, we’re counting down 100 days until State’s first game at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on August 30. Over this period of time, we’ll breakdown every scholarship player on the roster, look back at great moments in MSU history and even talk about legends that have come before the current Bulldogs.
Today, we look at an impact transfer on defense and a returning tight end.
10 Days: No. 10, So. Linebacker Jalen Smith
When State’s second leading tackler Stone Blanton entered the NFL Draft in the offseason, the Bulldogs were in desperate need of an impact inside linebacker. Smith’s name immediately came to the surface with some connections to Coleman Hutzler from recruiting and it became a major priority for the Bulldogs to get him in the class.
Playing for prestigious Grayson High School in Georgia, Smith was a wanted man in high school. Rivals had him as a four-star and the No. 246 player in the country during the 2023 signing class with a ranking at No. 84 in the state of Georgia and the No. 14 linebacker nationally.
Smith put up monster numbers during his time at Grayson with an incredible 434 tackles in three years with 30.0 tackles for loss, 18.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown. As a senior, he earned district Defensive Player of the Year honors when he had 154 tackles, 17.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
The offer sheet was stacked with offers from every major conference in America. Tennessee was joined on there with Maryland, Colorado, South Carolina, USC, Oregon, Texas, Duke, Miami, LSU and a whole host of others. Tennessee and Tim Banks would be the team that would catch his eye.
Smith got a great jump on his competition when he was brought in for bowl camp shortly after his senior year. By the first season, he got a little bit of playing time as he played in four regular season games and the bowl game and he had four total tackles. As a redshirt freshman, Smith became a regular on the defense. He played in all 12 games and he made 34 tackles with 1.5 TFL and was emerging as a player to watch on the defense moving forward.
Instead, Smith decided a fresh start was what he was looking for and the Bulldogs immediately emerged as a team to watch. State felt good about its position, but Smith didn’t commit right away when he visited Starkville. After waiting for a few weeks, he finally made the call and became a Bulldog.
Smith has been with State since the spring and has been steady among the linebackers as he looks to be in a starting spot this season.
No. 10, Jr. Tight End Cam Ball
Ball has been on the move around the United States over the course of the last few years.
From Washington, D.C. to Buffalo, New York, and now Mississippi, Ball is getting to see the sights and play some good football along the way. The 6’7, 250-pounder is an intriguing tight end due to his size and athleticism and turned in a couple of seasons at Buffalo before transferring to the SEC to play for the Bulldogs.
After redshirting his first year with Buffalo, Ball would play in 10 games his second season. He became a starter for the team late in the year as he drew six starts and had eight catches for 82 yards. His ability to block made him a valuable piece for Buffalo but his upside as an offensive playmaker also made him an intriguing prospect.
When Ball’s older brother, Justin, hit the transfer portal from Vanderbilt, the opportunity to play together one more time was intriguing to the family. Justin got most of the reps as the number two tight end last season with the Bulldogs behind Seydou Traore, but Cam did get a chance to play in all 12 games with most of his work coming on special teams.
As a redshirt junior, it’s now Cam’s turn to start pushing for reps behind Traore. There’s more competition this year after Jon Cooper brought in transfers Max Reese and Sam West along with freshman Joeseph Skipworth. It’s made for a competitive training camp for the entire unit and will push Ball this season.
Category: General Sports
