[Music] welcome to the SEC unfiltered platform I appreciate you guys listening to all our content on all our channels and platforms I speak on behalf of everybody at the SEC unfiltered Channel and saying that we appreciate that but I am your host Dave schumate longtime college football SEC Personnel director staffer and I am here to give you the top five impact players for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Jeff Levy heading in to year one in 2024 but before we get started guys just like everybody else guys we got to pay bills to keep the lights on and we're going to start off with our buddies over at prize picks go to priz picks.com and use code SECU at signup to get F $50 instantly when you play your first $5 or more lineup I played last year mentioned it before on this channel during this segment I played that that suay night game that LSU Florida State game last year had like a kind of a parlay type pick them bile with um Jane Daniels going for like 250 Malik neighbors going for 100 yards something like that it's fun man it's fun interactive games it's different than just your regular betting sites but go visit our guys priz pits again use code SECU at sign up to get $50 instantly when you play five or more on your first lineup but guys let's get to it while you are here top five impact players for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Jeff lebby heading into year one this one was a little I'll be honest with you Missi state is probably the roster I don't want to say the term not know the most about or know the I know the least about and I feel like everybody every analyst per every analyst C opponent would probably feel the same way you don't know a whole lot about Miss State and some of that Jeff leby at media day the questions weren't awesome he's also not just going to go give you a lot and I get it it's his first year kayin deor is doing the same thing 82 miles up the road in Tuscaloosa but you could probably make a case here or there probably could be another guy added into my list one through five here deont I I'll let you see it but again if you're used to this segment I've gone chronological order here our alphabetical order starting with Alabama just finished up Old Miss we posted that one today we're here with Mississippi State now but if you're not used to this segment we go in reverse chronological order 5 4 3 2 one finally get to one last but let's lead it off number five starting in the secondary guys Cory Ellington an under the radar player from 2023 Big Frame safety I think this pass defense wern't as bad as people think maybe it's not they think they just forget it the defense is a whole with that I think they were in the top 40 in pass defense last year again but this defense was better than people remember they need to be even better they need specifically here Cory Ellington to man the secondary spot and be that guy can go play in the box but also can cover as well they need him to be an even better player in 2024 that's saying a lot because he was a solid player in 2023 but if this defense wants to give this 2024 Mississippi State team Jeff Levy's first team in start bowl a chance to go to a bowl game which I think would be a phenomenal season I think he'd be up for SEC coach of the year if that would to happen to get to six wins um this defense is gonna have to be improved I didn't see a whole lot of that in the spring again that was a long time ago that was back in April a lot of time summer through a whole fall Camp can progress but I want to see the defense and that's where it starts Coleman hudler's defensive unit the new DC coming over from Alabama they're going to have to at least be a winnable minus winnable type defense and give their offense a chance of I think the offense is going to have to carry the water but the defense is going to have to be there in games as well and I think it starts with Cory Ellington that big safety body coming in at number five he's gonna he's gonna have to have an impact and I think he is staying on the defensive side of the ball let's just go up a level let's go to that second level you lost some guys Nathaniel Watson you lost jet Johnson your two best players the second level and arguably two of your top players on defense last year coming in number four second level John Lewis I think he takes that next stop some people Next Step sorry some people may say hey the South Carolina transer Stone blam why is he not in there I just have a feeling John Lewis could be one of those leaders it made the infamous comment at SEC media days in regards to Old Miss saying it's their state he was defending his university saying it was Mississippi state state but um I've heard this guy has had a great spring for people close to the program and there's an opportunity like I mentioned for him to take advantage because there's two open spots there he's going to main one and I think Stone Blandon but I think John Lewis is going to be the impact guy I think John Lewis ends up being one of the leaders of the front seven and a necessary impact player Missy State doesn't have to be a shutdown defense guys but they need someone at both levels and I think they have that guy with Damonte Russ Damonte Russell on the front the in the trenches I think John Lewis is that second guy and like I mentioned number five impact player Cory El's gonna have to F factor into that but I think that second level linebacker just I don't think you're gonna make up for the production of Nathaniel Watson and Jet Johnson but I think John Lewis can supplement that I think he's going to be key he's GNA have have to have an impact I think he will go to the other side of the ball let's go let's go to the offens side of the ball Jeff leby special number three I'm gonna love to hear some of these announcers try to pronounce these names a little bit but I'm going with wide receiver UTEP transfer Kelly aari that's the UT transfer can he make the jump and be a consistent weapon for Blake shapen in this offense this offense needs a weapon on the outside I mean it's going to have to be either a guy Kevin Coleman that's a Louisville Transfer or our guy Kelly aari here played started in all 12 games one of two Conference USA wide receivers to tally a thousand yards or more again obviously LED UT the miners in receiving the the impressive stat here to me was the yards per catch 21 and a half yards on average per catch at LAD conference just St that was fifth in the FBS that's impressive mississipp State's gonna need that again I think when Zack summon made this higher the Mississippi State ad going back to his root here at Oklahoma with Jeff Levy that relationship I knew he he knew hey Miss State I need an exciting brand because let's be honest Miss State fans don't take this offensively you're not going to go consistently compete for championships it just is what it is but you need an exciting brand and this type of offense with this type of weapon like aari is gonna be massive it's gonna be massive Blake shapen I think this is GNA be a perfect match here if you go back and watch the spring game I love what I saw out of him he plays bigger than even he list than his list but I think the big stat is step out they could get something similar not add to the number 21 and a half yards per catch last year fifth in FBS that's something to keep an eye he can make plays vertically and this offense needs they need it and that's why Kelly aari comes in at number three number two we're staying on