Johnny's World
Johnny's World
Jaden Walley and Missouri Game Preview
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Johnny and BW talk a bit about last week's loss to Georgia and the upcoming game against Missouri. Can the Mississippi State Bulldogs get bowl eligible?
Then, Jaden Walley joins the show and shares some of his favorite memories playing for the Bulldogs.
Order some fresh roasted coffee for a great holiday gift at johnnypacker.net
All right, welcome back to another episode of the Johnny's World Podcast. This is BW with my co-host Johnny. Johnny, how are we doing today?
SPEAKER_00Man, BW, another another week down. We only got two games left. We say this every year. Season just flies by, man. But what do they say? I guess time goes fast and we're having fun. So uh it's been a fun season, even though the results hadn't shown that great. But uh that's how it happens every year, man. Just it just flies by. It does, yeah.
SPEAKER_03It flies by. Just crazy. It feels feels like November out there, though. I mean, it seems like as soon as the calendar turns November, it gets cold, gets dark. Uh, and you know, that's I always equate that with the egg bowl. And so uh it's it's around the corner.
SPEAKER_00It man, the Georgia game of the day was like uh it felt like 90 degrees outside. It was hot as anything, and then the next day uh it got cold and it's been cold like two days in now. Today it's warming up again. Pretty crazy how uh weather in the south is like this, but uh yeah, yeah, I would have never thought Sunday being a being a November game that I'd be sweating at the game. And then uh now the cold weather here, but it must have been their our last uh uh our first cold snap of the year. But anyway, the the game talking about the game, really not much to say about it. I mean, the Georgia looks to be one of the best teams in the country. You know, uh people talked about man, Georgia might be taking a step back this year. And uh from the looks of the other day, they're not taking a step back. I truly think they're gonna be in the discussion for the national championship again. Um, I know, I know AM was a was a tough loss for us, but uh Georgia, I mean, I can see Georgia winning the national championship BW. They're really good. Of course, we made a lot of penalties and errors, but at that opening drive, we drove all the way down the field, score a touchdown right off the get-go. And I'm thinking, you know, because I predict the score to be about a 10-point game, think it was gonna come down to the wire. I'm thinking the same thing. Like, all right, we gotta hold on. It's gonna be a this can be a barn burner again. And lo and behold, they just kind of took away it and and ran with it. But uh, but yeah, they're they're just a better team. Uh, they got they got uh bigger guys on the team, but uh, but hey, we hung, we hung. We didn't we didn't really give up, I don't think. Uh just they just showed the the talent gap between the two teams. But uh you just kind of if you're a player, you gotta flush that. We'll know that yeah, that's kind of what we expected. We're we're gonna uh drop that one. And then we got these two coming here that man, Missouri Ole Miss. You got a chance in both of them. Uh Missouri's on the road. Desperate need to get six wins uh to get to a bowl. I think that would just the whole fan base would be relieved to get to a bowl game, especially the fact that we dropped three games this year that we should have won, which means we would already be bowl eligible and we'd probably be in the playoff discussion. But it is what it is. We're just trying to get this last uh uh we're trying to get we'd love to get both of them if possible, but just try to get one. And as I keep saying, man, when the egg ball comes around, if old mission takes care of business against Florida and they come into Davis Wade needing to win to get in the playoffs, what perfect way to spoil their season by upsetting them. But uh regardless, it's gonna be uh it's gonna be a fight to the finish for the Bulldogs to try to get that sixth win. What are your what are your thoughts, BW?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you know, Georgia, it's one of those things everybody says they're kind of down this year. And and I think really the difference is they're they're not just going out and killing people, they're just kind of running over people, but they are they are finding finding ways to win. They're staying in games. You know, the the talent talent gap is not the same as it was, but you know, at the end of the day, it comes down to you know the coaching veteran coaching, and you know, you're seeing these these teams that um are you know still kind of floating to the top of the pack here that they're just they're finding ways to win, uh, not in dominant fashing like we're used to, which I'm excited. I mean, I think that means the playoff is gonna be much better because you know you end up in these playoff