STARKVILLE — Gabe Myles always has a smile on his face.
The Mississippi State wide receiver approaches life with an upbeat attitude regardless of what’s going on around him. He suffered a left ankle injury against Texas A&M Oct. 3 and that led to him missing the next three games (Troy, Louisiana Tech, and Kentucky). It didn’t affect his attitude though.
He was seen dancing on the sidelines as music blared from the sound system at Davis Wade Stadium during timeouts of those three games. He even danced in practice as he watched his teammates.
“I just want to make sure I’m as positive as I can because what I’m going through honestly is probably going to help me later on down the road when I decide to coach and have to deal with my players,” Myles said. “I just take it as preparing me for a bigger picture.”
Myles has missed some practice due to the injury, but he was always encouraged his teammates and greeting them on the sideline when they got done with a play. He has played in the last two games and will be with the Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) as they play Arkansas (6-4, 4-2) 6 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday night at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
MSU is coming off a 31-6 loss to Alabama, so the mood has been somber. The Bulldogs are anxious to get back on the field, but Myles has provided some smiles for his teammates.
Quarterback Dak Prescott can’t remember a time without seeing Myles with a smile on his face.
“You need more like him,” Prescott said. “He’s got a lot of energy. If you see him walking around campus, he’s dancing. He’s a happy guy, he always brings it, and it’s good to have him on the team.”
Myles says his passion for life and football come for Jesus, wanting to represent his hometown of Starkville proudly, and the little kids that look up to him as a role model. He wears a bracelet that states: “In Jesus Name I Play.”
Myles said his father, Eddie who played at MSU, told him never to wear his emotions on his sleeve while playing football. He thinks that’s why he’s always positive.
“You don’t want to let your opponents know you’re down,” Myles said. “With that, you’re never going to see me not smiling.”
When asked about Myles’ attitude during the injury, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales didn’t hesitate in answering with the word “awesome.”
He has been around football for awhile and has seen a lot of different young men, but Myles is one of the best.
“He’s one of the most pleasant young man to ever be around,” Gonzales said. “He’s got a great attitude. He’s always going to give you a smile, he might be down, but he’s going to smile while he’s telling you he’s down.”
Even with the positive attitude, it was hard on Myles not playing. He said having to watch his teammates in practices and the three games was “rough and hurt bad.”
But he said he needed the rehab and worked hard to get his body back in shape.
Myles said the trainers told him he would miss two games at the most, and he accepted it, but it ended up being three games.
“I was working so hard to try to play and be out there with my teammates,” Myles said. “I miss being with my teammates.”
Myles says he is not 100 percent healthy, but he feels as good as he has in a while. He knows at this stage in the college football season there are not many players who are 100 percent healthy. Gonzales said Myles is pretty close to being fully healthy and has had two good days of practice on Sunday and Tuesday preparing for the Razorbacks.
Myles has caught eight catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns this season. He has rushed for 11 yards on seven carries and another touchdown.
Last season, he caught 22 passes for 178 yards but failed to find the end zone. He rushed for 35 yards on four carries.
The missed reps in practice are a big deal, but Gonzales knows what Myles brings to the offense, so they are glad he is getting back into the rhythm of things.
“The trust is there,” Gonzales said. “For him to be healthy, it’s great. From zero to 10, he’s got an incredible burst. He adds that explosion off the ball, so we definitely need him back healthy.”
Prescott has relied on juniors Fred Ross and De’Runnya Wilson — big targets with big hands — this season, but he likes what Myles brings to the offense and is excited to have him back.
“Gabe’s just a little speedster guy, makes great cuts, and sees the field well,” Prescott said.
Myles began his career with the Bulldogs as a defensive back. It was a big change for him as he played quarterback at Starkville High School. He even led the Yellow Jackets to a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State championship in 2012.
But after being redshirted as a freshman, the coaching staff moved him back to wide receiver and it was a good call. He said he is pleased with his progression at wide receiver, but hopes he can take it the next level.
“I’m trying to learn as quickly as I can because I want to be the best that I can be at this level,” Myles said. “If a role player is what I have to be this year, that’s fine, but I’m not going to let it stop there. I want to be someone they really love to get the ball to.”
n MSU was ranked No. 17 in last week’s College Football Playoff poll, but the Bulldogs fell out after a 31-6 loss to Alabama last week.
It is the first time in the history of the poll that the Bulldogs are not ranked.
The SEC has four teams ranked. Alabama is No. 2, Florida No. 8, LSU No. 15, and Ole Miss No. 22.
Clemson remained at No. 1, while Ohio State is No. 3 and Notre Dame is No. 4.
n Senior quarterback Dak Prescott said he has been invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl that will take place Jan. 30, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama.
He said he will make a decision on that soon.
Senior defensive end Ryan Brown and senior cornerback Taveze Calhoun have accepted invitations to the 91st East-West Shrine Game 4 p.m. (NFL Network) Jan. 23, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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