Does Lebby have a chance... Players to Watch + Predictions

CodyCarpentier · Sep 25, 2024

Players to Watch for Mississippi State

Kevin Coleman, WR - Coleman burst onto the scene at Jackson State in 2022, he was a Top 10 ranked Wide Receiver in the 2022 recruiting class, according to Rivals. During his Freshman season ith Shedeur Sanders and company, he finished with 32 receptions 475 yards, and 2 scores, before transferring to Louisville. Coleman currently leads the Bulldogs in receiving and is 7th in the SEC with 287 yards, while playing a league-leading 144 snaps (94%) out of the slot. He is also 3rd in the SEC in Yards After Catch, creating 7.3 yards per reception.

Jordan Mosley, WR - Mosley is a fourth-year player who began at Northwestern in the Big 10. During his first three seasons, he totaled 6 catches and 95 yards while playing behind Jaden Walley, Zavion Thomas(LSU), and Tulu Griffin(NFL). So far in 2024, Mosley has catapulted up the pecking order with 13 receptions for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mosley is my favorite of the 3 main receivers for Mississippi State.

Kelly Akharaiyi, WR - Akharaiyi was targeted 4 times by Van Buren in the final two drives when MVB replaced Blake Shapen at Quarterback. He transferred from UTEP this offseason after a 1,021-yard and 7-touchdown showing in 2023. I expect Akharaiyi to out-produce Mosley against Texas and likely draw Manny Muhammed on the outside.

Davon Booth, RB - With former four-star Keyvone Lee down for the foreseeable future, the veteran Booth steps up. Last week against Florida, Booth showed his tenacity in the run game with the ability to break tackles when given the chance, finishing with 5 missed tackles forced on 16 carries. Booth isn't new to the bell-cow role, during his time at Cerritos Junior College he finished 2 games with over 34 carries and eclipsed 180 all-purpose yards four times (yes, juco, I get it). During his time at Utah State, Booth saw 12+ carries four times, finishing with over 100 yards in 3 of those opportunities.

Checking in "Behind Enemy Lines"

Georgia (24 days until)

BEEF WITH BAMA - Dylan Fairchild: Fairchild says the Dawgs have not forgotten Alabama QB Jalen Milroe's comments following the SEC Title Game in 2023. Milroe told Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on their radio show: “I'm big on body language and looking into the opponents' eyes. (UGA) looked defeated and didn't want any more. And I knew our team knew it was going to be a 60-minute game, and Georgia didn't believe in that.”
INJURIES - Update: "Warren [Brinson] has continued to practice taking his rep load. Mykel [Williams] has been overdue a little bit. I still don't know the timeline on Mykel. He's looked good running and taking some reps. Some light reps. Some rush reps. Some stuff he did today. It was his first day really getting out there and doing some things. - I feel good about Warren. Mykel's going to be close. Jordan is still trying to get into practice.”
CENTER UPDATE - Jared Wilson: Wilson is replacing Tate Ratledge at Center - "Smart said he’s been pleased with center Jared Wilson, including his skills in calling the plays to the rest of the offensive line."
TICKETS - Texas vs. Georgia: Super Random Note: A Georgia poster named gdawgs00 is attempting to TRADE 2 Club tickets to both the Auburn and Tennessee games for 2 lower-level tickets against Texas.
POSTER PREDICTION - Milroe vs. Beck: "Sure is a lot of chatter about how good Milroe is. - Not much being said about Carson? He was pre-season 1st Team all-american for a reason. GATA Carson Beck! This game gets him back in the Heisman discussion."

Cody's Week 4 Prediction: Alabama 32 Georgia 28

s/o - Anthony Dasher / Radi Nabulsi / Patrick Garbin / UGASports.com

Mississippi State Coach Press Conference Notes

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on Isaac Smith, Safety #2 Availability: "No update, we will know as we get closer."

Cody's Thought: Man, I am excited to start seeing real injury reports come out, today!

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on Michael Van Buren vs. Blake Shapen : "Mike has the ability to do a lot of things Blake can do, but it's experience that is the big difference. For Mike, it's about taking care of the football and focusing on small things and allowing Mike to play inside some good situations."

Cody's Thought: FRESH MEAT!!!!

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on Keyvone Lee, Running Back #24: "We're going to miss Keyvone for a while, more than 1-2 weeks."

Cody's Thought: This is BIG, Lee is a hard runner and a stud, but Booth is an adequate backup, with SEC size.

