STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State is splitting practice work among four quarterbacks this week, and the injured AJ Swann is one of them, as the Bulldogs prepare to host Vanderbilt in Starkville on Saturday.
Head coach Jeff Lebby gave no detail on the injury Monday beyond saying the team hopes Swann is healthy enough to play. Lebby also declined to discuss running back Fluff Bothwell, pointing instead to the first SEC availability report due Nov. 4.
Both players got hurt during the Oct. 31 trip to Texas, which ended in a 31-3 defeat. Swann was hurt in the second quarter on a sack and fumble, and he finished the day with his right arm in a sling after completing 12 of 15 throws for 97 yards in his first action of the year. He had taken over after starter Kamario Taylor had season-ending foot surgery on Oct. 28.
If Swann cannot go, former walk-on Billy Puckett is the most experienced option. He went 3 of 10 for 22 yards in relief at Texas. Jaden Rashada, who transferred in from Sacramento State, and first-year player Brodie McWhorter have yet to take a snap this fall. Lebby noted that backups get few practice reps during a normal game week, so this week is a chance to split the work more evenly.
Mississippi State sits at 4-4 and 2-4 in the SEC. Vanderbilt is 3-5 and still looking for its first conference win. Kickoff at Davis Wade Stadium is set for 3:15 p.m. Central on SEC Network, and tickets remain on sale through the Bulldog box office.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said Monday that the Bulldogs defensive line is about as good as any his team has faced, and he singled out the State cornerbacks as a talented group.
For Starkville fans, the week brings a short wait on answers. The availability report on Wednesday should show whether the Bulldogs have their top passer and lead runner back for a home game that both teams view as a chance to steady a rough October.
Section: More Starkville MS sports news
Filed under: Starkville MS Sports News
