What happened to Todric McGee? Exploring the Missouri State football safety's season-ending injury against Illinois State
The Missouri State Bears are currently in a Week 7 game against the Illinois State Redbirds but the big news is centered on a player who has not taken the field today. Safety Todric McGee suffered a "lower extremity injury" at some point during the team's victory over the Youngstown State Penguins on Sept. 28.
During their Week 7 game, Missouri State's play-by-play announcer Corey Riggs, stated that the injury occurred and Todric McGee underwent season-ending surgery during the off week to address the injury. While the specifics of the injury remain unclear, the designation of "lower extremity," suggests it is serious enough to end his season.
McGee has been playing well throughout the 2024 season, posting 42 total tackles (16 solo, 26 assisted) with an interception and four pass deflections. Losing a leader in the secondary is going to be difficult to overcome. Expect either E.J. Williams or Tavier Williams to replace him if the defense wants to add a linebacker or, J.J. O'Neal if they're going to use another safety to fill McGee's void.
What does losing Todric McGee for the season mean for the Missouri State Bears?
The Missouri State Bears have been gaining momentum after starting the season 0-2, winning three consecutive games before Week 7. However, losing arguably their best overall player will significantly impact their season moving forward. They are one of four teams in the Missouri Valley Conference yet to lose a conference game, giving them a realistic chance of making the conference championship game.
However, they will need their offense to continue playing well, especially as they play their final season as an FCS program before moving to Conference USA in 2025. While the offense has been strong, the loss of Todric McGee is a massive blow to their secondary.
Expect the Missouri State Bears to stay in the picture for the MVC but it's difficult to imagine them playing with the likes of the South Dakota Coyotes or North Dakota State Bison right now.