‘A Blessing To Be Able To Play Again’
August 26, 2025 | Football, Joel Coleman
Quarterback Blake Shapen is all set for his return to action.
STARKVILLE – You don't know what you've got until it's gone.
It's been almost 40 years since rock band Cinderella first sang that in one of the group's biggest hits, but it's still ringing true in Starkville as it pertains to Mississippi State's Blake Shapen.
A shoulder injury cut the Bulldog quarterback's season short after only four games last season. But on Saturday, close to a calendar year since Shapen last played in a game that counts, he'll finally be back on the field leading MSU into action at Southern Miss. He's certainly not taking the opportunity for granted given all he's been through.
"It's just a blessing to be able to play again," Shapen said. "It's been a long time since I've been on the field, so being able to get out there with the guys is going to be fun. I'm just excited to play another game."
As thrilled as Shapen is to return to action, the Bulldogs are equally as pumped. It might've gotten lost as last season wore on, but before Shapen was hurt, he flashed exactly how good he is at orchestrating head coach Jeff Lebby's offense.
At the time of his injury, Shapen was 12th nationally and third in the Southeastern Conference in Pro Football Focus passing grade. He was third in the SEC in passing yards, touchdowns thrown, yard per game and explosive plays of 50 yards or more.
It all came to a screeching halt in a September game against Florida though. By that evening, it was announced Shapen wouldn't return in 2024.
It was difficult, but it wasn't defeating for Shapen. He took it all as an opportunity to grow.
"The biggest thing with [getting hurt] is I was able to take a step back," Shapen said. "Obviously I wasn't the guy on the field, but I was in every single meeting and able to take notes that went into every game plan. I feel like things like that allow you to really dive in mentally and be in the playbook every week and understand every situation in a different lens – almost in a coach's lens."
To a degree, that's what Shapen now is. He's a bit like a coach out on the practice fields.
"He knows what the coaches are looking for in a certain route combination or in some sort of technique or whatever it is," quarterbacks coach Matt Holocek said. "So he's not only able to communicate with us more confidently and clearly, but then he's able to communicate with the left tackle or the receiver or whoever it is."
Shapen is also using his knowledge to sharpen his backups – transfer Luke Kromenhoek and freshman KaMario Taylor.
"I'm big into friendship and helping the guys that are behind me, so I feel like it's my job to carry them along," Shapen said.
Combine his knowledge with his personality, and you begin to see why Shapen's presence within this Mississippi State football program is so vital.
Forget playbooks and routes and schemes for a second. Shapen is simply a uniter of people.
"I think he is an amazing human, and it starts there," MSU receiver Brenan Thompson said of Shapen. "He is a great leader and role model. He takes this team and holds it up wherever it is needed. He is a down-to-earth guy, he is a quarterback on the field and he is the same guy off the field, always looking out for everybody. I could not be more blessed to be his teammate."
Getting knocked down a season ago has seemingly only made Shapen stronger in every single area. He's listed at 6-foot-1 on the roster, but his presence is more like that of a guy that's 10 feet tall.
"I'd be up here for a little while if I talked about all [that Shapen means to the program]," Lebby said. "I couldn't be more proud of the guy and how he has responded [since his injury]. As he went through what he went through a year ago, to see him today [is incredible]. There's his leadership. He's a guy that walks into our building every day the exact same. You know exactly what you're going to get. There is a lot of noise for young people, especially at that position, but he has the ability to block it out and focus on his job.
"Then there has been this incredible amount growth in year two in the offense. I'm excited for a ton of our guys. I am excited for our football team, our program and our fans, and I'm excited that Blake gets to go out there and play."
As Shapen returns to action, you might see an even wiser version of him. That's one thing his injury of a year ago cemented within himself.
Shapen is the ultimate competitor. However, in 2025, he plans to harness that better by being more judicious.
"There are times that you can't control taking a hit," Shapen explained. "It may be the down or may be the type of play that's called, and you have to take a hit. For me, sometimes I took hits [in the past] that were very unnecessary.
"For me to move forward, I feel like I have to be able to get down in critical situations and understand when it's time to get down and when it's not. I have to be able to protect myself but at the same time compete. I am a competitor and every play I want to lay it out on the line, but I've got to understand the situation of the game."
Time will tell how naturally Shapen is able to mix his competitive style with what's best for himself and the Dawgs, but this much is certain.
He's thrilled to have the chance to run out on the field and figure it out.
"Obviously, it's been a long time so it's just a blessing having the ability to go out there and be healthy," Shapen said.
