[Tuck4Bama]

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State had seen this before: A highly touted junior college transfer receiver, an injury, a chunk of progress lost.

So when Co-Eric Riley pulled up lame with a groin pull during the second week of preseason camp, thoughts of Tony Burks flashed through the minds of MSU coach Sylvester Croom and Riley, who graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College the year after Burks.

Riley, though, was different.

"Sitting around probably would have gotten me behind, somebody would have gotten in front of me," Riley said.

So the groin pull turned into a mere speedbump, and Riley was back in no time. And starting with the season opener against LSU, the speedy Riley, a coveted recruit coming out of junior college, has been an integral part of Mississippi State's offensive plans and figures to be again Saturday when MSU travels to Auburn.

"The thing I'm pleased with is he doesn't allow that injury to keep him out that long," Croom said. "One of my big concerns is he didn't make spring practice because of how fast he was going to be able to get into the offense. Because it was midseason last year before Tony was able to get that going."

MSU football: Resilient WR Riley delivers key boost for Bulldogs