Halfway through spring practices, the injuries are starting to add up for Mississippi State.

We learned today that the injury suffered by reserve tailback Nick Griffin on Friday is a torn ACL. Coach Dan Mullen said he hopes to have the redshirt freshman available for the Sept. 1 season opener against Memphis.

On Saturday, sophomore safety Nickoe Whitley suffered a sprained right knee, so he was held out of practice today. Toward the end of today's work, starting offensive guard Gabe Jackson suffered what appeared to be a knee injury and had to be helped off the field, but Mullen didn't know initially what the issue was.

"We'll know that in a couple of days," Mullen said.

Just to remind you – and myself – offensive linemen Tobias Smith and Sam Watts remain out of regular practice work after offseason surgeries, while tight ends Marcus Green and Kendrick Cook are both limited.

• As for the practice itself – which was held in chilly, drizzly conditions – Mullen assessed it thusly: "I liked the intensity of the kids. I’m disappointed in our execution. Today we kind of simplified things down to the basics. But it felt like a Mississippi State practice, kind of high-intensity, high-energy, tough, physical practice."

Simplicity will be a key for now, Mullen said.

"One of the things we need, you look, we only lost two starters on the offensive line from last year’s team; but we lost thee more that were in the (second-team) O-line. So when you’re looking at that youth and inexperience at that position, we’ve really got to keep some things simple.”

MSU returns to the practice fields Thursday.