Williams, Dickerson Earn Game Captain Roles: Senior strong safety Mike Williams and sophomore long snapper Jason Dickerson are the game captains for this week?s contest at Mississippi State, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.

Game captains are selected each week based on their performance in the previous week?s game and usually include one representative from special teams. Williams had five tackles and a pass breakup last Saturday at Auburn. Dickerson has been a dependable snapper all season on field goals, extra points, and punts.

Williams and Dickerson will join permanent captains Shane Boyd and Sweet Pea Burns at the coin toss.

Notes and Quotes From Coach Brooks: Here are some notes and quotes from Coach Rich Brooks following Wednesday?s practice.

With starting tailback Tony Dixon sidelined by injury, Brooks said that freshman tailback Rafael Little might make his first collegiate start Saturday at Mississippi State. ?After missing most of training camp (because of injury), Rafael is much further along now. He?s close to 100 percent on assignments. He?s improved his blitz pickup and pass routes,? Brooks said. ?Rafael is a ?slasher? who has good vision. It?s hard to get a clean shot at him once he gets into the secondary.?

With Sweet Pea Burns out with an injury, Cedric Koger has moved from linebacker to defensive end to shore up the depth at that position. ?Cedric did a fair job at linebacker but he struggled to play in space. He played defensive end in junior college, so it should be a good transition for him.?

Brooks also noted that quarterback Shane Boyd is continuing to recover well from his shoulder injuries and might be able to start on Saturday.