​TAMPA, FL — Jeff Lebby fielded a fairly straight-forward question at SEC Media Days about where he thinks Mississippi State football will take another jump in 2026.The easy answer, and probably the one fans would’ve expected, is Kamario Taylor, the new starting quarterback. Taylor is the talk of the team and could be MSU’s ceiling-raiser in his first season as the full-time starter.But instead, Lebby pointed to offensive line and the secondary.”I do think, without a doubt, offensively, it’s at the line of scrimmage,” Lebby said on July 23. “We’re going to take a huge jump there. Having the ability to protect Kamario and be able to run the football the way we want to run the football will be a huge point of emphasis.”And then I think defensively, just our depth in the secondary and our safety position. Obviously, Kelley (Jones) is at corner, but what we’re going to be able to do opposite of him is exciting.”Why Jeff Lebby likes Mississippi State’s offensive lineOffensive line has been an issue for Lebby’s two seasons at Mississippi State.Offensive line coach Cody Kennedy was fired after the 2024 season. Phil Loadholt replaced him, but improvements weren’t very noticeable in 2025.Loadholt was retained for this season with only one returning starter in center Canon Boone. The Bulldogs added transfers DJ Chester, Miles McVay and LJ Prudhomme, who are all expected to be contributors.”What we were able to do in the portal, I’m really excited about it,” Lebby said. “I think our top six guys are guys that can go win a bunch of football games and play at a really high level.”But Mississippi State knows it needs more than six reliable offensive linemen. That’s been difficult for Lebby to find and will be a focus for preseason practices that begin Aug. 6.”We’ve got to continue to develop the depth in spots seven, eight, nine and 10 and figure out those best 10 guys,” Lebby said. “I feel as good as I felt since being here about our top six.”MORE: Kamario Taylor hype grows for Mississippi State football, with Nick Saban adding onMississippi State replacing production at safety, needs another cornerbackIsaac Smith returns to Mississippi State for his third starting season in his hybrid safety/linebacker spot. But other safeties like Jahron Manning, Hunter Washington and Brylan Lanier are gone. Manning was MSU’s leading tackler in 2025. Lanier, who also played some cornerback, led Mississippi State with four interceptions.Evan Harvey is Mississippi State’s new safeties coach who will lead the position mostly highlighted by transfers like Marcus Williams, Jardin Gilbert and Kendel Dolby.Bralan Womack is the wild card. The four-star from Hartfield Academy was Mississippi State’s top-rated signee in the 2026 recruiting class. If he’s ready, he could make a big impact as a freshman.”He’s come in and has worked incredibly hard,” Lebby said. “He’s incredibly talented. He’s still an 18-year-old kid. He’s got a lot to figure out to able to live and go exper