STARKVILLE — While Mississippi State’s football players were getting some rest and visiting their families, their coaches were all over the nation.
MSU coach Joe Moorhead said the coaching staff visited 108 schools and 20 games in nine states while recruiting during the final two days of the open week. With that done, No. 22 MSU (4-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) turns its full attention to No. 5 LSU.
“The recruiting staff did a good job of putting a plan together, got all of us out there, saw a lot of great players, a lot of great football in-state, in our footprint and in our national areas,” Moorhead said. “We’re real fired up about that from the recruiting part.”
Truth be told, MSU was able to get its attention on the Tigers a little earlier than normal thanks to the open week. Moorhead dedicated most of last week’s practices to special teams, technique and development of players, with a little of bit LSU prep toward the end. Most of the time, MSU spends its Sunday practices looking over the previous game before turning attention to the next opponent, but with no game to review, it was able to spend more time on the Tigers (6-1, 3-1 SEC).
Injury update
For once, MSU does not have any players it knows will not play its next game.
In the open week, Moorhead was cautiously optimistic about cornerback Jamal Peters’ prospects for playing against LSU, but now Moorhead is more optimistic. Safety Stephen Adegoke (lower body), defensive back Brian Cole (upper body) and wide receiver Keith Mixon (ankle) are all day-to-day.
Another night game
For the fifth consecutive time this season, in as many opportunities, MSU will have a home game at night.
The SEC announced the times of the Week 9 games and MSU’s home game against Texas A&M will be at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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