Texas A&M healthy for Mississippi State matchup

STARKVILLE, Miss. (KBTX) – Texas A&M enters Saturday’s game at Mississippi State somewhat healthy for the first time since the start of the season.

Third-string quarterback Jaylen Henderson was the lone addition to the “out” category on Saturday’s gameday availability report. According to a team spokesman, Henderson suffered an undisclosed injury during practice.

Athlete Terry Bussey, who has spent most of this season at wide receiver, was listed on the report during the week but will be available on Saturday.

Running back Reuben Owens and center Mark Nabou Jr. remain listed as out after both suffered season-ending injuries earlier this year. Nickel Tyreek Chappell is also out as he recovers from an injury that head coach Mike Elko said is a long-term recovery.

Ranking Curse

Texas A&M has played Mississippi State nine times since joining the SEC and was ranked in the Associated Press top 25.

The Bulldogs have a 5-4 record in those meetings, including a 4-1 mark in the last five meetings in which the Aggies were ranked.

The Aggies twice finished in the top 10 of the AP poll in Starkville, suffering losses on both occasions. It is known that the Aggies were ranked fourth in the inaugural College Football Playoff Top 25 the week of the 2016 Mississippi game, but an injury to then-starting quarterback Trevor Knight during the game spelled trouble for the Aggies in a 35-28 win .

Two of A&M’s victories over the ranked Bulldogs came in 2012 and 2013 under the watch of quarterback Johnny Manziel. The other two were 2015 (30-17) and 2020 (28-14).

Texas ties

Mississippi State has 12 players from the state of Texas on its roster. Three of those 12 players are from Katy.

Of note, defensive lineman Sulaiman Kpaka transferred from Purdue to Starkville and was a teammate of A&M transfer defensive end Nic Scourton.

Offensive lineman Ethan Miller transferred from North Texas, although he is originally from West Harford, CT

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