games and it's like 45 to nothing, it's just like a dud. You look forward to it all year, and then you know, none of the games are close. I think we're gonna have a really interesting playoff this year. Um, because there's you know just a handful of teams that that are up there at the top that that are probably better than everybody, but I don't think they're that much better than everybody. So I'm I'm really looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Um, you know, I did expect us to play a little better. I think that we we kind of gave it away a little bit there at the end of the second half. We allowed the momentum to shift. I mean, we were we were hanging with them for that half and made it, you know, just some dumb calls and some some dumb penalties at the end of that half, let them score that touchdown. And at that point, it just snowballed and we couldn't couldn't do anything else. So um, but you know, at the end of the day, I didn't expect to win the game. Um, you know, so I was I was glad we were there. But you know, with with Missouri, I would rather go ahead and beat them so so that we're we're bowl eligible. And then the egg bowl could go however, you know, you obviously you want to win the egg bowl, but if we go ahead and get that monkey off the back and and get get to bowl eligibility, that would be awesome. Um, you know, I think it comes down to us being healthy. I I don't know. Um, I don't know what the latest update is on Albert Reese, Isaac Smith. I mean, and then uh obviously our our uh our cornerback was it Washington, had that targeting penalty. That took him out for the first half, I think, um, of this next game, doesn't it? Man, that yeah, I believe so.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, which is big was rough, man. Like uh, I remember seeing that, and I saw the Georgia coaching staff and the trainers just sprint to midfield running 90 miles per hour. I'm like, what in the world? I thought like a fight had happened. I was like, what's going on? I guess they saw how how that hit was, and man, it was kind of scary. The whole crowd just uh like he wasn't moving for a second. And thank God that he got up. And uh props to our guy, he came over and and shook his hand and gave him well wrists. And uh, I didn't think he, and that was awesome. Uh good sportsmanship on his part. And uh, but it was a scary hit right there. But yeah, man, uh, you know, BW, I've been been critical of Levy's play call in the end of the game most of the this year. And uh, you know, I I was mad again at him at one point in the game, earlier in the game, uh, where we were in field goal range and we didn't get the field goal. And I'm like, get take the points, take the points, you gotta take the points. Which at the end of the game, it really didn't matter. But in situations like that, when we're playing a team like Georgia, man, you gotta you gotta get every point you can possibly get. And he went for it there. I guess he he thought they could get the first down. But man, and just just knowing knowing teams like that, you need to get the points. But man, I I really feel like uh Levy is a good good play caller in a sense, but like he's kind of over his head as being a young head coach, being a uh he need I just feel like he needs someone there with him who has experience. And I was listening to someone talk about this week, he has the perfect guy to do it, but Mississippi State wouldn't hire him, is his father-in-law, Art Browles. He coached at Baylor. Of course, he had the off-the-field issues that got him fired at Baylor, but he just needs someone there with him because he's so young and inexperienced as far as the head coach goes. But he's a good play caller, a good, I mean, he's an offensive tempo guy and everything, even though he's made some dumb plays calls at the end, but that goes to game management and head coaching. So I don't know, man. It feels like uh someone right needs to be there right with him, but uh on calls like that. But uh it didn't affect this game, thank goodness.
SPEAKER_03But uh he just he's a good uh he's a good motivator, yeah, good play play caller, but the players play for him, yeah. But but discipline, like if he can clean up you know the penalties, right? And and then the the situational things. The thing that bothers me about him is that he he doesn't admit that he made a mistake. Right, right. I'm hoping that in his mind he's still knowing that he made a mistake and that he's learning from that, and that he's just like putting on this like front that oh, I'm right, and but he's not gonna do it again. But I really hope that he's not just saying, Oh, well, I would do that again if it happens again, you know, like because obviously that's not gonna end well. Um, so if he can learn from that, or like you said, if he can have somebody in his ear saying, hey, we don't don't go for it on this, let's just, you know, let's just you know take the points here and all that.
