STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior cornerback Tyler Williams will opt out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns an MSU Athletic Department spokesperson confirmed to The Dispatch Friday night.
Tyler Horka of the Jackson Clarion Ledger first reported the news.
“We understand and respect Tyler’s decision,” head coach Mike Leach said in a statement. “During the Fall semester, Tyler will continue to work toward earning his undergraduate degree.”
Williams, who has appeared in 19 career games and started five, was slated to be a major piece in an otherwise youthful Bulldog cornerbacks room this fall. With his departure, Korey Charles is the lone returning senior in the room, while inexperienced juniors Malik Sanders and Jay Jimison are also in the fold.
Though fall camp is just a week old, its expected sophomore Martin Emerson will start in one corner spot, with the other to be determined. As a freshman, Emerson earned honorable mention All-American honors from Pro Football Focus after playing in all 13 games last year — including five starts — alongside current Minnesota Viking Cameron Dantzler.
“There’s a reason he played a whole bunch last year, right?” MSU defensive coordinator Zach Arnett said Thursday night. “He’s talented. He was good enough to play. It’s only a benefit that he played as much as he did as a freshman because he’s got SEC games under his belt. He knows what it’s like.”
Four-star recruit Emmanuel Forbes was MSU’s second-highest rated prospect according to the 247sports Composite in the 2020 class and has garnered rave reviews in the early goings of preseason practices.
Freshman Decamerion Richardson, a late riser in the 2020 class, could also see some playing time given his college-ready frame at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds.
“It’s an open competition there,” Arnett said of MSU’s cornerbacks. “Coach (Darcel) McBath is giving everyone a shot. We’ll see who performs the best.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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