Senior (left), Desper (right) and Richie Brown make up the trio of Bulldogs already with degrees in hand.
Graduates Desper, Senior Lead The Line
November 17, 2016 | Football
The following feature story can be found in Saturday's Senior Night football game program. It will be available for purchase for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on game day.
By: Marisa Barron
Offensive linemen Justin Senior and Devon Desper are two of three Bulldogs who are fortunate to have the SEC graduate patch grace the front of their football uniforms both earning degrees in very challenging fields here at Mississippi State.
Justin Senior, a Montreal, Quebec, Canada native, received his undergraduate degree in political science. Senior is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient who wants to eventually work for the local government back in his hometown or go on to get his law degree and become a lawyer.
Senior said he knew coming to college and getting his degree was what he had to do and it is such an accomplishment for him.
"It makes me feel accomplished like I have come here and took care of one thing I came here to do," said Senior. "I don't have to worry about graduating anymore, but I still have a lot of schooling left to really do what I would like to do."
Senior notes his parents and the life skills they instilled in him as being the tools that made it possible for him to be away while taking care of what he needs to do.
"My mom is amazing and my dad is a hard worker," said Senior. "My parents raised me to be able to be on my own and to take care of myself as an adult so being away from them is tough, but they raised me to be able to make it while I am away from them."
Desper and Senior work side by side playing on the offensive line and Senior says it is good to have someone with equal experience there to help.
"I like having Desper there because he knows what I am thinking most of the time," said Senior. "We have been playing together for a while so it's always nice to have someone who has been through what you have been through and knows where you are coming from in a lot of decisions that are made."
Devon Desper, a Madison, Miss. native, received his undergraduate degree in accounting and is currently pursuing his master degree. He, too, is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. While juggling football and school, Deseper said it was not easy, but he knew what he came here to do.
"It definitely feels good to have a degree especially in accounting because it was not easy playing football and focusing on my studies," said Desper. "That is what I came here for; to get a degree and play football so it feels good."
Being the first in his family to go to college, Desper says he wanted to make his family proud.
"I was the first one in my family to go to college so part of it was a self-motivation thing and the other part was me trying to make my family proud."
The same as Senior, Desper says he enjoys working with someone with as much experience as him who can help when needed.
"Me and Justin work good together," said Desper. "We played together for a while so we are able to help and show the younger guys based off our experience."
By: Marisa Barron
Offensive linemen Justin Senior and Devon Desper are two of three Bulldogs who are fortunate to have the SEC graduate patch grace the front of their football uniforms both earning degrees in very challenging fields here at Mississippi State.
Justin Senior, a Montreal, Quebec, Canada native, received his undergraduate degree in political science. Senior is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient who wants to eventually work for the local government back in his hometown or go on to get his law degree and become a lawyer.
Senior said he knew coming to college and getting his degree was what he had to do and it is such an accomplishment for him.
"It makes me feel accomplished like I have come here and took care of one thing I came here to do," said Senior. "I don't have to worry about graduating anymore, but I still have a lot of schooling left to really do what I would like to do."
Senior notes his parents and the life skills they instilled in him as being the tools that made it possible for him to be away while taking care of what he needs to do.
"My mom is amazing and my dad is a hard worker," said Senior. "My parents raised me to be able to be on my own and to take care of myself as an adult so being away from them is tough, but they raised me to be able to make it while I am away from them."
Desper and Senior work side by side playing on the offensive line and Senior says it is good to have someone with equal experience there to help.
"I like having Desper there because he knows what I am thinking most of the time," said Senior. "We have been playing together for a while so it's always nice to have someone who has been through what you have been through and knows where you are coming from in a lot of decisions that are made."
Devon Desper, a Madison, Miss. native, received his undergraduate degree in accounting and is currently pursuing his master degree. He, too, is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. While juggling football and school, Deseper said it was not easy, but he knew what he came here to do.
"It definitely feels good to have a degree especially in accounting because it was not easy playing football and focusing on my studies," said Desper. "That is what I came here for; to get a degree and play football so it feels good."
Being the first in his family to go to college, Desper says he wanted to make his family proud.
"I was the first one in my family to go to college so part of it was a self-motivation thing and the other part was me trying to make my family proud."
The same as Senior, Desper says he enjoys working with someone with as much experience as him who can help when needed.
"Me and Justin work good together," said Desper. "We played together for a while so we are able to help and show the younger guys based off our experience."
Players Mentioned
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