SPEAKER_00Uh the maddest I've been all year, BW, because I was at the swamp. I saw that play, I saw it happen in the game. And then the fact that in the post-game, he said, I love the call, I'd do it again. I'm like, really? Did you really just say that? I'm like, man, if he had just said, you know what, I messed up, we give the ball to the running back or just run the ball, get center of the field, kick the field goal, at least try. But he didn't, man. And I'm like what you just said, you know, it's just like, is he stubborn or hard-headed? Or I mean, I don't understand that. And I think the fan base would have would have liked him to say, you know what, I should have run the ball. It's my fault. I put it on me. He didn't. So it's just stuff like that that that uh kind of irks me. But but maybe that's being maybe he's just like we said, he's young, inexperienced as a head coach, doesn't know. But uh the but the on the bright side of it, uh, when he kind of gets kind of stepped back a little, man. I was hey, you know me, man. I was ready to get rid of them. I was like, this is crazy. We shouldn't be dropping these games, get rid of them. But man, after you get that win against Arkansas, you get that monkey off your bat, you sit back and look at the picture and say, you know what, we're in these games. Last year we're getting blown out by Toledo. That is improvement. And uh it's hard to say it in the moment when you're getting beat at the last second on boneheaded calls. It's really hard to hard to look back and see it. But after you take a break and look and see, hey, look, we have improved this year. That is improvement. Uh, I think, I think, I think maybe we're in the right right direction. Um, he's being kind of stubborn with the whole shaping thing again. Um, I heard today he's like, if he's if he's uh if he's healthy enough, he's gonna play. I'm like, look, dude, look what Kamario Taylor did when you put him in the game. Scored three touchdowns. He's much better athlete than Blake Shapen. I don't know what shape what Levy's deal is with Shapin, being his guy and feel like he needs to play him or something, but man, you gotta put the players out there who's gonna win the games. And in my opinion, a bunch of people I know's opinion, Taylor looks like the real deal. I mean, he he he did really well. So it'll be interesting to see what happens. Uh don't want any injuries to happen to any players at all. But if Shapin is is banged up, it might be to our advantage to put Mario Taylor out there against Missouri and give him his first start, see how he does. And then, hey, look, if he doesn't, if it doesn't go as planned, you know, at least you gave him a shot to see. Uh, because he is the future of Mississippi State if he doesn't go anywhere. And the way he's pro uh playing, man, people are teams are gonna come after him, so we're gonna need to keep that guy. Uh, and but he's he's showing signs of signs of promise. So anyway, uh I hope that he gets some playing time against Missouri this weekend.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I hope so too. And you know, like you said, I nobody wants anybody to be injured. And I hope Shapin gets better, but right it would just make everybody's decision a lot easier if if he can't play this week. Everybody gets to see what Camario can do for a full game, and then Shapin can come back in the egg bowl. And and you know, he's probably gonna get the start if he's back for the egg bowl because because Levy believes in the veteran. But hopefully we see what Camario can do and and and put him in for some more drives and packages, and and so you know, use him during the egg bowl still and let Shapin kind of have his swan song and and finish out the year. But um, yeah, I I that that play that he should have kicked the field goal. I want to say Camario was in, and then he put Shapen in on that fourth down. And they showed Camario on TV when Shapin was was when he gets called out, and you can see him kind of like he didn't really roll his eyes, but you can tell he's frustrated that he was having to come out. And right, and you know, I of course he's a competitive guy, and you hope that he doesn't really take that to heart that he's mad. But uh I hated seeing that that too.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I hate that too. Um, I mean, but you when when you and it's just common sense, you know, that's what makes me a little worried about Levy. That a lot of the stuff he's doing is common sense. We're not football coaches, but we know the the the best way to get that like for instance, the the the play clock running it, snapping in the Texas game when there's 25. You gotta you got the lead. Burn that clock, man. Wait till that play clock runs down, snap the ball. Florida, get in field goal range. I mean, you're in field goal range, run the ball, get over to the center, kick the field goal. It's just kind of stupid stuff. You know, you got take the points against Georgia. I just don't understand what what in his mind, it's something something I just don't know, BW. I just feel like some somebody needs to be there with him, explain like look, take a step back, look what's going on here. That's what we need to do, rather than just I know he has an up-tempo offense. That's what he's known for. Let's go, let's go, let's go. But in situations like that, when you got the lead against Texas, you don't need to be up tempo. You need to let it back. And and you got the lead. But uh a lot of this stuff, BW, I think we're just talking about as he as I said earlier, young, young head football coach, and he'll learn as time goes on. But sure would be nice if his father-in-law, Hart Browls, would give him a call and explain like some stuff to him. Maybe he does, I don't know. But uh he's got he's got a good one to learn from, even though uh he had some off the field issues at Baylor. But uh but anyway, uh like I said, I'm just glad we're in these games. But Missouri game, BW, I think uh I think it's gonna be a close one again. Uh on the roads, tough to win in the SEC. Um, but if they're down, they're down to their what third string quarterback, I heard. And you know, uh our guest on today uh talked about Kevin Coleman. That's our receiver that we had on our team last year, transferred to Missouri. Uh so I know he's probably gonna want to want to show off and beat his whole team. But uh man, I I'm gonna pick the Bulldogs, BW. I really am. I I'm gonna say we we're gonna get the monkey off our back on a and well, we've already did that with Arkansas, but get it off our back again to get a six wins, and I think we're gonna win 24-21. That's my score prediction. What are your thoughts?
