MSU football player Keith Joseph, his dad die in wreck

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State freshman defensive lineman Keith Joseph Jr. and his father Keith Joseph Sr., who also played at MSU, were killed Friday afternoon in a one-car accident, the school confirmed.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the wreck at approximately 2:50 p.m. six miles north of Leakesville. Authorities believe Joseph Jr. was driving southbound on MS57 when his vehicle entered the median. The 2011 Chevy Silverado reentered the southbound lane before overturning several times and ejecting Joseph Jr.

Joseph Sr., 44,  and Joseph Jr., 18, were pronounced dead at the scene.

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Keith Jr. and his father,” coach Dan Mullen said in a release. “Keith had such a promising future as a Bulldog following in the legacy started by Keith Sr., who played for our program 25 years ago. Keith was a great student, a hard worker and a great teammate to all of us. With heavy hearts, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Joseph family, our entire Mississippi State community and all of the lives these Bulldogs touched.”

They were en-route to a Pascagoula High School football game.  Authorities continue to investigate the accident.

“He had a way about him,” said Pascagoula High School coach Lewis Sims, who coached Joseph Jr. “He had that confidence about him. You knew you could count on him."

Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin knew both Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr.

“Words can’t express the sorrow we feel by having lost not one, but two members of the Bulldog family, father and son,”  Stricklin said in a release. “I was a classmate of Keith Sr., and took pride in having Keith Jr. follow in his dad’s footsteps at MSU. They will both be missed greatly. It’s such a tragic reminder that life is a precious and every day is a gift from God.”

MSU commit Keith Joseph, Jr. following in father's footsteps

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Mississippi State football players expressed their shock and sadness over the news on Twitter.

“Prayers up for the Joseph family. Although it hurts, we still know that God knows best. Forever our brother Keith,” senior Taveze Calhoun Tweeted.

“Your spirit will always live in us,” senior Ryan Brown Tweeted.

“I can’t believe what I am seeing!! I don’t even believe this!!” junior Brandon Holloway Tweeted.

Joseph Jr. didn’t play this season as a freshman out of Pascagoula. He signed with Mississippi State in February as a three-star defensive lineman.

Teammates shared stories of Joseph’s smile on social media, which was something that Sims said separated the younger Joseph beyond just the way he played football.

“His smile. His work ethic. The way he attacked life,” Sims said. “He pushed himself to be the very best. He loved life. I’m still in shock. I really in utter disbelief.”

Joseph Sr. played from 1989 to 1992. He ranks 10th all-time in career sacks at Mississippi State with 14. His son had scholarship offers from Southern Miss, Duke, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisville, among others, but committed before his senior season to his father's alma mater.

"After all of my visits to Mississippi State, I felt like I was at home," Joseph told the Clarion-Ledger in June 2014. "Even at the camps everything felt great.I talked with my dad and I realized that's where I want to be."

This week marked the five-year anniversary of the death of Nick Bell, a Mississippi State defensive lineman who died after a battle with cancer.

“I know for me, as a coach, I hope I never have to deal with anything that hard in my career again,” coach Dan Mullen said on Monday in regards to Bell's death.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.