News Summary
The Mississippi State Bulldogs had a strong showing in their preseason scrimmage, displaying a formidable defensive strategy at Davis Wade Stadium. Head coach Jeff Lebby praised the defense for generating key turnovers and making impactful plays, including a remarkable fumble recovery. While the offense encountered challenges with ball security, the overall team performed without injuries. As anticipation builds for the upcoming season opener against Southern Miss, the Bulldogs aim to improve both their offense and defense, leveraging new depth and competition.
Starkville, Mississippi — The Mississippi State Bulldogs demonstrated a remarkable performance during their first preseason scrimmage on August 10, 2025, exhibiting an aggressive and attacking defensive strategy. This event was held at Davis Wade Stadium and featured an impressive display of defensive skills, highlighted by multiple sacks, tackles for loss, and key turnovers that included a standout 40-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery executed by cornerback Kelley Jones.
Head coach Jeff Lebby acknowledged the defense’s efforts, emphasizing their ability to generate turnovers and create momentum-shifting plays throughout the scrimmage. The defensive line proved to be pivotal in limiting the opposing team’s running game, applying substantial pressure that allowed linebackers and secondary players to thrive in their roles. This season, the Bulldogs’ defensive line depth has significantly improved, with up to 10-11 players rotating during the scrimmage, showing the team’s enhanced capability compared to the previous year.
While the defense shined, the offense faced challenges with ball protection, prompting coach Lebby to note the need for better handling of the football in future practices. Despite having shown substantial progress in minimizing turnovers during early camp, the scrimmage underscored areas requiring improvement for the offensive squad.
Fortunately, the Bulldogs concluded the scrimmage without any injuries, attributed largely to the athletes’ commitment to recovery strategies and maintenance of physical preparedness. Coach Lebby emphasized the positive culture surrounding recovery that has been established among the players, which has been crucial for their readiness as they progress through training and practices.
Mississippi State is gearing up for its season opener against Southern Miss on August 30, 2025, slated for 11 a.m. CT and broadcast on ESPN. Quarterback Blake Shapen, who had missed the latter stages of the previous season due to injury, has returned to full participation in practices, bringing a sense of stability and experience to the offensive unit.
The Bulldogs are expected to see notable improvements in depth and competition this season, especially given their results from 2024 when they finished with the worst defensive statistics in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), allowing 34.1 points per game. Anticipation is building for contributions from the freshmen in the 2025 recruiting class, who are expected to make significant impacts early in the upcoming season.
The team’s defensive ability to create pressure and force turnovers will be central as they prepare for their upcoming games. With the first match looming, the focus on strengthening both offensive and defensive structures is essential for the Bulldogs as they aim for a successful season ahead.
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HERE Resources
Mississippi State Bulldogs Begin 2025 Baseball Season Ranked 18th
Additional Resources
- Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State Football Scrimmage Insights
- Wikipedia: Mississippi State Bulldogs Football
- SI: Lebby’s Take on Mississippi State Culture Shift
- Google Search: Mississippi State Bulldogs Football
- Starkville Daily News: Bothwell’s Journey
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Football
- On3: Mississippi State Bulldogs Forecast 2025
- Google News: College Football News
Author: STAFF HERE STARKVILLE WRITER
The STARKVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREstarkville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Starkville, Oktibbeha County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Cotton District Arts Festival, Bulldog Bash, and Mississippi State University homecoming celebrations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, plus leading businesses in education and agriculture that power the local economy such as Mississippi State University and Starkville Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Mississippi's dynamic landscape.