SPEAKER_03I like that. Yeah, because I mean, I think it is gonna be a little bit of a struggle on us for us offensively. Uh, because you know, Missouri's a good defensive team, and uh, if we can we can slow them down a little bit on offense, then I definitely think we have a chance. Um, whether it ends up being Kamario or Shaken, I think we we have a chance to win this one. And and I, you know, I'm just gonna ride with you. I think 24-21, Bulldogs winning in a close one there. I'm I'm on board for that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think we can do it, man. I'm not saying that we will. I mean, probably won't happen, but but uh I I like our chances. Missouri, they they seem like their coach is really good, and they always seem to be uh up there in the standings, but the injuries they've had this year, and I just feel like uh if Mississippi State puts a game to game game together without penalties, that's a big thing. Don't create a lot of penalties and shoot yourself in the foot. And uh if they play a clean game, then I think they can take care of business and get the win, which, like we just said, would be so much needed to get that six win and the egg bowl, the pressure's off, you know, just go play Ole Miss rather than you know coming into the egg bowl needing that six win, and Ole Miss needing a win to get to the playoffs. It would be just uh pressure on both sides. Uh so we'll see what happens. But you know, I heard Hay that talk about the the uh egg bowl, you know, talking about Tullen's first year, the egg bowl with Mississippi State, uh Ole Miss one uh was heavily favored. They went on to go to the cotton bowl and the state upset him in the egg bowl with uh with Chris Ralph. They ran option with Chris Ralph and Booby Dixon nonstop. You know, that sounds like a perfect uh scenario for Kamara Taylor to come in the game and and run all over Ole Miss. So uh a lot of similarities there.
SPEAKER_03Just run it, run it, run it.
SPEAKER_00Right. So we'll we'll see uh we'll see what happens with that. But uh just got to take care of business with Missouri first. And uh um it is definitely a winnable game. And and I I think uh I think I'm hopeful, hopefully wishing, thinking that that we can get to get that six win in Missouri. So uh, but we'll have to tune in and see what happens. And and uh regardless, uh it's been a good year, you know. Well yeah, we'd like to be eight and two right now. And uh gosh, if you beat Missouri nine and then you beat Ole Miss, we could end up being 10-2 if we had not done what we'd end those three games at the end. But uh anyway, just try to get six wins. I think a bowl game would be a brush breath of fresh air for this fan base for sure going into next season.
SPEAKER_03I agree. And uh y'all, y'all stay tuned for our guest, uh Jaden Wally.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Jaden Jaden Wally uh is our is our guest, his program BW. And uh he's uh he's a great guy. Played football uh under Coach Leach with Will Rogers, and they were setting records right and left on the field, played receiver, and uh great got got to catch up with him and talked about his time at Mississippi State, some of his favorite games, and that he stands memories that stand out playing with Coach Leach. And you know, he was recruited by uh Coach Moorhead. Coach Moore has let go, then Leach was his coach, then Leach passes, and then Arnett's the coach, and then Arnett's gets fired, and then I believe he was on the team last year with Levy. So he's had all these different coaches uh during his tenure, but really stands out with Coach Leach. That was uh kind of when he when he when he came on board and and did did really well with with Will in the offense. So uh stay tuned to hear hear what Jaden had to say. Great guy, great bulldog all around. And uh don't forget to go to johnnypacker.net. Uh, you know, we put this podcast on talking about Mississippi State Sports, but we're really here to talk about raising money for CF and just going by coffee products at Johnnypacker.net will help the cause. And you know, we had uh Joe Birch on the uh news guy in Memphis last week talking about uh his philanthropy efforts, helping out with CF and unquork the cure cure that we were at last year, and uh just simply buying a bag of coffee at johnnypacker.net. We're not asking well, just do that, and you will be helping save the life of someone with CF because it all goes towards uh drug research. And there's 10% of people with CF that need a miracle drug desperately, and uh and it go all goes towards that. Uh, when they make CF stand for cure found. So thank y'all for uh going to Johnnypacker.net, spread the word. Christmas is coming up, perfect time to get gifts for someone and $20 for a bag of coffee and knowing it's helping a good cause is a great way to spread Christmas cheer.
