STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University football coaches don’t intend to rush senior offensive lineman Tobias Smith back into action.
As the former Columbus High School standout attempts to return from his third major surgery since arriving at MSU, the Bulldogs know how important his presence will be to help the offensive line develop chemistry and for the offense to have success this season.
Earlier this week, MSU coach Dan Mullen indicated in an ESPN.com chat session at the Bristol, Conn., headquarters that Smith might not be at full strength when practice begins Thursday.
“He’s our senior starter, the only one on the OL,” Mullen said when asked about Smith’s status. “We expect him to be healthy, not at the start, but at some point to play a full game and get some reps.”
Mullen’s response had a different tone from his comments earlier this year, when Smith, who has played in only 18 games in his career, wasn’t physically cleared to compete in the spring but had positive reports from his rehabilitation.
“Tobias looks pretty good. The trainers say he’s ahead of schedule,” Mullen said in March. “But that is a guy that has played football for us for a number of years. We don’t need to rush him back.”
Smith, who had leg and ankle injuries in his first two seasons at MSU, partially tore all three ligaments (anterior cruciate, medial collateral, and lateral collateral) in his left knee in the first series of the game against LSU and missed the rest of the season.
“I wouldn’t know percentage-wise, but they’re doing everything,” MSU strength coach Matt Balis said July 11 when asked about injured players. “They’re doing great.”
MSU, which had three starting linemen miss games with injuries last season, saw the lack of cohesion on the line of scrimmage affect its offense and results in a drop from nine wins in 2010 to seven last season.
“We need to have Tobias come back,” said Damien Robinson, MSU’s projected starter at left tackle, in March. “I’m just used to playing with him right beside me. That confidence and chemistry is already there.”
Near the end of his ESPN.com chat Monday, Mullen hinted summer workouts will be directed at helping backup offensive linemen gain experience to build depth in case injuries hit or coaches decide to shuffle positions this season.
“We’re very young. We have some talent there.” Mullen said. “We lack experience. That lack of experience will have more effect on our depth than our talent.”
MSU gets verbal commitment from 13th player of Class of 2013
Trent Simpson became the newest member of MSU’s 2013 recruiting class Friday when he called the Bulldogs coaches to inform them he wanted to accept their scholarship offer.
The 240-pound defensive end from Oxford (Ala.) High School became the 13th player to commit to MSU. He joins defensive end prospect Chris Jones, of Houston High.
Simpson, who is rated a two-star athlete by most recruiting websites, had 52 tackles as a junior and helped Oxford High advance to the semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs.
Multiple reports, including one by 247sports.com, indicate Simpson also may play baseball at MSU. Attempts by The Dispatch to verify if the MSU baseball team is recruiting Simpson were unsuccessful. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking about prospective student-athletes until they sign a National Letter of Intent.
Simpson had scholarship offers from Arkansas State University, Idaho State University, and Football Championship Subdivision member Jacksonville State University.
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