Injury report for Mississippi State football vs Eastern Kentucky

College football season has returned to Starkville, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs begin the Jeff Lebby-era Saturday night against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels of the FCS ranks. There's plenty of excitement to see State take the field, but the Bulldogs will be without a pair of starters in their opener.

Mississippi State football injuries

Starters WR Kelly Akharaiyi and SS Corey Ellington will both be out against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. Though no timetable for return has been made, it has been suggested that neither player should be out for an extended period of time. Also of note, RB Jeffery Pittman is not currently with the MSU program according to HC Jeff Lebby.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels injuries

Eastern Kentucky will be without LB Kylan Robinson. Robinson, who was set to start for the Colonels, is out for the season. No other official injuries have been reported, though HC Walt Wells did say earlier this week that they've been a bit banged-up in the receiver room.

How will State's injuries impact today's game?

Though the losses of Akhariyi and Ellington are significant, Mississippi State should be able to get through their game with Eastern Kentucky without much trouble.

With Akharaiyi out, outside WRs Jordan Mosely and Trent Hudson will have to step up. The door also opens for freshman wideouts Stonka Burnside and Mario Craver to get more snaps early in the season. There's plenty of talent and depth in the receiver room, so State shouldn't have trouble getting their pass-catchers going on Saturday.

Hunter Washington will get the start at SS with Ellington out. He and Ellington battled for the starting role late into fall camp, and Washington has played plenty for State with prior starting experience. There are some concerns about the Bulldog secondary, but with EKU having their own questions in their receiving corps, MSU should be fine working around Ellington's absence.