SPEAKER_03That's right. Y'all stay tuned for Jaden. Get some coffee on johnnypacker.net.
SPEAKER_00All righty.
SPEAKER_03All right, bye.
SPEAKER_00All right, welcome back to a brand new edition of the Johnny's World Podcast. It's Johnny here. Uh BW, how you doing, man? Man, I'm doing good. Doing good. Well, uh, well, we're we're very thankful. We got it, we got a great guest on today. And uh, you know, Brandon, his last name is the same as yours, so I thought that was pretty pretty funny. But uh, but he played football here at Mississippi State. Uh, you'll you'll definitely remember him uh during the the Mike Leach days with Will Rogers, and he played wide receiver. And uh Jaden Wally, welcome to Johnny's. We're all so thankful that you're here to join us. Yes, sir. I'm glad to be here. Well, Jaden, uh, take us a little bit back about uh really what what brought you to Mississippi State. We want to hear your story, man. Just tell us how how you ended up in Starbon.
SPEAKER_02Uh my story. Um, so in high school, my was going into my junior season of high school. Um, I had Alcorn State, Southern Miss, uh, a couple of JUCO offers, and I forget who the other three were, but irrelevant. Um, I was on my way to Southern Mess. I was gonna commit. I was going to a visit at Southern Mess that day. I was going to commit, getting dressed, like putting my pants on, putting my shirt on, and go get uh go commit to Southern Mess. And I got a phone call from, geez, what is his name? I can't think of his name. He's gonna kill me. Brad Peterson. That's his name. Brad Peterson got a phone call from Brad Peterson. He was like, hey Jaden, I was like, what's up, man? How you doing? My first time ever talking to Mississippi State people uh at all. First time ever hearing from him. Uh he was like, uh, I got word that you're going to Southern Mist to commit today, and I want to put a hold on that. He was like, uh, we want you here. Uh we'd love for you to come here. We don't care what position you play, we just we just need you here on campus. I was like, cool, I'll think about it. Whatever. So I go to Southern Mist that day. I did not end up committing to Southern Miss. And then as time went on, uh, state had offered me. So I start getting a lot of other offers. Auburn, Ole Miss, all the above, Kentucky, everybody, uh, pretty much a lot of people at that point. It got kind of crazy for like the next three days after state offered me. Um uh fast forward a little bit, get down the road. Uh I went to commit to Auburn to play receiver. Um, I told them I'm ready to commit. And they were like, uh, about that. We want you to play DB if you come here. So like that's not happening. So I immediately called my parents, um, told them I'm gonna commit to Mississippi State today. Um uh Auburn obviously doesn't want me to play what I want to play, so I'm gonna go somewhere where I can play where I want to, what I want to play. And uh that's kind of how I ended up at Mississippi State. Um, went on a couple visits there. Love the place, the town was awesome. I was not a Mississippi State fan growing up. I was an LSU fan, kind of. I wasn't like a diehard LSU fan, but like cheer for. Um but yeah, went to Mississippi State a couple times, went to start a couple times, and loved it. Uh went traded for the world. People there are awesome. And to this day, I get excited about going back to that town because I love it so much. So what Leech wasn't there yet during your initial recruiting, right? No, so Joe Moorhead recruited me, signed me, and got fired right as like maybe two weeks after we signed. Like Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Did you have doubts at that point? And were you gonna kind of wait and see who we got? Or what how'd you feel then?
SPEAKER_02I didn't have doubts at that point in life. Like football was like a like I like, I love playing football, but like it was like a I'm going to college thing, like. I get to go to college. I'm not, I don't care who the coach is. I didn't, I didn't think about it that much. I didn't know anything about Joe McGregor's offense. I didn't know anything about Leach when he came in. I just I just knew I was going to play football.
SPEAKER_03Nice.
SPEAKER_02Nice.
SPEAKER_03You had to feel pretty good knowing it was Leach since it with that high-powered offense. You knew you were going to get some action with that.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Yeah. I got lucky. I think I I fell in right at the right time too. Uh we had a couple receivers that opted out. Uh, and then I was still like number seven on the depth chart at receiver uh my freshman year, and things just kept happening. And somehow the second game of the season, I ended up being a starter.
