Latest news with #JeffLebby
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Art Briles, fired Baylor coach and Jeff Lebby father-in-law, at Mississippi State football practice
STARKVILLE — Art Briles, the former Baylor football coach who was fired in 2016 after an investigation into multiple sexual assault accusations in the program, attended Mississippi State's preseason practice on Aug. 4. Briles is the father-in-law of coach Jeff Lebby. Briles wore a Mississippi State hat, shorts and shoes and spent most of the 25-minute viewing window for media speaking with various members of the staff, including Lebby. Briles is not a part of Mississippi State and isn't being hired by the team, an MSU athletics spokesperson told The Clarion Ledger. "Our football program and entire athletics department prides itself on being a family environment," the spokesperson added in a statement sent to The Clarion Ledger. "Family members are welcome at practices with the understanding that team boundaries and focus are respected.' Baylor fired Briles after an internal investigation into the university's handling of an extensive number of sexual assault accusations, including those against players on the football team during Briles' tenure. An NCAA investigation cleared him in August 2021 of any NCAA violations but was critical of Briles' actions at Baylor. Briles has not coached in college since a four-day stint as the Grambling State offenisve coordinator in 2022. He resigned, citing that he'd be a distraction to the team. Lebby was an assistant coach at Baylor from 2008-16. MORE: Why Mississippi State football, Jeff Lebby are so confident at wide receiver despite lost production Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Art Briles, Jeff Lebby father-in-law, at Mississippi State football practice
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Art Briles' presence at Mississippi State football preseason practice explained by Jeff Lebby
STARKVILLE — Jeff Lebby is standing by his decision to let former Baylor coach Art Briles attend a recent Mississippi State football practice. Briles was fired by Baylor in 2016 after an investigation into multiple sexual assault accusations in the program. He is also the father-in-law of Lebby, Mississippi State's second-year coach. Asked at a news conference Aug. 10 if there are boundaries for Briles — who's not part of the program — being at practice, Lebby said there weren't. "Coach being here was with family," Lebby said after MSU's scrimmage. "I think that was addressed. We want family at practice. We want family at scrimmages. That, for me, is special and that's how it's going to continue." Briles was present at the Bulldogs' Aug. 4 practice during a 25-minute viewing window for media. He was wearing a Mississippi State hat, shorts and shoes while conversing with several staff members, including Lebby. A Mississippi State athletic department spokesperson confirmed after the practice that Briles is not part of the team and isn't being hired. Briles was fired by Baylor after an internal investigation of the university's handling of an extensive number of sexual assault accusations, including those against players on the football team during Briles' tenure. An NCAA investigation cleared him of any NCAA violations in 2021, but was critical of Briles' actions at Baylor. He has not coached at the college level since being fired by Baylor, other than a four-day stint as the Grambling State offensive coordinator in 2022. He resigned, citing that he'd be a distraction to the team. MORE: These 10 Mississippi State football freshmen will have the biggest impact on the 2025 season Lebby was a coach on the Baylor staff under Briles from 2008 to 2016, with various roles such as assistant director of football operations, running backs coach and passing game/offensive recruiting coordinator. "Our football program and entire athletics department prides itself on being a family environment," the MSU spokesperson said in a statement to The Clarion Ledger after the Aug. 4 practice. "Family members are welcome at practices with the understanding that team boundaries and focus are respected.' Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jeff Lebby: Art Briles 'family' at Mississippi State football practice
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Jeff Lebby loved about Mississippi State football's first preseason scrimmage
STARKVILLE — No defensive players were left behind during Mississippi State football's walk from the practice facility to Davis Wade Stadium on Aug. 10. The unit made sure everyone was ready before trekking to the stadium together for the first scrimmage of MSU's preseason. The scrimmage was closed to the public, including reporters, but second-year coach Jeff Lebby said that connectedness was the start of what was an encouraging performance by the defense. 'What I loved was defensively finding ways to create turnovers and some negative plays,' he said afterward. 'That, for me, was a great thing to see from the defensive side of the ball. They got their hands on the ball, made plays, created some huge momentum plays in the scrimmage. That was good to see.' Lebby didn't single out any players except for one: Kelley Jones. The redshirt sophomore cornerback, according to Lebby, had a scoop-and-score touchdown of '50-60 yards.' Jones is expected to be a starter for the Bulldogs' defense, which allowed an SEC-worst 34.1 points per game in 2024. On the opposite end, that means the Bulldogs' offense didn't limit turnovers. 