Bulldogs Practice For First Time In Full Pads
May 25, 2016 | Football
"I thought we had a good day," MSU head football coach Jackie Sherrill said. "I thought the competition was good."
State's first drills in full pads were performed without a pair of offensive linemen who sat out the work entirely, and a few others who were limited by rehabilitation time from postseason surgery.
Offensive tackle Eric Thompson (allergies) and center Kevin Sijansky (bronchitis) could only view Thursday?s practice, while center Blake Jones, offensive guard Will Rogers and offensive tackles Derrick Thompson and David Stewart were limited to non-contact drills as they come back from surgical procedures.
And the contact took its toll, as well. Defensive back Walter Burdett and linebacker T.J. Mawhinney were sidelined during the practice. Burdett met tailback Dontae Walker in the middle of the hole during scrimmage-like work and came away the worse for it. He was helped from the field with a dislocated shoulder. Mawhinney tried to work through a groin pull early in the practice, but was significantly affected and did not scrimmage.
Following Thursday's workout, the Bulldogs take a one-week vacation from practice to enjoy spring break and heal some wounds. The team reports back Sunday, March 17, for its third and final practice in NCAA-mandated sweats and head gear only.
"It will be good for them to take a week off," Sherrill said. "They'll come back ready to go and, hopefully, we'll have some of the linemen who weren't ready today back."
