Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead is keeping his cards close to the vest in terms of his quarterbacks this week at Tennessee.

Mississippi State’s Tommy Stevens and Garrett Shrader are each dealing with lower-body injuries but have practiced this week.

“I thought for the first day of practice, they both had a solid day, threw the ball well,” Moorhead said on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “Both had lower body injuries so we want to get them back so they can run in the game.”

In terms of the difference between the quarterbacks, Moorhead said, “experience. Both can throw and beat you with their feet. I think just experience and football intelligence.”

About the suspensions the team has dealt with this season, Moorhead added, “a lot of that stuff was handled early in the season and they are made a well aware of it. It’s very challenging in turns of gameplanning and reps but it has not been a distraction.”

Mississippi State has the SEC’s leading rusher in Kylin Hill, and Moorhead said he has matured a lot in the last year, physically and mentally.

“The offseason work was impressive, knowing he would need to get ready for plenty of carries,” Moorhead said. “He has small back qualities in a big body.”