Will Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson, Isaac Smith play in Egg Bowl after injuries?
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby did not have injury updates for top wide receiver Brenen Thompson and starting safety Isaac Smith in his Nov. 19 news conference.
The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6 SEC) are on an off week before hosting No. 6 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1) in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28 (11 a.m., ABC). There won’t be an official injury report until the week of the game.
Mississippi State will qualify for a bowl game with a win over Ole Miss.
MSU practiced on Nov. 19 and will again on Nov. 20 before taking the weekend off. Lebby didn’t say whether Thompson and Smith practiced.
Thompson exited in the first half of MSU’s 49-27 loss at Missouri on Nov. 15 with an unspecified injury. He was the SEC’s leader in receiving yards entering the game and is now 5 yards behind Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell with 868 yards entering Week 13. The Oklahoma transfer had two catches for 60 yards and one rush for 5 yards against Missouri.
Smith missed the Missouri game, but did travel with the team and had a boot on his right foot on the sideline. The junior is fourth on the team with 51 tackles in nine games.
If Thompson can’t play against the Rebels, MSU will likely rely more on receivers Ayden Williams, Jordan Mosley, Ricky Johnson and Sanfrisco Magee. Anthony Evans III, who has 63 receptions, 751 yards and four receiving touchdowns, could also see more targets.
Tony Mitchell started in Smith’s place against Missouri.
Brenen Thompson nominated for Conerly Trophy
Thompson was Mississippi State’s nominee for the Conerly Trophy, announced on Nov. 18. The annual award is given to the top college football player in Mississippi. The winner will be announced Dec. 2 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.
Here are the other finalists:
- Alcorn State: RB Jacorian Sewell
- Belhaven: LB Wyatt Beck
- Delta State: LB William Carter IV
- Jackson State: QB JaCobian Morgan
- Millsaps: QB Grant Bizjack
- Mississippi Valley State: QB Josh Brown
- Ole Miss: QB Trinidad Chambliss
- Southern Miss: QB Braylon Braxton
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Brenen Thompson, Isaac Smith injury updates for Mississippi State
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