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on The Defense: "We have got to find ways to play cleaner - 3rd and 8 on their 2nd drive, we have to ability to peel the back and we didn't peel, we have the opportunity to stop the back on a swing pass and we're not able to make it. Finding ways to focus incredibly small and making sure we are coaching those things the right way. Our guys are playing incredibly hard every snap, "We Have To Play Cleaner".

Cody's Thought: Good Luck, Coach.

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on Preparing the Freshman QB, Van Buren for 100,000 fans at Texas: "You get him to focus incredibly small, Find ways to put him in position for success and we've gotta find a way to build on the run game - that will be a key for us to get off to a fast start."

Cody's Thought: Good Luck, Coach X2.

Head Coach Jeff Lebby on Linebacker Position: "B-Jenn(Branden Jennings), Ty Coop(Ty Cooper), and JP (JP Purvis) will be the 3 that will roll there."

Top Games of the Week in College Football

Tier 1
- 2. Georgia @ 4. Alabama on Saturday Night at 7:30 pm ET (ABC)

Tier 2
- 19. Illinois @ 9. Penn State on Saturday Night at 7:30 pm ET (NBC)
- Florida State @ SMU on Saturday Night at 8:00 pm ET (ACC NETWORK)
- 20. Oklahoma State @ 23. Kansas State on Saturday at Noon ET (ESPN)

Tier 3
- Virginia Tech @ 7. Miami (FL) on Friday Night at 7:30 pm ET (ESPN)
- Colorado @ Central Florida on Saturday at 3:30pm ET (FOX)
- Arizona @ 10. Utah on Saturday Night at 10:15 pm ET (ESPN)
- 15. Louisville @ 16. Notre Dame on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET (Peacock)

Tier 4
- Arkansas vs. 24. Texas A&M on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET (ESPN)
- Fresno State @ UNLV on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET (FS1)

This is a NEW Segment, presented by my great sponsor @Alex Dunlap, it's called "According to PFF"

1) According to PFF, Mississippi State has the worst starting EDGE rushers that Texas has played in 2024, with just 11 total pressures and 1 sack between Branden Jennings and De'Monte Russell.

2) According to PFF, Mississippi State has the second worst starting Defensive Tackles from a Run Defense Grade perspective that Texas has played in 2024, right above UL-Monroe, who they rushed for 239 yards against in Week 3.

3) According to PFF, Mississippi State has the worst starting Cornerbacks that Texas has played in 2024. Texas is currently 13th in the country, averaging 9.9 yards per pass attempt.

Checking in on the Consensus NFL Mock Draft Database Big Board/Mock Draft ADP

1st Round

12th - Kelvin Banks, OT (+3)
14th - Quinn Ewers, QB (+10)

2nd Round

43rd - Isaiah Bond, WR (-12)

3rd Round

97th - Jahdae Barron, DB (-19)

4th Round

110th - Andrew Mukuba, S (-17)
133rd - Cam Williams, OT (NEW)

5th Round

142nd - Barryn Sorrell, EDGE (+92)
143rd - Gunnar Helm, TE (NEW)
165th - Trey Moore, EDGE (+4)

6th Round

181st - Matthew Golden, WR (-42)
203rd - Jaydon Blue, RB (+27)

7th Round

227th - Ethan Burke, EDGE (NEW)

P-UDFA

288th - Alfred Collins, DT (-74)
303rd - D.J. Campbell, OG (-165)

Cody's Week 4 Prediction (4-0) with a (+/- of 29 pts)

Texas 55
Mississippi State 14

Texas has started the season in historical form, For the first time since the 1915 Season, yes 1915. Texas has won at least three of its first four games by at least 7 touchdowns (48+ points). With a combined score of 111-13 in the first half of the first four games of the season. Look for Texas to continue to dominate early on against Mississippi State, who has openly discussed the importance of running the football against Texas, from Coach Jeff Lebby.

Player of the Game: Ryan Wingo (5-121-1)

The line in the game is Texas -35.5 with a game total of 62.5. This implies a score of 50.5-12 in favor of Texas.

ICYMI - Football with Friends on Tuesday

Days Since the last Mississippi State vs. Texas Football Game?

- 9,402 Days (on Saturday)

Here is your song for Game Week... "The Man from Waco", in honor of Jeff Lebby.... and In the words of @Ketchum: "Jeff Lebby knew"

HkmTxsLnghrns · Sep 25, 2024