STARKVILLE — Will Redmond’s Mississippi State career is over.
The senior cornerback tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at practice Tuesday, but he was on the sidelines Saturday to watch the MSU football team beat Kentucky 42-16 at Davis Wade Stadium.
Redmond played in 27 games in his four-year career.
“It’s absolutely devastating. He’s a team captain that’s done everything the right way throughout his whole career,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said.
The Memphis, Tennessee, native had to sit out his freshman season and the first five games of his sophomore campaign for a violation of NCAA rules. He played in the final eight games in 2013, 12 of the 13 games last season, and started in the first seven games this season.
Entering the Kentucky game, Redmond led the team with two interceptions. He finishes his senior year with 25 tackles and one pass breakup. Redmond finishes his career with 99 tackles (5.5 for loss), eight pass breakups, and five interceptions.
ESPN’s Todd McShay projected Redmond as a potential first-round NFL draft earlier this year.
Mullen said Redmond’s rehabilitation will begin right away. He said the hope is Redmond will be ready to get back on the field in April, just in time for the NFL draft.
Streak ends
Senior quarterback Dak Prescott was intercepted for the first time all season in the second quarter by Chris Westry.
Prescott entered the game without an interception in 274 pass attempts, a streak that dated back to last season’s Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. The streak ended at 288, the third longest in Southeastern Conference history.
Prescott was 25 of 35 for 348 yards and three touchdowns. He now has five-career 300-yard passing games. His effort Saturday helped him record back-to-back 300-yard passing games for the first time.
Prescott also rushed for 117 yards — his ninth 100-yard rushing game in his career — and three touchdowns. The six touchdowns Prescott was responsible for tied Jackie Parker for the most by a MSU player in a game. Parker had six in 1952 against Kentucky. Prescott is responsible for 96 touchdowns in his career, sixth in SEC history.
The Haughton, Louisiana, native has 2,302 rushing yards, breaking the school record for career rushing yards by a quarterback. John Bond had 2,280 from 1980-83. He is third in the SEC for rushing yards by a quarterback, trailing only Florida’s Tim Tebow (2,947) and Arkansas’ Matt Jones (2,535)
Prescott also joined former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and former Clemson signal caller Tajh Boyd as the only Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in the last 15 years with 348-plus passing yards, 100-plus rushing yards, three passing touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Prescott is in sole possession of 26 MSU records (one single-game, 12 single-season, and 13 career).
Dominating Kentucky
MSU has won seven-straight games against Kentucky, the longest streak against a SEC opponent since it beat Auburn seven-straight times (1941-48).
Mullen is a 7-0 against the Wildcats. MSU’s last loss in the series came in 2008. MSU is 22-21 all-time against Kentucky. It hasn’t lost to Kentucky in 2,549 days.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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