From staff, wire reports

Mississippi State left tackle Derek Sherrod will miss “a couple” of practices this week with a foot infection.

The sophomore is likely to play in Saturday’s season-opener at Louisiana Tech, coach Sylvester Croom said Monday, but there’s a plan in case Sherrod is forced to sit out.

“That’s the biggest concern right now, exactly where that thing’s going,” Croom said.

If Sherrod can’t play, Mark Melichar will move from right to left tackle and backup Quentin Saulsberry will start at right tackle.

The 6-foot-5, 298-pound Sherrod is the key to Mississippi State’s offensive line. The tackle replaces Mike Brown, a highly regarded player who left the team after firing a gun on campus.

He pleaded guilty to felony bringing firearms onto educational property over the summer.

Sherrod was a backup last season and was expected to start at right tackle. But after Brown’s departure, he moved over and coaches promoted Melichar.

The Bulldogs rushed for 137.2 yards per game and 18 touchdowns last season with much of it coming behind Brown.

Nutt visits students waiting for tickets

Before meeting with the media for his first game-week press conference, Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt joined Ole Miss students waiting to buy tickets.

“We gave the players the day completely off to be a student, and they were only to come over here if there was treatment involved, otherwise, enjoy the day,” Nutt said of his players. “Be a student, sit in the first three rows, do what’s right, turn in your homework, all those things, and then get ready to have a real good practice tomorrow. We had a good camp besides two or three injuries.

“I thought it was really good. The guys gave a lot of effort and we got a lot of things done, and now it’s time to put that on the field and get ready for game time.”

The Rebels are scheduled to kick off at home against Memphis on Saturday at 6 p.m.

“Memphis has had a lot of success the last several years. They’ve had a lot of confidence,” Nutt said. “They have some very good athletes at wide receiver. Their quarterback, coming from a junior college, is someone you don’t know that much about, but apparently he is a very athletic guy.”

Southern Miss mum on starting QB

Five days before meeting Louisiana-Lafayette in the debut of Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora, the Eagles still have yet to decide on a starting quarterback.

Fedora said it may be a game-time decision whether to go with Martevious Young or Austin Davis.

“We have not made a final decision on where we are at,” Fedora said. “Obviously, we have to make a decision here pretty quick on who is going to go out there and take the first snap of the game. You know, somebody’s got to do that.”

One freshman that is sure to see playing time is highly touted wide receiver DeAndre Brown. The 6-foot, 6-inch receiver from Ocean Springs was considered one of the top receivers in the country last season and chose the Golden Eagles over LSU.

“DeAndre Brown is definitely going to play for us,” said Fedora, who hinted he may also play other fresmnan. “I haven’t looked at the entire list, but DeAndre is definitely going to play. I think there’s a chance Marcal Robinson could be playing for us.”