According to Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend will take over the defensive play-calling duties for the Bulldogs when the team plays Georgia Tech Wednesday in the Orange Bowl.
Townsend, who had been coaching the Bulldogs cornerbacks, will fill in for former Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, who departed for the same position at Florida on Dec. 16.
Townsend, who was hired by Mississippi State in January of 2013, was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth-round of the1998 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He played 12 seasons with the Steelers before ending his career in 2010 with the Indianapolis Colts.
After he retired from the NFL, Townsend spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as a defensive backs coach prior to him being hired by Mississippi State.
