STARKVILLE — In the early years of Dan Mullen’s tenure at Mississippi State, several injuries to key players would have been devastating.
Mullen took over the Bulldog program in 2009 and there wasn’t a lot of depth at many positions. He and his coaching staff made it a point to hit the recruiting trail hard and build that depth up.
It will be seen the rest of this season. Mullen announced Monday that senior safety Kendrick Market suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a 30-17 loss to Texas A&M Saturday and his season is over. The seventh-year coach also announced that senior cornerback Will Redmond, senior left tackle Rufus Warren, senior wide receiver Joe Morrow, junior tight end Gus Walley, and sophomore wide receiver Gabe Myles are questionable for this week’s game against Troy.
“We’ve built a program with some depth so when you have an injury, the drop off in talent, hopefully, won’t be as much as it was six or seven years ago,” Mullen said.
The Bulldogs (3-2) and Trojans (1-3) meet at 3 p.m. Saturday on the SEC Network. It is the first of three straight home games at Davis Wade Stadium.
Market’s collegiate career is over as he is not eligible for a medical redshirt. He finishes with 147 total tackles and one interception. Market missed last year’s Orange Bowl after suffering a ruptured Achilles heel in the season finale against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. The Batesville native missed this year’s Northwestern State game as a precaution with a foot injury.
Walley didn’t play against the Aggies as he suffered a hand injury during practice. Mullen didn’t mention the specifics of the injuries for Redmond, Warren, Morrow or Myles.
Market was the only full-time starter returning at safety from a season ago. Redshirt freshman Brandon Bryant and freshmen Jamal Peters and Mark McLaurin are expected to get more playing time.
“Everybody’s role will have to increase and guys will have to grow up in a hurry at that position,” Mullen said. “With that lack of experience, they will have to grow up in a hurry, especially with the explosive offenses we will be playing against.”
Bryant has played in all five games this season and has 18 total tackles and two pass breakups. Peters and McLaurin have mainly played special teams, but they have seen some time at safety, especially against Northwestern State in a blowout. Peters has played in all five games and has eight tackles and one sack, while McLaurin has just four tackles in four games played.
Market’s knowledge will be invaluable for the three young players as they try to fill his role and help the Bulldog defense. Market tweeted Monday, “I’m All In… #HailState.”
Juniors Kivon Coman and Deontay Evans are the most experienced safety Bulldogs now. Coman has started all five games this season and has seen experience in 30-career games. He has 27 total tackles and one pass breakup this season. Evans has played in all five games this season with one start. He has 17 total tackles and one pass breakup.
“In the short-term, a guy will possibly step up because you know someone is coming back,” Mullen said. “In Kendrick’s case, I don’t know because he’s such a great leader and a really good player for us.”
Redmond was the only Bulldog injured who left the field under his own power Saturday, as he had just a slight limp. Juniors Cedric Jiles and Tolando Cleveland are the likely candidates to fill Redmond’s slot. Cleveland has already started two games this season. MSU will rely on senior Taveze Calhoun more and more at the cornerback position.
The Bulldogs are deep at wide receiver, so the losses of Myles and Morrow aren’t as big a deal, but Myles, a former Starkville High School standout, has been a big contributor this season. He has five catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns this year.
Senior Darrion Hutcherson started for Walley last week at A&M, but he only has two catches for nine yards, all coming this season, in his career. MSU also has freshman Justin Johnson who has three catches for 26 yards and a lone touchdown. Walley is third on the team with 15 catches for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Redshirt freshman Elgton Jenkins already began to take reps away from Warren during the last three contests, and that will continue with Warren being injured. Redshirt freshman left guard Deion Calhoun has seen more and more playing time as this season has progressed, and the two might get more and more playing time in these next three weeks with games against Troy, Louisiana Tech, and Kentucky.
“They’re the first two guys off the bench on the offensive line,” Mullen said. “To get them on the field to get that experience helps a lot. As you progress through the season and guys get banged up, you’ll have to play more players, guys will have to be ready to step up.”
Senior long snapper Winston Chapman also suffered an ACL injury earlier this season and junior Hunter Bradley has filled the role nicely.
In other news, MSU’s Oct. 17 home game against Louisiana Tech will kick at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network. Ole Miss’ road game at Memphis will start at 11 a.m. and be televised by ABC. Alabama travels to Texas A&M that day and the two will kick at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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