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Lebby not letting recent news keep him from the present
STARKVILLE Jeff Lebby was tight-lipped and attentive at the podium on Tuesday at the Seal Complex.Mississippi States head coach did not have much to say regarding the possible additions of edge rusher Malick Sylla and safety Jahron Manning. ESPNs Pete Thamel reported on Monday night that the Bulldogs are in the process of adding them back in light of a recent court ruling in Colorado that would give Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022 a fifth year of eligibility.The NCAA is currently trying to fight the ruling. If it gets overturned, it would make Sylla and Manning ineligible.There's not really anything else to say because they're not eligible, so they've got to go through a process, Lebby said. They're back in the building. We'll see how it all plays out.Lebby added that the two have not been able to practice because they're ineligible and that there are a lot of boxes that need to be checked for them to be eligible this coming season. In the meantime, hes focused on the present.My mind's on the guys that I know that are going to play on that first Saturday in Davis Wade, he said. If they come back, my mind will go there. But right now, again, I'm completely concerned and tuned in to the guys that are eligible for that first Saturday.As for Mondays practice, Lebby felt it wasnt where they wanted it to be. He saw lulls in energy, something the team will need to avoid in order to continue to play the fast and physical style of football that he values.Lebby did, however, see an uptick on Tuesday morning.There was better intent. There was physicality. There was more juice. Defensively, we had a really good day today, he said. You want great back and forth. You want great competition. But the energy at all times has got to be what it needs to be.I was pleased that our guys came back and answered to the challenge and had a good day.Watched DogsA handful of Bulldogs have been named to different watch lists and preseason teams over the past several days.Offensive lineman D.J. Chester was selected to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list and wide receiver Anthony Evans to the Hornug Award watch list. On Friday, Kyle Ferrie made it onto the watch list for the Lou Groza Award.Kelley Jones was named to two preseason all-American teams. He was named an all-American by Pro Football Network and a first-team all-American by On3sports.Defensive lineman Jaray Bledsoe, meanwhile, is part of Bruce Feldmans annual Freaks List. The list highlights some of the best pure athletes in college football heading into the season.
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