Mississippi State can be lacking key personnel when it kicks off the Jeff Lebby teaching period by internet hosting FCS foe Japanese Kentucky Saturday night in Starkville, Miss.
Lebby, the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma the previous two seasons, mentioned switch receiver Kelly Akharaiyi and security Corey Ellington will not be out there for the opener whereas resting accidents that hampered them in fall camp. He additionally introduced that operating again Jeffery Pittman is not on the roster.
“We’ll proceed to have a look at their state of affairs as we get into the season and hopefully get these guys again sooner reasonably than later,” Lebby mentioned of the accidents. “Pitt is a man who’s not with us this yr so I will not get into the small print of that inner matter.”
Akharaiyi had 48 catches for 1,033 yards and 7 touchdowns whereas incomes first-team All-Convention USA honors for UTEP in 2023. Ellington has 92 profession tackles in 31 video games for the Bulldogs.
Pittman rushed for 268 yards for Mississippi State final yr, however Lebby has confidence in Keyvone Lee, Utah State switch Davon Sales space, and junior school switch Johnnie Daniels at operating again.
“I be ok with these three,” Lebby mentioned. “I believe we’re a lot, a lot improved from the spring to proper now at that place, which I believe is sweet.”
Mississippi State completed 5-7 final season below coaches Zach Arnett and Greg Knox, together with 1-7 in Southeastern Convention motion.
The Bulldogs can be taking up an Japanese Kentucky workforce that completed 5-6 final yr, dropping 4 video games that have been every determined by three factors.
The Colonels are beginning a brand new quarterback in switch Matt Morrissey, who threw for two,008 yards and 13 scores final season at Western Illinois.
Giving up explosive performs was a significant concern on protection final season.
“We might play nice, nice, nice, then growth. They bought us.,” coach Walt Wells mentioned, per the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Chief. “And we did not reply from that.”
–Area Degree Media
