Two members of the Mississippi State University football won’t be in uniform any time soon, if ever again, for violating team rules.
The MSU football program, through a statement from media relations director Joe Galbraith, confirmed Friday senior linebacker Chris Hughes and senior wide receiver Ricco Sanders have been indefinitely suspended. No reason was given for the punishment. Neither MSU coach Dan Mullen nor any member of the school’s athletic department provided a comment about the move.
Hughes had 31 tackles in 2012 as a backup linebacker last season. It is the second time Hughes has missed playing time due to a suspension, and third time overall. The Southeastern Conference suspended him for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit on a player in his freshman season.
Hughes was arrested two years ago at a Mobile, Ala., residence after allegedly hitting a 17-year-old family member in the eye. According to the district attorney, Hughes struck a 36-year-old family member repeatedly during an argument about a car. Warrants were subsequently issued for his arrest.
Hughes, who is from Mobile, served the five days in jail in September of 2011, which included MSU’s season opener at the University of Memphis. He was released Sept. 6. Hughes was one of five MSU players suspended for the 59-14 victory at Memphis for what MSU officials called “a violation of
team policy.”
In spring practice, Hughes worked mostly at outside linebacker with the second-team defense behind senior starter Deontae Skinner.
Sanders, who would’ve been a fifth-year senior, caught one pass last season. He had 15 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown in 2011. The 5-foot-11 receiver is most known for catching his first career pass and pulling in first touchdown reception on the same second-quarter drive in the 2011 Gator Bowl victory against the University of Michigan.
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