'Today, the frustrating thing offensively was not taking care of the ball,' Lebby said. 'We did some really good things. We created a couple of explosives. We did some decent things in the run game, but turnovers were the storyline today. The ball is the program, and we've got to make sure we're doing a great job taking care of it. We've done a pretty good job of it throughout fall camp and doing that nine practices in.' Mississippi State doesn't have many injuries, says Jeff Lebby Lebby added that MSU is generally healthy as the first game of the season nears, at Southern Miss on Aug. 30 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN). Lots of eyes are on starting quarterback Blake Shapen, who missed the last eight games of 2024 with a fractured scapula. He has been a full participant since the start of spring practices. Sophomore defensive tackle Kai McClendon was the only player to miss the most recent practice that was open to the media, on Aug. 8, but he was already out with a torn ACL. Michigan State transfer wide receiver Jaron Glover was the only player in that practice wearing a non-contact jersey. 'We are healthy, so that's a great thing,' Lebby said. 'Really, as you look at it nine days into camp, I think our guys have taken it to the culture of recovery and finding time to make sure they're doing everything they possibly can to get themselves ready for the next day's practice. I think the growth in that has been fun to see and been really good.' Why Mississippi State is scrimmaging differently in Jeff Lebby's second season The Bulldogs have harped numerous times about their improved depth compared to last season. It has helped them be able to practice differently. That's translated into the scrimmages, too, Lebby said. He cautioned that the defense could be ahead of the offense now because seven of the 10 spring transfers play offense. MORE: When are Mississippi State vs Ole Miss basketball games in 2025-26? SEC schedule released 'I think the cool thing is that we are getting more guys getting more reps,' he said. 'There's more tape to watch, there's more film and there's more going on because we, from a roster standpoint, have been able to practice how we need to practice just to give ourselves a chance.' Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football: Jeff Lebby loved this part of scrimmage
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How does the SEC stack up in CBS Sports 1-136 rankings for the 2025 season?
The 2025 college football season will kick off in just a few weeks. More than ever, the SEC feels wide open this season with a number of teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the conference. The Oklahoma Sooners enter the year with a lot to prove. The Sooners open the season unranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time in 25 years. As they say, it's not how you start, but how you finish. It will be an uphill climb for the Sooners in the SEC, and they'll have to overcome one of the more difficult schedules in the nation. Oklahoma will play seven teams ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Six of those teams are in the SEC, and each of them ranks ahead of the Sooners in CBS Sports' ranking of all 136 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Here's a look at how the SEC stacks up. 70. Mississippi State Bulldogs SEC Rank: 16 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: at Southern Mississippi Jeff Lebby has a tough road ahead for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Any success they have will be predicated on the offense scoring a bunch of points, and that's going to require a bounce-back season from Blake Shapen. 57. Kentucky Wildcats SEC Rank: 15 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: vs. Toledo The Kentucky Wildcats are betting big on Zach Calzada after he put up a big season for Incarnate Word. He won't have to do much to improve on Brock Vandergriff's season for the Wildcats. 47. Vanderbilt Commodores SEC Rank: 14 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: vs. Charleston Southern Vanderbilt enters the 2025 season just four spots behind the Arkansas Razorbacks in CBS Sports rankings. But Diego Pavia and the Commodores won't be sneaking up on anyone in 2025. Can they still pull off an upset or two and find their way to a bowl game? Pavia has Vandy believing. 43. Arkansas Razorbacks SEC Rank: 13 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: vs. Alabama A&M Taylen Green raises the floor for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but the rest of the roster will keep the ceiling relatively low. They'll surprise a team or two in SEC play, but are far from a title contender. 32. Auburn Tigers SEC Rank: 12 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: at Baylor The Auburn Tigers have a talented roster surrounding Jackson Arnold. They could be a surprise contender in 2025 if the former Sooner quarterback has improved his ball security and decision-making since last season. That week one matchup against Baylor will set the tone for the Tigers season. 28. Missouri Tigers SEC Rank: 11 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: vs. Central Arkansas Despite losing several really important pieces off of their offense, the Missouri Tigers have a schedule that is manageable, including six home games to start the season. They don't go on the road until October 18 when they face Auburn. 