DALLAS — New Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby received a vote of confidence from his old boss Tuesday at SEC Media Days.

Brent Venables, who hired Lebby away from Ole Miss to become Oklahoma's offensive coordinator ahead of the 2022 season, was asked about Lebby's suitability for a head coaching role.

"He'll do a great job," Venables said. "He's aggressive. He's innovative. He relates well to people. He brings out the best in people. He has the ability to instill confidence in the simplest ways. I know he's put together a really outstanding staff."

Oklahoma finished third in the nation in points per game last season, averaging 41.7. That marked a jump of nearly nine full points from Lebby's first campaign running the offense, when the Sooners scored 32.8 points per contest to rank 25th nationally.

In expressing confidence that Lebby would succeed, Venables touted his people skills.

"Jeff is one of my favorite people on this planet," Venables said. "He's always had a great mood, his perspective on life and the game of football. In the locker room, real juice and energy and genuineness and positivity. He's a coach's kid. So the game and the locker room have always been a sanctuary for him, which helps him be a successful coach."

Lebby and Venables will have to wait a while to reacquaint themselves on the field. The Bulldogs don't play the Sooners in 2024 or 2025. Instead, MSU visits Texas, the SEC's other newcomer, in 2024, with the Longhorns coming to Starkville the following year.

DRAFT: Mississippi State baseball's Dakota Jordan picked by San Francisco Giants in 2024 MLB Draft

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jeff Lebby will succeed as Mississippi State coach, Brent Venables says