Lee Looking For Memorable Last Season At MSU
August 18, 2024 | Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's backfield will look drastically different this year.
The Bulldogs are expected to roll several running backs through to keep pace with Jeff Lebby's up-tempo offense with each guy bringing a little something different to the table.
Running back Keyvone Lee broke out a boxing analogy to try and describe the skillsets he and his backfield mates have to offer.
"We've got uppercuts, hooks, jabs – anything you want, we've got it," Lee said. "We've got power, speed, agility, elusiveness."
Power is an attribute that Lee certainly has in his game. The 6-foot, 225-pounder is a physical runner that isn't afraid to lower his pads and punish defenders in his way and is constantly falling forward to gain extra yardage.
"He's a plus-two guy," said head coach Jeff Lebby. "He can find a way to gain six but fall for eight. He's got to continue to do that and give us that physicality at that position. It's not just Keyvone, we've got some other guys that can do it as well. I just love having the big, physical part of who Keyvone is and having that is huge."
Lee's opportunities were limited last year after his transfer following three seasons at Penn State, where he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. The St. Petersburg, Florida native was a late arrival to MSU last fall and fell behind the other backs that all had the luxury of learning the offense during spring practices.
"I came in late, right before camp," Lee said. "They were moving along on the installs and I was still on install one. It was kind of tough playing catch-up, but it eventually worked out. But now I'm up to pace and even ahead of everything. I know what we're about to do before we even do it."
Lee appeared in eight games for the Bulldogs in 2023 where he carried 12 times for 78 yards. He ripped off a season-long 33-yard run against Western Michigan and averaged a whopping 6.3 yards per attempt for the season despite only a handful of chances.
Standing on the sidelines last season wasn't easy. Lee played in 27 games and made seven starts during his career at Penn State and even led the Nittany Lions in rushing as a true freshman. But whenever his number was called last fall, Lee tried to showcase what he could do.
"I just kept my faith in God and waited my turn," Lee said. "Patience comes with greatness is one quote that I love because I wasn't getting any reps. But every time I got an opportunity, I made the most of it."
Although Lee has been playing college football since the pandemic-stricken 2020 season, the now fifth-year senior has a hard time fathoming just how quickly his career has flown by.
"When I first got to college, I remember guys saying that time flies," Lee said. "You really don't listen to that because you're young and don't really know. But now that I'm in this position, I can tell you that time flies."
Lee is expected to be a big part of State's identity in the backfield this season but is also being looked to as a veteran leader. The leadership role isn't something that Lee takes lightly and holds himself accountable for his own actions first before passing along advice and critiques to his teammates.
"I try to be a leader for myself first before I can be a leader to anyone else," Lee said. "I lead myself and try to uphold the standard that I want for myself before I try to go do that for any of my teammates. I feel like when I do that, that's when I can go help my team."
The Bulldogs hit the transfer portal hard during the offseason and brought in a bunch of new players to bridge gaps on this year's roster. Lee doesn't have to look too far back in the rearview mirror to remember what it's like to be one of the players transferring in and has tried his best to welcome those newcomers to the team with open arms.
"Most of them have been here since January and we've done a lot of bonding activities," Lee said. "We've been hanging with them, being around them and bringing them in. We need them as much as they need us."
But whether it's a returnee like Lee, a transfer or incoming freshman, every player on the roster has been working to build a relationship with their new head coach. Lebby, however, has made that an extremely easy process due to his personality and ability to connect to his players.
"He's a great guy and an amazing coach, one of the best coaches I've ever had in college," Lee said. "He's been in our shoes, so he knows how to relate to us and knows what it takes to get through to us. I love that about him."
Although the clock is counting down the days until the Bulldogs' season opener against Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 31, Lee is keeping his feet on the ground and his mind focused on the daily tasks at hand to ensure he puts himself in the best position possible to have a memorable last season at Mississippi State.
"I can't wait but I'm taking it day-by-day," Lee said. "I'm not trying to look or jump ahead, but I can't wait because I know it's going to be special."