24. Oklahoma Sooners SEC Rank: 10 US LBM Coaches Poll: Unranked Week 1: vs. Illinois State The Oklahoma Sooners will have one of the best defenses in the SEC in 2025, and the offense will be significantly better. If the offensive line returns to expectation, Oklahoma could be a conference title contender this year. 22. Ole Miss Rebels SEC Rank: 9 US LBM Coaches Poll: 15 Week 1: vs. Georgia State Lane Kiffin had the Rebels on the cusp of the playoff last year with a fantastic roster. But a lot of those stars are gone, and they're turning to a first-year starter in Austin Simmons. Stepping back a couple of wins wouldn't be out of the questions. 20. Tennessee Volunteers SEC Rank: 8 US LBM Coaches Poll: 18 Week 1: vs. Syracuse Tennessee lost so much on both sides of the ball that they seem more likely to finish outside the top 25 at the end of the season than they do ranked. 18. Texas A&M Aggies SEC Rank: 7 US LBM Coaches Poll: 21 Week 1: vs. UTSA Texas A&M will look more like an old school type of football team, playing a smashmouth style with a strong running game and one of the best defenses in the SEC. 16. South Carolina Gamecocks SEC Rank: 6 US LBM Coaches Poll: 13 Week 1: vs. Virginia Tech The Gamecocks lost a lot from a defense that was really good but will have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation leading a South Carolina offense that averaged 30 points per game a season ago. Even if the defense takes a small step back from the 18.1 points per game they allowed last year, the Gamecocks will still be a SEC title contender. 12. Florida Gators SEC Rank: 5 US LBM Coaches Poll: 17 Week 1: vs. Long Island University The only team that might have a schedule as difficult as the Oklahoma Sooners is the Florida Gators. D.J. Lagway has a high ceiling, but injuries continue to limit his development. If he can shake of the injury bug, the Gators could improve from their 8-5 season a year ago. 9. LSU Tigers SEC Rank: 4 US LBM Coaches Poll: 9 Week 1: at Clemson Garrett Nussmeier is one of the best quarterbacks in the country heading into 2025 with a great grop of skill players around him. If the defense has made a jump, the LSU Tigers will be a legit title contender. 8. Alabama Crimson Tide SEC Rank: 3 US LBM Coaches Poll: 8 Week 1: at Florida State A pair of upsets to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma kept Alabama out of the College Football Playoff, but Kalen DeBoer had a solid first year and has a talented roster led by one of the best players in the game, wide receiver Ryan Williams. 5. Georgia Bulldogs SEC Rank: 2 US LBM Coaches Poll: 4 Week 1: vs. Marshall There hasn't been a more consistent program in the country than the Georgia Bulldogs over the course of Kirby Smart's tenure in Athens. History suggests the Bulldogs will win 10 games and be in the SEC championship game at the end of the season. 1. Texas Longhorns SEC Rank: 1 US LBM Coaches Poll: 1 Week 1: at Ohio State All eye will be on the Texas Longhorns in 2025. With Arch Manning leading the way, Texas hopes to improve on back-to-back semifinal exits in the College Football Playoff and go the distance to win the national championship. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State football recruiting: Tracking 2026 commits for Jeff Lebby
STARKVILLE — The first Mississippi State football season for coach Jeff Lebby did not go as planned. The Bulldogs went 2-10 and winless in the SEC. Their only wins were against Eastern Kentucky and UMass. All of MSU's SEC losses were by double digits. Advertisement How that season impacts recruiting is beginning to take shape. Lebby's first recruiting class in 2025 ranked 28th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The Clarion Ledger is tracking all of MSU's commitments for the 2026 recruiting class below. Mississippi State football class of 2026 commitments All rankings from the 247Sports Composite. Brodie McWhorter Position: Quarterback School: Cass in Cartersville, Georgia Rank: Three-star (No. 523 nationally, No. 31 quarterback, No. 61 in Georgia) Commit date: May 1, 2025 Jakobe Green Position: Offensive lineman School: Gadsden County in Havana, Florida Rank: Three-star (No. 569 nationally, No. 51 interior offensive linemen, No. 81 in Florida) Commit date: Feb. 1, 2025 Jaiden Taylor Position: Athlete School: Noxubee County in Macon, Mississippi Rank: Three-star (No. 595 nationally, No. 42 athlete, No. 21 in Mississippi) Commit date: Dec. 4, 2024 Camden Capehart Position: Wide receiver School: Winnsboro in Winnsboro, Texas Rank: Three-star (No. 658 nationally, No. 98 wide receiver, No. 100 in Texas) Commit date: Nov. 3, 2024 Jaeden Hill Position: Running back School: Tupelo in Tupelo, Mississippi Rank: Three-star (No. 715 nationally, No. 44 running back, No. 23 in Mississippi) Commit date: June 24, 2024 Kaleb Morris Position: Defensive lineman School: Mary G. Montgomery in Semmes, Alabama Rank: Three-star (No. 923 nationally, No. 92 defensive linemen, No. 35 in Alabama) Commit date: May 31, 2025 Camron Brown Position: Cornerback School: Valdosta in Valdosta, Georgia Rank: Three-star (No. 1,097 nationally, No. 94 cornerback, No. 119 in Georgia) Commit date: Feb. 1, 2025 MORE: Mississippi State baseball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, who's out for Brian O'Connor Kolby Barrett Position: Safety School: Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee Rank: Three-star (No. 1,153 nationally, No. 102 safety, No. 37 in Tennessee) Commit date: May 24, 2025 Antavius Willis Position: Safety School: Carver in Columbus, Georgia Rank: None Commit date: May 31, 2025 Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football recruiting: 2026 commit list for Jeff Lebby
