Vanderbilt football has suffered significant defensive and offensive blows ahead of its critical SEC matchup against Mississippi State. Head coach Clark Lea confirmed that linebacker Josiah Broxton suffered a torn ACL, while running back Evan Hampton is dealing with a fractured leg sustained during the previous week’s contest against Kentucky. Both players are officially listed as out on the SEC availability report for the Nov. 7 game at 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network, marking their seasons as over just days before the trip to Starkville.
Two season-ending losses hit the Commodores as they face a Bulldog offense led by AJ Swann.
The injury report offers a mix of caution and hope for the Commodores, with key contributors Jaylin Lackey and Jamison Curtis listed as probable. Lackey, who has not yet appeared in action this season, and Curtis, who played only in the season opener, are expected to return to the active roster. Their potential availability provides a much-needed boost to a roster that has been thin at depth, though the team must navigate the absence of Broxton and Hampton without a full week of practice integration for the returning players.
On the other side of the ball, Mississippi State faces its own quarterback dilemma with starter Kamario Taylor out for the season. The Bulldogs are expected to turn to AJ Swann, who was notably absent from the injury report despite suffering an injury last week. This matchup pits a Vanderbilt unit missing two starters against a Mississippi State offense likely to rely on a backup signal-caller, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest at Davis-Wade Stadium where defensive adjustments will be paramount.
Source: Yahoo Sports
