STARKVILLE — According to multiple reports, the No. 13 Oklahoma State University football team may be without its projected starting left tackle for the 2013 season.
ESPN.com and The Oklahoman reported late Monday evening that sources close to the program said sophomore lineman Devin Davis tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and likely is out for the season.
OSU lost all three interior lineman from last season to graduation. It may have to move senior Parker Graham back to left tackle after he started 11 games there last season. Graham, who was outspoken about his team’s matchup against Mississippi State University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (WKDH-WTVA, ESPN2) in the Texas Kickoff Classic at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas., had worked extensively at guard during the spring and fall camp.
“I just think that the (Southeastern Conference) is blown a little bit out of proportion,” Graham said last week. “There’s a lot of great players down there and it’s a heavily recruited area, but we play really fast offense here and sometimes those SEC defenses lose their breath against it. They have big guys, but they aren’t very well conditioned. We’re gonna play our best ball and see what happens.”
Redshirt freshman Michael Wilson is listed as Davis’ backup at left tackle on the most recent depth chart, which was released following spring practice. Davis played in seven games (two starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
Bohanna questionable for game with concussion symptoms
MSU coach Dan Mullen confirmed Monday junior linebacker Ferlando Bohanna was “questionable” to play Saturday.
In a interview with reporters Monday, Bohanna said he was being held out of team drills in practice all last week but was hopes to return to action if MSU team doctors clear him. Bohanna said he has been given different concussion tests daily to measure his recovery from symptoms received from a hit in practice.
“I’ve been inactive for the last week or so, but hopefully I’ll start practicing (Monday),” Bohanna said. “Every test I take for my concussion needs to come back 100 percent clean before they’ll let me play. Don’t get me wrong, I want to play bad but they’re being extra cautious with this and testing me every day.”
The Memphis, Tenn., native has seen action in 22 games in the past two seasons. Most of his playing time has been special teams. Bohanna has received two starts (at the University of Arkansas in 2011 and at Troy University in 2012) in his career. He is projected to be the backup middle linebacker behind preseason All-SEC selection Benardrick McKinney. If Bohanna is unable to play, redshirt freshman Richie Brown likely will draw that duty against OSU.
MSU selects team captains for season
MSU players selected team captains for the 2013 season in a vote Sunday. Seniors Tyler Russell, LaDarius Perkins, Denico Autry, and Gabe Jackson will represent the Bulldogs in the pregame coin toss before each game.
Russell was named to the Davey O’Brien Watch List, which is given to the nation’s best quarterback, while Jackson and Perkins were voted to the 2013 preseason All-SEC team by the media last month.
For the second-straight season, Perkins made the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top college running back.
Russell broke 11 single-season school records last season as a junior, completing 231 passes for 2,897 yards and 24 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is the school’s all-time leader in passing efficiency (136.38), and is one passing touchdown away from the tying the school record for passing touchdowns (38) held by Derrick Taite (1993-96).
Earlier this month, the 5-10, 195-pounder became the first running back in school history named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. He also was named to the Hornung Award Watch List, which is given annually to the nation’s most versatile player.
Jackson was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists in July. Those awards are given to the best lineman. Several media outlets project him as the top guard prospect for next year’s NFL draft.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter at: @matthewcstevens.
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