SPEAKER_03What was that that season like that COVID year? Because I mean that was that was kind of just a weird deal if you really think about it now.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think about it all the time. Um, I think it was I don't know how I I can't say it was different because I don't know what it would have been like. It was my first time ever playing college football. I didn't know what it was like, yeah, right. So I thought it was I don't know. I just kind of went out there and just played ball. Uh what I can say about COVID is like the fan interaction was not as good as it was my last few years, uh, obviously, because it's not a lot of fans there, but it did allow you to focus more on the game. Like not worried about who's gonna be there, how many people are gonna be there, just going to play football.
SPEAKER_01So I get I guess your first game was uh was it was it going to LSU and winning at Tiger Stadium? Would that have been it? That was my first game. I got in for one snap that game, and the one snap I got in, they threw me the balls.
SPEAKER_00How about that? What was that like, man? You know what? Hey, this is my first game, Coach Lee, and we're beating the defending national champions in Tiger Stadium. That had been something else.
SPEAKER_02It was crazy. That as soon as we beat them, the first thing that was in my mind was we're gonna win a national championship this year. When we lost Arkansas that I hadn't worked like that, it just don't work. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's that's crazy. I know I was watching uh highlight the other day. I guess when when the Lakers won um the championship in the bubble, and you know, they had all those fake uh people in the audience and all that kind of stuff. It had to be this the weirdest, the weirdest feeling, like not hearing that loud crowd. I get like the first game back after that season, like a full stadium. Was that that was like your first real experience, I guess, college football. So what did that feel like?
SPEAKER_02Uh I will say, even in COVID, uh, we went to Georgia uh that COVID year, and um that was the game we took like what was it, like 47 players to the game one. Uh we roll in there, we come out pre-game, it's empty like normal, whatever. Uh, we go in for the game at game time, and it is almost packed. Oh wow, this is a lot different. That was kind of our first real experience. And then I just uh the next year was okay. Uh Leech's third year, the our probably our best year in his era, before he passed, right before he passed away. Uh, we did have some games that I was like, wow, this is awesome. I will say that. That was probably the first real feeling. Actually, Texas AM. Yeah, I think it was Texas AM that third season. So 2022. Yeah, 2022 season, Texas AM. First one, I was like, okay, this is real.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. That's cool. Well, did you have any uh did did Mike Leach try to give you any kind of weird advice about certain kind of candies you eat or any kind of weird life advice or any anything like that when you were there?
SPEAKER_02No, not not anything that's appropriate.
SPEAKER_00Well, what what was it like playing for Coach Leach? Jaden, I mean, just like, was it you never knew what when you're going out on the practice field what was gonna happen or what he was to say, or what was it like?
SPEAKER_02The thing is, you knew exactly what was gonna happen when you go on the practice field, and he was so structured that like you know you can feel when things are going good and when things are going bad, and right and kind of tell how the day's gonna go from the first five minutes of practice, just the way he's acting. Um, so it was never like going out there and be like, gosh, I don't know what he's gonna do to us today. You always do, but it was it was a feeling that everybody had. They knew he didn't say he didn't have to say a single word what was gonna happen at practice that day, but we all knew it was kind of that deal. He had that that kind of energy with him. Um, it was awesome, though. He didn't back down from anything. Uh if a guy is hurt and he doesn't practice Tuesday and Wednesday, he's not gonna play on Saturday. He doesn't care if it's the the starting quarterback or the like that's just how he is. So uh he did push people to actually have to practice. Nobody could take practice off of him, uh, which is I think is is awesome and something that I think you needed in his offensive system because reps is the only way you can uh sustain in that that offense.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Nice. Well, um, we I was kind of reading your bio and I and I saw you have a brother too that that actually got drafted this year. Is that right? Yes, sir. Yeah, and he was at the at Minnesota. So how how did he how did he end up up there?
SPEAKER_02Uh started as a joke. Um, he had pretty much all the offers I had, the same exact ones, and then he had some that were obviously extra after I had got into college and he gained them his senior of high school. And he told my parents as a joke, he was like, I'm gonna go on a visit to Minnesota, I think I want to go there. And he said as a joke, uh went there on a visit, absolutely loved it. Came back home, told my parents, all right, I'm not joking anymore. I think I want to go there. And that's how he ended up there.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_03If y'all would have played together, would y'all have clashed, or are y'all have similar personalities? Do y'all get along okay? Y'all y'all fight like brothers, or what would that relationship have been like?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we are we're brothers, we're different kind of brothers. So younger, yes, we clash like brothers. Like we fought all the time, most of the time about football, or it was almost competitive fights. Like, yeah, I beat him in basketball or something, he gets mad, we fight, or he beats me in football or something, we get mad and fight. But yeah, you know, like we have not done football-related activities. We didn't do football-related activities with each other the whole time we're in college. When we came home for breaks, Thanksgiving, Christmas, whatever, summer breaks, never did any football activities, just always just took the time to just hang out and chill or relax, whatever. So uh, but yeah, I don't think we wouldn't have played. We would have never played together. He would have never gone to the same place I did.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, well, Jaden, uh, what take us back to what what what's your probably let me ask you this, what's your favorite memory of playing at Mississippi State? Do you have a game that sticks out, or when you think of your career at Mississippi State, what what what comes to your mind?
