From State to Sundays: Former Bulldogs Ready For 2016 NFL Draft
April 27, 2016 | Football
CHICAGO – After becoming one of the winningest classes in school history, several former Mississippi State Bulldogs will open a new professional chapter in their lives as the three-day 2016 NFL Draft gets underway Thursday night from Chicago's Auditorium Theatre.
ESPN and the NFL Network will televise the annual event. It's also available online through WatchESPN.com, the Watch ESPN app and NFL.com. The first round begins at 7 p.m. CT Thursday, while rounds two and three get underway at 6 p.m. CT Friday. Rounds four through seven will be televised beginning at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
“This is such an exciting time for our guys,” MSU head coach Dan Mullen said. “They have developed as young men in our program and get to live out their dreams of playing professional football. They have meant so much to our University in everything they have accomplished both on and off the field during their careers, taking our program to heights we have never been.”
Defensive lineman Chris Jones flew up to Chicago earlier this week and will be in attendance in the “green room” on Thursday evening. Jones joined other draft invitees at the NFL Play 60 youth event in Grant Park Wednesday. Jones has skyrocketed up draft boards since declaring early. Most sites list him as a first round to early second-round pick.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, the owner of 38 school records and two academic degrees, could see his name called on day two. Prescott has interviewed with numerous teams since the NFL Combine and is ranked among the top five quarterback prospects. Prescott will follow the NFL Draft from his phone while participating in one of his favorite hobbies, fishing at Toledo Bend in Louisiana.
Watch Dak Tribute, Thank You Video
Prescott is likely to become the first MSU player to be selected to play quarterback in the NFL since Dave Marler was taken in the 10th round by the Buffalo Bills in 1979. Former Bulldog quarterback Don Smith was selected in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft but chosen to play running back by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cornerback Will Redmond has worked diligently to get back to full strength since tearing his ACL in his right knee last October. Redmond has been listed in mock drafts anywhere from round three to five. Though his senior season was cut short due to injury, Redmond is known for his lockdown corner skills and vocal leadership. He's ranked among the top 90 overall prospects in the entire draft by NFL.com.
Other Bulldogs who could get drafted on Saturday include linebacker Beniquez Brown, wide receiver De'Runnya Wilson and cornerback Taveze Calhoun. Several others will sign free agent contracts on Sunday and Monday.
Eighteen Bulldogs have been taken in the NFL Draft under Mullen's watch since 2010. A total of 185 MSU players have been chosen all-time in the NFL Draft.
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