Receiver Room Drawing Early Praise At Camp
August 07, 2025 | Football, Joel Coleman
Transfers and returners standing out with talent and work ethic.
STARKVILLE – If you've noticed a glow coming from the direction of Starkville lately, it's not the beautiful new lights that'll illuminate Davis Wade Stadium this season. Those will get their shine in due time.
Instead, it's likely the bright smile beaming from the face of Mississippi State wide receivers coach Chad Bumphis, who is as excited about his current group of pass catchers as any he's ever had the chance to lead.
"I've had really good rooms, but this may be my favorite just because they love ball," Bumphis said. "You have to pull them off the football field.
"These are guys that you have to say, 'Woah', instead of, 'Giddy up'. You have to pull them back to protect them from themselves and over training. They just love ball, and you see it."
You sure do see it. The unit's playmaking ability is already being showcased in the early days of preseason camp. This stellar catch from transfer Brenan Thompson is just one of several recent highlights:
.@BrenenThompson_ - A man of his word.
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) August 1, 2025
CC: @BShapen #HailState pic.twitter.com/2AHuKtf66B
Thompson's grab illustrates the potential this crop of Bulldog pass catchers has. It's a deep group that has everyone buzzing.
"It's definitely the most talented [receiver] room I've been with, and I can honestly say that," quarterback Blake Shapen said. "Last year, we were really talented, but it's pretty crazy to think you can grow from last year and have an even better room, and I think we do.
"I was talking about it with [Bumphis] the other day. We were talking about how good it is to be around those guys and their personalities. But they're also just very talented. We retained a few of them like Jordan Mosley, Ricky Johnson, Sanfrisco Magee and guys like that. Then you've got others like [transfers Anthony Evans III] and [Thompson]. We just have depth. And especially in this league, you want to be able to plug in guys whenever you need them. So, it's good."
Each player is intriguing in his own way. There's Thompson, who spent the first three seasons of his career at Oklahoma. The first two of those campaigns, his offensive coordinator was current MSU head coach Jeff Lebby.
Thompson's familiarity with his head coach has allowed for a seamless transition to the Bulldog offense. It's benefitting all involved.
"I kind of help everyone [with the playbook] to be honest with you," Thompson said. "I know it like the back of my hand. So, it's been good for me to help our younger guys and the guys who don't understand it as much."
On flip side of Thompson's experience, there are exciting young guns like redshirt freshmen Johnson and Magee.
"Personally, I think [Johnson] has taken the biggest steps from last year to this year," Bumphis said. "He's unbelievable as far as maturity. Obviously, we know he can play, and he spent all of last year playing outside. Back in the spring, he played in the slot and looked incredible.
"And I'm getting excited about what [Magee] is becoming. We know what he is athletically. It just has to click, and he will play this game for a long time. I think he is understanding that now."
You can keep right on rolling down the list, envisioning productive seasons from so many. Whether that's transfers like Evans or Ayden Williams, or longtime Dawgs like Mosley, who has already played 31 games in Maroon and White.
That's the thing about Lebby's system. Opportunity is everywhere.
"It's a receiver's dream. It really is," Bumphis said of Lebby's offense. "I say it every year, but we get in here in the offseason and watch self-scout cut-ups. We are going to make [opponents] cover all 53 yards [of the width of the field]. You are going to get one-on-one, and as a receiver, that is all you want.
"We are going to put you in the best position…Go beat the guy across from you. I think we have guys that are excited about doing that."
About three weeks remain before the Bulldog receivers get their first chance in 2025 to show what they can really do when State opens its new campaign at Southern Miss. That's when potential can turn into reality.
In the meantime, on the practice field with little fanfare, the group will simply keep working to make sure their promise is ultimately realized.
"We have guys in that room that can play," Lebby said of his receivers. "The thing that I love about the room is that it's an unselfish room. It's connected. There's depth to it and a lot of different body types. When they're all fighting together and competing together, we have a chance to be really good. We've got to go do it and we have a lot of work to do, but I like that group."
