In the case of Mississippi State football, you win some, you lose some. Recently, the Bulldogs parted ways with defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler—a definite loss. However, they quickly made a move to fill the gap by signing former coach and defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, marking a significant win for the program.
Despite these coaching changes, the Bulldogs suffered another setback. On Friday, offensive lineman Brennan Smith announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal after starting in 32 games, according to Pete Nakos of On3Sports.com.
Smith took to social media to bid farewell to Starkville, writing, “Beyond blessed, thank you Lord!” In a heartfelt message, he stated:
“First off, I would like to thank God for blessing me to be in this position. I want to thank all of the coaches and players who helped me continue to grow on and off the field. With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Thank you, Mississippi State.”
Mississippi State concluded the regular season with a 5-7 record overall and a 1-7 record in the SEC. The Bulldogs are set to face Wake Forest on January 2nd in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A bit about Brennan Smith: he hails from Pensacola, Florida, and attended Escambia High School. He then played at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, Smith transferred to UTEP, where he started in 11 games.
Mississippi State football has increasingly become a revolving door, with a notable number of players entering the transfer portal recently. So far this offseason, ten players—including Smith—have opted to leave the program. Other players entering the portal include backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek; wide receivers Jordan Mosley, Cam Thompson, Anson Lewis, and Jaron Glover; defensive lineman Terrance Hibbler; offensive lineman Jaekwon Bouldin; and safety Stonka Burnside.
Last season, the Bulldogs saw between 10 to 12 players enter the transfer portal, and this trend continues amid a major rebuilding phase under head coach Jeff Lebby.
The road ahead for Mississippi State football will be challenging as Lebby works to stabilize and rebuild the program while navigating these roster changes. Fans will be watching closely to see how the Bulldogs respond in the coming season.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/mississippi-state-football-news-brennan-smith-transfer-portal