Opposing coach feels Jeff Lebby brings Mississippi State a ‘Lane Kiffin energy.’
On November 26, 2023, Mississippi State announced the hiring of Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby as the program’s next head coach. In an interview with Athlon Sports, an anonymous opposing SEC assistant coach shared thoughts on the hire.
“The relationship with [former head coach Will] Arnett and the university was strained from the start,” the coach stated. “It wasn’t a great fit for a first-time head coaching job, and the circumstances surrounding [former head coach Mike] Leach’s passing made it tough for everyone. I don’t think anyone is at fault there; it just wasn’t going to work out, so they moved quickly.
“Jeff Lebby is going to bring a Lane Kiffin-like energy and a similar offense, and he’s going to aggressively recruit skill position players. The biggest question in Starkville is how serious they are about NIL. Their goal is to keep up with Ole Miss, but right now, it’s not close in recruiting.”
Given the timing of his hire, Jeff Lebby didn’t have much opportunity to recruit for the 2024 class. Despite the challenging circumstances, he managed to make significant progress. According to On3’s Industry Rankings, Lebby finished the 2024 recruiting cycle with the No. 26 incoming class.
Lebby also capitalized on the transfer portal, bringing in 19 players to Mississippi State this offseason. Leading the group is former Louisville wide receiver Kevin Coleman, who had 26 receptions for 362 yards and two touchdowns during the 2023 season.
How Does Mississippi State Match Up to Ole Miss?
Jeff Lebby will need all the talent he can gather to emulate Lane Kiffin’s success at Ole Miss. Last season, Ole Miss finished No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 and is set for another strong season after an impressive offseason in the transfer portal. Lebby’s first goal will be to match Kiffin’s offensive output.
Lebby’s offenses have ranked in the top six nationally in total offense three times in the last five seasons, including No. 2 with UCF in 2019 (540.5 ypg) and No. 3 with Ole Miss in 2020 (555.5 ypg). Oklahoma concluded the 2023 regular season with the nation’s No. 4 ranked offense (502.4 ypg).
If Jeff Lebby can demonstrate potential in his first season leading MSU, the NIL funds will likely follow. MSU’s official NIL collective, the Bulldog Initiative, directly engages with select student-athletes and helps connect them with external marketing opportunities.
Following its designation as the official collective last September, the Bulldog Initiative raised $1.3 million in just five days. This fall, Lebby and his Bulldogs aim to provide fans with even more reasons to contribute.