offense spoiler we're staying on offense across the board here don't check out on me yet miss State coming at number two the Canadian himself Albert ree appeared in all 12 games I think he started the last two years from Miss be State I think he's missed a start if I'm right 133 snaps uh did not allow a sack and has only allowed two hurries all season and this unit has a lot on its shoulders he's really the only return it's kind of a mixture of some reserves from last year and some guys that have played college football but they're new they can this unit come in and jail together hearing them in the spring hearing people close to the program it sounds like it's a close-knit unit closer than you would think especially in today's era but it's the only position where if you told me just straight up you just a date Missi State's offensive line was not good in 2024 I mean they were a four- win team it starts up front here I think they're going to be solid but this unit has to be able to because it starts up front with them protecting Blake shapen and him being able to get it out to the weapons they potentially have on the outside it has to start up front and it starts with the leader the Cog that is back the only Cog really that is back on this offensive unit that's Albert ree that starts with him he's got to have a good year I think he will again the offensive line is going to be key for this Miss State again like you said if you told me they weren't good I'd have a hard time seeing this football team be good you could say that about a lot of teams but specifically because I think the offense is going to have to carry the water at least at the very beginning but Albert ree checking in number two impact player for Mississppi state number one guys we going to Blake shap quarterback the most important position in the sport of college football and football in general even at the pro level highest level and probably at all of sports the most important if you don't have a good one you can't really compete and attain your old M gos you just came but veteran college quarterback I think is a fantastic piece to Jeff Levy's first team in Star I don't think he could asked for a better not stop G that's not the right word because he fits the system so well that you couldn't have asked for a better guy to be your qb1 in your first year probably wish he had another year with him but we'll see how that uh we'll see who's kind of maybe the Michael Van be kid the next guy but uh as a freshman he led Baylor to a big 12 title we all know that uh in his career I think it Baylor was like 34 touchdowns of 13 interceptions something like that he's played a lot of football he's played a lot of football you could not have asked for a better first year quarterback I think that I mean probably for anybody in the league I mean you step it into start B you could have been rolling with Michael Van Beren who's going to be a good player but you wouldn't want to be starting your first year with a true freshman you got an experienced guy fit your system well key with Blake shaping we know if you followed Baylor football if you followed Blake shaping career his career he has to stay healthy has to stay healthy and also I think a benefit to Blake schaen here this is the first head coach he's had he only had one other Dave Randa Baylor but this guy's a quarterback coach and he's and he's shown that he's developed quarterbacks hold re years's a little bit here miss State fans Matt Carell at Old Miss he helped develop with L kein Dylan Gabriel UCF and Oklahoma who's now gonna be the starting quarterback for Oregon who's going to be a playoff Contender Big 10 Contender this year he has good relationships with his quarterbacks I think that's really GNA help shapen it's gonna help Levy kind of both get their feet wet get used to each other in that first year I think that's going to be key so I think no doubt about it Blake shapen is going to be a massive impact player easily the number one that's probably one of the easier ones the easier number ones I've done out of all the teams in this segment so far of the most top five impact players for every team in the SEC uh but guys maybe just missed the cut I mean I think you can make a case for linebacker Stone Blandon I know we had John Lewis on there South Carolina transfer Stone BL he could be on there I think that's fair wide receiver Kevin Coleman I mentioned him when I was talking about our guy um Kelly aari you could mention Kevin Coleman the Louisville Transfer as well defensive lineman I mentioned him as well if be State on defense is going to have to have players step up at all three level levels I mentioned Damonte Russell on the interior I think he's going to have to make an impact um this year but just reviewing five through one here guys on the top five impact players from Mississippi State heading into 2024 coming in at five safety Cory Ellington let's take another step big fow I think they're gonna need it Coleman hutler first year DC has been at South Carolina been at Old Miss B's outside linebacker coach last few years first time DC can he do it he's going to need a guy Cory El to help him the back end the backend's so important now guys with how EXP exposive uh college football is how good a spatial game it is they're going to need him coming at fours drop down a level second level John Lewis there's reps to be had there's starter minutes to be had John Lewis Stone blend I think they're both going to be good I think John Lewis is gonna be a leader of that front seven though he checks in at number four at linebacker number three I mentioned it earlier wide receiver Kelly aari coming over from UTEP can he transition from confer USA to the SEC they need that vertical threat remember guys that that yard per catch last year average top five in the FBS it's massive Miss State's going to need something like that number two offensive tackle Albert ree the Cog back really the only Cog except for a few reserves on that Miss State offensive line they're bringing in some transfers he's going to have to help them Jael the Miss State offensive line is going to have to be good for them to even have a chance to get six wins and bow eligibility it starts with Albert Ree and then he's guys to protect his guy coming in at number one quarterback Baylor transfer Blake shapen keep saying it couldn't ask for a better fit for Jeff Levy year one at that quarterback spot I think he's going to have a big year that relationship is going to be similar to Matt caral Dylan Gabriel I like what Blake shapen brings to the TBL played a lot of football at Baylor 34 what touchdowns or 13 interceptions something like that I said in his career at Baylor perfect marriage here um but guys I appreciate you joining us on this segment of the top five most impactful guys for the Mississippi State Bulldogs heading in 2024 I think it's successful year I've stated before for for Jeff leing year one when all four year conference games got to get that Arizona State game gotta win all four of those and then get get a get a win in the league play get to five again I'm never saying five and seven is should be acceptable anywhere that's a losing record that should not be acceptable anywhere in the SEC but I think it's a step in the right direction especially if you're fun and putting an exciting offensive product on the field so I think that's fair and again guys I appreciate you joining us on this segment I am your host Dave shate you phenomenal event [Music]