SPEAKER_02Uh, I got two. So my freshman year, my first touchdown. Um my first college touchdown was against Georgia. Um, that's one that always sticks out to me. Uh, I had a decent game. Uh, I think I had a hundred and something yards and a touchdown or whatever. But the uh the most memorable game is definitely the egg bowl of my freshman year. And I had like 130 something yards, a bunch of catches. I just felt like I was getting the ball every play of the game. So it like it's hard to forget a game like that. I feel like every time I wanted the ball, I got it. So that's probably the most memorable game.
SPEAKER_00What was it like? We've had Will on before. Will a great friend. And uh, what was it like playing with Will Rogers? He's just such a great guy. What was it like being a leader?
SPEAKER_02Still to this day, one of my best friends. Uh, I talked to him on FaceTime yesterday. Uh, he's awesome, uh, energetic. He's always got the energy. Uh a lot of quarterbacks have this fake energy of like like ready to go and all this. Like, leader, he is actually a leader. Like, right. If you give him the hardest challenge, or if a defense, if a defense alignment is squatting a certain weight and he's like struggling, or like, I don't want to do this or something, like, Will will go get under that bar and try it. Like, he will try it just because he's like, I'm not gonna back down from anything. Uh, like that competitive edge about him. Like, he actually called me yesterday, and the first thing he said was, I've killed more deer than you this year. Like, that's our relationship. And his his girlfriend is just like, do y'all guys like hate each other? Why do y'all call each other and just talk craft each other up? So I'm like, that's just how we are. Um, that's awesome. It's awesome playing for a guy like or playing with a guy like that. Uh, just somebody that has the same competitive competitiveness as you do. Uh makes everything fun. You know, you know he's doing everything he he can to uh make sure things work out.
SPEAKER_00So yeah. Well we'll talk a little bit about the the transition. Uh, you know, we you we went through so much adversity. Uh I obviously all did. The fan base did was with the passing of Coach Leach, and then we get Coach Arnett in. And then what was it like playing playing with Arnett for that one year? Uh, was it a lot different than Leach or what was it like?
SPEAKER_02It was a lot different. Um Arnette was a as a defensive coordinator, I think he was phenomenal. Uh he he was awesome, like fun to be around. I think him being a head coach kind of like it just they it threw a lot of stuff on him that he had feeling as a defensive coordinator. Um, I think that's some of the reason why we had struggles there. Um never did I walk in a building though and hate myself or hate being there. But but like it was just uh he had to kind of throw a staff together quick, quick turnaround. Uh, with him not having head coach experience, it's kind of hard to do. Uh, don't blame him at all. Um yeah, I think I think if they would have I I can't say give him more time, but I just think he's gone into the position without without much time and not a lot to work with. So uh made it rough. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It kind of put us in a bad situation. I mean, no one no one's coaches die, you know. That's just a tough, tough deal all around. And I feel like the university did what they thought was best at the time, you know, with losing the coach, but uh but now fast forward to end, then we get coach Levy in. And uh, you know, last year was a tough year getting getting blown out in these games. And this year, you know, Mississippi State, I don't know if you've been following along, but man, we've been we've been in these games, man. We've been in these games. We have three games we left on the table, and you know, it's so frustrating. But then at the same time, like I get so frustrated that we lose these games and get mad. But then at the same time, look back at last year, we're getting blown out. We're in these games for competitive, and we desperate just trying to get one more win, one more win. We got Missouri and Ole Miss coming up to get that sixth win to get that bowl. Uh, what are your thoughts on the current Bulldog team?
