STARKVILLE — Jamaal Clayborn is finding the move from right guard to center to be more than just putting the ball into the quarterback’s hands.
The Mississippi State junior has taken on a leadership role at his new position. Before he snaps the ball to quarterback Dak Prescott, he has to make sure everybody is on the same page.
“The biggest thing was communication,” Clayborn said. “Getting everybody on the same path. A sack, a tackle for loss, anything that can possibly go wrong can go wrong if the communication is not there.”
Clayborn will get his first start at center at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, when MSU opens the season at Southern Mississippi. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the game live.
Clayborn played in only four games as a sophomore last season and seven as a freshman in 2013. He was the leading offensive line prospect in Mississippi’s private school ranks in 2013 out of Jackson Academy.
“Our center is kind of the guy that leads our offensive line for us, so there’s a lot of pressure on Jamaal Clayborn,” MSU seventh-year head coach Dan Mullen said. “We need him to be the leader up front for that whole group.”
Clayborn was 12 years old the last time he played center. His pee-wee team, the Jackson Colts, lost their center to an injury, so Clayborn had to fill in.
Despite his lack of experience at the position, Clayborn and Prescott have hit it off and developed chemistry.
“Our communication is great,” Prescott said. “We always know what each other are thinking. He will be great and will get his job done. He is smart, pays attention, and picks up things fast.”
MSU’s offensive line allowed 23 sacks last season and paved the way for 3,030 rushing yards and a school-record 29 rushing touchdowns. Seniors Dillon Day, Ben Beckwith, and Blaine Clausell anchored the line in 2014. The Bulldogs also had to replace two starters on the offensive line after the 2013 season.
“(Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach John) Hevesy always puts me in the right position, Dak is a great communicator, and I have my fellow o-linemen helping me out on calls,” Clayborn said. “It’s a group effort.”
Prescott worked with Day the past two seasons. Day played in 51 games, including 46 games as the starting center in his four-year career.
Clayborn began to take repetitions at center last year during preparations for the Orange Bowl. He kept an open dialogue with Day in December.
“He just told me that it’s an every day work in progress,” Clayborn said. “There are still things I need to get better on. Just go out there and give it my best every day.”
Day and J.C. Brignone are the only starting centers Hevesy has worked with in his six seasons at MSU. Day took over when he arrived on campus in 2011 and started nine games at center. Quentin Saulsberry and Ben Beckwith also drew starts at center in the past six seasons, but those were due to injuries and suspensions.
“He’s done a great job embracing that through the offseason,” Hevesy said. “He did a great job leading the other guys and being that guy. He still has a lot to learn to be who that guy is for me, but he’s embraced it and taken it in stride.”
Clayborn continued his transition to center in the spring, as he worked at the position for 15 practices and in the Maroon and White Game. Like many of his teammates, Clayborn worked in the summer to get better at his position. He even had help from his teammates.
“Every day we had practice, workout groups,” Clayborn said. “We were on the field with the receiving corps. My o-line came out there and we worked together and worked on communication.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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