When does Mississippi State football start spring practice? What's new for 2026
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football spring practices are beginning soon.
The Bulldogs open spring practice March 17.
MSU is looking to build off its 5-8 record from coach Jeff Lebby‘s second season with Kamario Taylor as the new starting quarterback. Success in 2026 could hinge on the defense though with Zach Arnett rehired as the new coordinator.
Here’s what to know about Mississippi State before the Bulldogs begin spring practice.
When does Mississippi State start spring practice?
Mississippi State will hold its first spring practice on Tuesday, March 17.
When is Mississippi State football spring game?
Mississippi State has not announced details about a spring game.
When is Mississippi State’s Pro Day?
Mississippi State’s Pro Day is scheduled for March 27.
Mississippi State football spring practice schedule
Mississippi State has not announced a spring practice schedule, other than that it starts on March 17.
What coaches did Jeff Lebby hire, fire and promote for 2026
Here are Mississippi State’s primary assistants in 2026.
- Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett (hired from Florida State to replace Coleman Hutzler, who was fired)
- Co-defensive coordinator/LB coach Matt Brock (hired from UConn)
- Associate head coach for offense/WR coach Phillip Montgomery (hired from Virgina Tech to replace Chad Bumphis, who was fired)
- Assistant head coach/pass game coordinator/RB coach Anthony Tucker
- QB coach Kevin Johns (hired from Oklahoma State to replace Matt Holecek, who was not retained)
- Run game coordinator/TE coach Jon Cooper
- OL coach Phil Loadholt
- CB coach Corey Bell
- DE and OLB coach Vincent Dancy
- DB and nickelbacks coach Kevie Thompson
- DL coach Ty Warren
- Special teams coordinator Cliff Odom
- Strength and conditioning coach Shaud Williams
Mississippi State football returning starters in 2026
- RB Fluff Bothwell
- WR Anthony Evans III
- C Cannon Boone
- DT Kalvin Dinkins
- DE Trevion Williams
- LB Zakari Tillman
- LB/S Isaac Smith
- CB Kelley Jones
- K Kyle Ferrie
- P Ethan Pulliam
Mississippi State football starters lost from 2025
- QB Blake Shapen
- WR Brenen Thompson
- TE Seydou Traore
- OT Albert Reese IV
- OG Jacoby Jackson
- OG Zack Owens
- OT Jayvin Q. James
- DE Branden Jennings
- DT Kedrick Bingley-Jones
- LB Nic Mitchell
- CB DeAgo Brumfield
- S Brylan Lanier
- S Jahron Manning
- LS Ethan Myers
Who Mississippi State, Jeff Lebby added, lost in transfer portal for 2026
Additions:
- Missouri WR Marquis Johnson
- Florida State edge Jayson Jenkins
- Appalachian State QB AJ Swann
- Iowa State CB Quentin Taylor Jr.
- Syracuse CB Kaylib Singleton
- Florida State OT Mario Nash Jr.
- Florida CB Jamroc Grimsley
- Rice S Marcus Williams
- Florida State OT Ja’Elyne Matthews
- Florida State edge Amaree Williams
- Arkansas IOL LJ Prudhomme
- Southern Cal edge Gus Cordova
- Oregon State TE Riley Williams
- Oklahoma WR Zion Ragins
- LSU OT DJ Chester
- Oklahoma OT Isaiah Dent
- Oklahoma S Kendel Dolby
- LSU S Jardin Gilbert
- Texas A&M DL Dealyn Evans
- LSU OT Tyler Miller
- LSU OT Miles McVay
- Florida State LB Gav Holman
- Sacramento State QB Jaden Rashada
Departures:
- S Stonka Burnside (Memphis)
- DL Terrance Hibbler Jr. (Jackson State)
- WR Markus Allen (Middle Tennessee State)
- K Marlon Hauck (Tulsa)
- WR Jordan Mosley (Colorado State)
- Edge Joseph Head Jr. (Memphis)
- WR Cam Thompson (Northern Illinois)
- OT Alex Lopez (Western Kentucky)
- S Tony Mitchell (Ole Miss)
- OT Jaekwon Bouldin (Jackson State)
- TE Max Reese (North Texas)
- IOL Brennan Smith (TBD)
- WR Jaron Glover (South Florida)
- OT Jimothy Lewis Jr. (Cal)
- S Lo’Kavion Jackson (TBD)
- WR Ferzell Shepard (TBD)
- TE Emeka Iloh (TBD)
- TE Cam Ball (West Virginia)
- QB Luke Kromenhoek (South Florida)
- S Tyler Woodard (Coastal Carolina)
- CB Dwight Lewis III (TBD)
- DL Ashun Shepphard (Cal)
- WR Davian Jackson (Texas State)
- P Nathan Tiyce (Penn State)
- DL Corey Clark (Florida Atlantic)
- RB Jonnie Daniels (Tulane)
- S Cyrus Reyes (Kentucky)
- CB Elijah Cannon (Kansas)
- OT Luke Work (Missouri)
- RB Seth Davis (Tulsa)
- IOL Koby Keenum (Memphis)
- LB Montrell Chapman (Old Dominion)
- DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Alabama)
- CB Jayven Williams (BYU)
- CB DK McGruder (TBD)
- DL Kai McClendon (Washington)
- IOL Zack Owens (Missouri)
- WR Ricky Johnson (Utah)
- OT Jayvin Q. James (Alabama)
Mississippi State football 2026 recruiting class
The Bulldogs signed 30 players to the 2026 recruiting class. The class ranks 23rd nationally by the 247Sports Composite.
- QB Brode McWhorter
- RB Cooper Crosby
- RB Jaeden Hill
- WR Jayden Cration
- WR Zion Crumpton
- WR Camden Capehart
- WR Keymian Henderson Jr.
- WR Matt Mayfield
- TE Zayion Cotton
- TE Adam Land
- TE Luke Hutchinson
- OL Dalton Toothman
- OL Leon Noil Jr.
- OL Jayden Ross
- OL Kison Shepard
- OL Dylan Steen
- Edge Micah Nickerson
- Edge Chris Addison
- DL Tico Crittendon
- DL Kaleb Morris
- DL Davon Young
- CB Camron Brown
- CB Terrell Johnson Jr.
- S Bralan Womack
- S Dre Riley
- S Kolby Barrett
- S Antavius Watts
- ATH Jaiden Taylor
- K Hayden Chambers
- LS Kyle Rushing
Mississippi State football 2026 schedule
Conference games are bolded.
- Sept. 5: vs. Louisana-Monroe
- Sept. 12: at Minnesota
- Sept. 19: at South Carolina
- Sept. 26: vs. Missouri
- Oct. 3: vs. Alabama
- Oct. 10: Open
- Oct. 17: at LSU
- Oct. 24: vs. Oklahoma
- Oct. 31: at Texas
- Nov. 7: vs. Vanderbilt
- Nov. 14: vs. Auburn
- Nov. 21: vs. Tennessee Tech
- Nov. 27: at Ole Miss
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: When is Mississippi State football spring practice for Bulldogs?
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