SPEAKER_02Um, I think I tell everybody this. Uh, obviously, I'm I live in uh Omaha, Nebraska now, and everybody asks me about it. And I tell everybody the same thing. Uh, we're five plays away from being an eight-and-woo football team. So close. We're so close. Um, I think these those guys are playing really good football. Uh obviously, everything in the game doesn't go your way. Um, I think if a couple more calls go our way, or uh maybe a couple more plays, get 10 more yards or something like that, we are an eight-and-two football team. Uh, I've been keeping up. Definitely have the talent. We have the coach and staff. Uh, we have everything we need. We just we have to keep believing in Libby and just letting him uh keep building because I think it's it's gonna be really special, especially uh going into next year.
SPEAKER_03Yep, I agree with that too. I'm real I'm excited to see next year and hopefully we can keep a lot of the guys together that are there that are making it what it is now and just add to that and hopefully not get as injured as we are this year. I think I think we'll be in good shape.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think I think Mario Taylor, man, he showed some signs of really, really good promise last week with with the runs he had. So I think he's gonna be a stud, man. And oh yeah, really looking forward to it. I think the future is bright with him.
SPEAKER_02There's no doubt in my mind that he will be one of the greatest quarterbacks to play at Missy East.
SPEAKER_00Well, well, Jay, let me ask you this. Are you a big baseball fan? You said you live in Omaha, Nebraska. You got the college world series in the backyard right there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Have you been able to go to go to the World Series up there?
SPEAKER_02I haven't yet. So I've only been here for seven months, and during the World Series, I was super busy. Okay. Life out around here. Um, what's it like living in Omaha? It's cold, cold right now. But yeah, it's not bad. I love it. Love it to death. It's awesome.
SPEAKER_01That's cool. Nice.
SPEAKER_03Nice. Well, uh, we really appreciate you being here, Jaden. Um I was gonna ask you one other thing. I forgot what it was already.
SPEAKER_02But uh, Missouri, we gotta beat those guys. Yes.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you so do you think you think we get the next two? You think we get one of the two? What do you think?
SPEAKER_02Hopefully we win both of them. Yeah. Um, I really do want to win both of them. I think uh Missouri definitely is a team we could we could beat. Uh Kevin Coleman, I know how he is when he's playing against a team that he really wants to beat. Uh if we can slow him down a little bit, and then obviously they have the other guy that's pretty good too on the other side of him. Uh, if we can slow uh Kevin down and uh hold the other guy, I can't think of his name right now. Uh we can slow them down, I think we're fine. The end game is not that good. It's okay. Uh as long as we stay healthy, I think we can we'll put up a good dog fight. And then as far as the egg bowl, you know, that is what it is. Records don't matter. Whoever wants it the most, I think, I think we got a pretty good shot. Defensive line is playing pretty good ball right now. So hopefully we can get in the backfield and shake him up a little bit.
SPEAKER_00Talking about egg bowl Jay. Tell tell us talk a little bit about real quick about that 22 win. Coach Leach ended up being Coach Leach's final game as a as a football coach, and he get the win in Oxford. What was it like to finally beat those guys? I know that was a great feeling.
SPEAKER_02Uh so crazy thing about that game is I I barely remember any like plays. I have not gone back and watched or anything. I can only think about going and grabbing that the egg out of the locker room. That's pretty much the only thing I remember about that game. Yeah. Uh it did rain a little bit that game. Yeah. Yeah. Chilly, raining. Uh Ole Miss, obviously. Those pretty boys over there. Don't they don't like rain. They don't like nasty, nasty games. Uh, so we definitely had a little advantage there. Uh, it was awesome though. Uh, we made some big plays. Uh, yeah, it was fun. That it's like I said, I can't remember play by play that game. I I still I won't, I probably won't ever go back and watch it, honestly, just because I I have that feeling. I don't want to see any bad plays in like yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, hopefully we can get that egg back to start where it where it belongs this year. That year would be nice. And you know, perfect scenario is that say the rebels come in needing a win to get in that playoffs, and here we are. We're we're we can we could spoil their season, you know. Exactly.
SPEAKER_02That would be awesome.
SPEAKER_00Well, well, I don't have anything else, uh Jaden, uh Brandon, unless you have anything. I just can't I can't thank you enough for coming on today. It's been really great talking to you. Reliving the reliving the days, and and uh I think the future is bright for Mississippi State, and this this year is kind of showing that we're in the right direction, just kind of keep keep going with it and and see what happens. But uh, thanks so much, Jaden.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, thank y'all.
SPEAKER_03Appreciate it, Jaden.
SPEAKER_02All right, see ya.
SPEAKER_00All right, bye.