STARKVILLE - College life brings with it many new experiences, but this is one Heath Hutchins could do without: A slump.

Mississippi State's junior punter has struggled mightily the past four games. Hutchins went so far as to call his recent performance "garbage."

Through the first four games of the season, Hutchins averaged 42.6 yards on 21 punts. Over the last four games - he didn't see the field against Georgia Tech - he's averaged 36.3 yards on 17 kicks.

For the season, he's averaging 39.8 yards per punt, tied for ninth in the SEC.

The former Saltillo and ICC standout has no explanation for what's wrong, and it's starting to affect him.

"I feel like I lost my confidence, I lost my mojo," Hutchins said after Tuesday's practice. "The thing is I get out here, I kick fine. And then I get in a game, and I've been kicking it bad. I don't know. I'm not going to blame it on anything, because I'm not going to be an excuse maker."

Hutchins came to MSU after an All-American career at ICC. He averaged 44 yards a kick last season and was expected to boost what had been an ineffective unit in previous years.

He's had eight punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and that part of his game is still solid. He's just not booming them like he used to.

"He'll come boom some at practice, and then he kind of gets a little all over the place," coach Dan Mullen said. "He's just got to lock in on his fundamentals."

Teammates offer encouragement, and Hutchins knows he's got the skill. He's never been in a slump like this, though, and isn't quite sure how to escape it.

"It's pretty bad," he said. "I ain't never been like this."

Going Wilder

- Redshirt freshman receiver O'Neal Wilder said last week he expected MSU to open up the passing game at Kentucky. He was proved right in the third quarter, when he caught a perfectly thrown 67-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Lee to tie the game at 24-24.

It was Wilder's first career TD and his longest reception to date.

Two series prior to the play, MSU's coaches saw something in the way Kentucky's safeties were playing Wilder and figured they could hit a deep one.

"The more and more I get plays like that, the more and more my confidence builds," said Wilder, who has 12 catches for 212 yards. More plays like that, set up by the running game, will be much needed in the coming weeks.

"If you can run the football really well, you're going to get the opportunity to get some shots down the field," Mullen said. "I love throwing the ball deep down the field."

Injuries update

- A handful of Bulldogs are banged up, but Mullen hopes to have all back by Monday.

Tailback Christian Ducrampé suffered a bone bruise on his right knee at Kentucky and did not participate in Tuesday's drills; defensive back Wade Bonner (knee) was limited to running. Right guard Tobias Smith (ankle) and running back Arnil Stallworth (hip) were limited but did practice.