The Mississippi State Bulldogs will have a big hole to fill on special teams in 2017.

According to a letter from K Westin Graves, the rising senior is retiring from football following a back injury suffered during the 2016 season:

According to Graves, he had back surgery following the Bulldogs’ victory in the St. Petersburg Bowl for a herniated disc. However, his doctors told him that he risked re-injuring his back if he continued to play football.

Therefore, with a heavy heart and some words of thanks, the Bulldog decided to retire from the sport.

Graves made 26 of his 38 field goal attempts in three years with Mississippi State and also drilled 104 of his 108 extra-point tries.

His 2016 long was 48 yards, which he made in the season opener against South Alabama.