Mississippi State guard Ben Beckwith will be the man to slide inside to center in place of the suspended Dillon Day for Saturday’s showdown with No. 6 Texas A&M, according to a report from the Clarion-Ledger.

“Ben going in at center right now is a great leader,” MSU offensive line coach John Hevesy told the C-L. “He’s been around here for five years, done a lot of things. We have all the faith in the world in him.”

Day was suspended for Saturday’s game by the SEC for stomping on two LSU players in Mississippi State’s win in Baton Rouge two weeks ago. Beckwith played some center for the Bulldogs in the spring, but has not lined up at center in a live game since 2008 when he was still in high school.

Beckwith’s transition to center against the Aggies now leaves a vacancy at his former guard position. Sophomore guard Jamaal Clayborn seems like the most likely candidate to fill that void, but Mississippi State has not announced who will start at guard in Beckwith’s place.

The fifth-year senior was chosen to take over at center against a nasty A&M pass rush in favor of backup center Archie Muniz, who will remain with the second team entering this weekend’s action. Texas A&M ranks second in the SEC with 16 sacks in five games, and it appears Dan Mullen and the MSU coaching staff would prefer to keep as much experience along the o-line as possible.

Day is eligible to return to the lineup following Saturday’s game.