STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior linebacker Michael Hunt left the team this week, coach Dan Mullen said Tuesday.
Hunt had 21 tackles as a backup last season, and entered this spring as a favorite to challenge for one of three vacant linebacker spots.
“He didn”t like to play football anymore,” Mullen said. “He lost his love of the game.”
Hunt played sparingly in his first two seasons in Starkville, but he made a breakthrough last season as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder played in 12 games and was part of a second wave of linebackers with Brandon Wilson and Chris Hughes.
Hughes finishes his MSU career with 22 tackles in 16 games.
The news about Hunt came on a day in which rain and thunderstorms forced MSU to practice in the Palmeiro Center for the second consecutive day.
“We had great attitude and effort today,” Mullen said. “First day in pads, so there were some mistakes that we”ll get cleaned up, but we did a good job of getting after it today.”
After the initial pair of practices — limited to helmets only — focused on the passing game, the Bulldogs worked Tuesday on the running game and play-action passes.
MSU will return to the practice fields Thursday afternoon for its first outdoor work in full gear before it takes a two-week break from practice as the university dismisses for spring break.
“We”ll do a little scrimmaging Thursday, really see what we”re working with before the break,” Mullen said.
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