Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze confirmed this past week that talented wide receiver/defensive back Nick Brassell was no longer on the Rebels roster because of academic reasons. Just a couple of days later, the team has lost another receiver -- at least temporarily -- who was slated to contribute a lot this season.
Via the Clarion-Ledger, receiver Vince Sanders is expected to miss up to six weeks with a broken collarbone he sustained during Saturday’s practice. The injury occurred when a teammate brought Sanders to the ground during a one-on-one drill. The players were not wearing any sort of pads or equipment other than a helmet.
Suffice to say, Freeze wasn’t too thrilled.
“That’s ruined my whole day, when you see us do a foolish thing,” Freeze said after practice.
He has reason to be upset. Sanders was the team’s second-leading receiver in 2012 with 504 yards and four touchdowns. His injury could sideline him for the first three games of the year -- at Vanderbilt, at home against Southeast Missouri State, and on the road against Texas. Ole Miss then goes on the road to Alabama two weeks later, at which point Sanders should be back.