NEW ORLEANS — Seven Mississippi State football players are out of Saturday’s season opener against Louisiana for violations of team rules.
The news comes on the heels of an NCAA investigation into academic misconduct by a part-time athletic tutor. The findings, released last Friday, revealed 10 football players and one men’s basketball player were purported to have had a tutor complete assignments, exams, and, in some cases, nearly entire courses for them.
Of note, starting WILL linebacker junior Willie Gay Jr., senior defensive tackle Lee Autry and special teams ace sophomore Marcus Murphy are among those unavailable.
Other players disciplined Sunday include junior kicker Jace Christmann and senior offensive lineman Michael Story.
Christmann was arrested for a DUI in February, while Story pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge Aug. 13.
Below is the complete list of players suspended:
– Willie Gay Jr. (Jr.)
– Devonta Jason (Jr.)
– Lee Autry (Sr.)
– Jace Christmann (Jr.)
– Kwatrivous Johnson (Fr.)
– Michael Story (Sr.)
– Marcus Murphy (So.)
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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