Blake Shapen won't play as Mississippi State QB in Duke's Mayo Bowl
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STARKVILLE — Blake Shapen has played his last game with Mississippi State football.
The quarterback who started 11 of the first 12 games of the regular season will not be with the Bulldogs for their bowl game, coach Jeff Lebby announced on Dec. 10.
“Blake is at home,” Lebby said. “He’s getting ready and training for really an all-star game, getting ready for pro day and things like that.”
MSU (5-7) is a surprise bowl team, playing Wake Forest (8-4) in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2 (7 p.m. CT, ESPN) in Charlotte, North Carolina. They were able to get in after bowl-eligible Kansas State and Iowa State decline invitations.
That puts freshman Kamario Taylor in line to make his second career start. He was MSU’s starting quarterback in the regular-season finale, a 38-19 loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28.
The Bulldogs held their first bowl practice on Dec. 10.
“Kamario will go roll and then Luke (Kromenhoek) will obviously be incredibly involved and be the No. 2 as we get into it,” Lebby said.
Taylor, the former four-star from Noxubee County, limped off the field at the end of the Ole Miss game after completing 15-of-31 passes for 178 yards and one interception. He also had 173 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“Kamario is doing good,” Lebby said. “He’s done a good job taking care of himself. He’s not back to 100%, but he will be shortly. He feels good.”
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: Blake Shapen status for Mississippi State bowl game vs Wake Forest
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