STARKVILLE — Ryan Brown has put his heart and soul into the Mississippi State football program the last four years.
The defensive end has been apart of some successful teams and is apart of one of the most successful senior classes in program history. But he won’t be on the field with his teammates in his final game as a Bulldog.
“When I first heard the news, it was emotional,” Brown said, who will not play in the bowl game with a stress fracture in his right foot. “I got in my car and told my mom. I shared an emotional moment right there.”
Brown injured himself against Louisiana Tech Oct. 17 and felt the affects in an Oct. 24 game against Kentucky. But Brown battled through until the regular season ended Nov. 28 against Ole Miss. He was put in a cast and will not play as the Bulldogs (8-4) play North Carolina State (7-5) 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday Dec. 30 in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In Brown’s career, he has 106 tackles (18.5 for loss), 7.5 sacks and seven pass breakups. He played in 45 games and started in 25.
His mother, Angelita, tried to lift her son’s spirits.
“She told me to look back on the things that I did,” Brown said.
Brown fought through the pain and could have had surgery and missed the rest of his senior season, but for Brown that wasn’t an option. He said he would never get another chance to play in the Southeastern Conference and play with his Bulldog teammates.
So he made the decision to play.
Brown, who finishes his senior year with 39 tackles (eight for loss), 2.5 sacks and five pass breakups, isn’t the only Bulldog senior who will be unable to play. Cornerback Will Redmond and safety Kendrick Market both tore anterior cruciate ligaments in the middle of the season.
“At least I played those 12 games, and those two guys missed most of their senior season, so I know how they felt each and every game.”
Brown has aspirations to play in the National Football League. He has heard from some agents, but hasn’t put much stock into what they say.
The New Orleans, Louisiana, native has heard from a reliable source, someone he lined up next to last year on the defensive line. Preston Smith, who was taken with the 38th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, called Brown after the Egg Bowl and wanted to talk about the NFL and the process of getting over the injury. Brown said he joked with Smith last year about the NFL and Smith found the process grueling.
But Smith wanted to put the process into reality for Brown.
“He said things aren’t going to go as you plan,” Brown said. “It’s never a straight road. There’s always a crack in the road, maybe a crack in your foot, literally.”
He said he expects to be ready for MSU’s Pro Day in the spring, but he is still in a cast and moves around on a scooter.
Brown has an upbeat attitude and a faith that keeps him centered, something he will rely on to get through the injury and begin to prepare himself for the NFL. He would like to play with his MSU teammates one more time, but has made his peace with not playing.
“I really don’t worry about that,” Brown said. “Everything is in God’s hands.”
n The Bulldogs wrapped up on-campus bowl practice Saturday.
MSU coach Dan Mullen said the team will arrive in Charlotte Christmas night and begin practice Saturday.
Safeties coach Tony Hughes was at practice Saturday for the first time since being hired by Jackson State. Mullen hopes to have Hughes for the bowl game, but that decision has yet to be have been made.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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