From State To Sundays: 11 Bulldogs on Active NFL Rosters, Eight to Start
September 07, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- One Pro Bowler and eight projected starters are part of 11 former Mississippi State Bulldogs who will open the season on active NFL rosters.
In addition, two former Bulldogs will begin the year on injured reserve and another six are part of NFL practice squads. All 19 of the former Bulldogs played under head coach Dan Mullen.
A total of 11 players from the memorable 2014 squad that reached the No. 1 ranking are on NFL rosters, including quarterback Dak Prescott, fullback Malcolm Johnson, defensive tackle Chris Jones, linebacker Benardrick McKinney, linebacker Preston Smith, cornerback Will Redmond (injured reserve), linebacker Beniquez Brown, defensive end Ryan Brown, cornerback Taveze Calhoun, center Dillon Day and offensive tackle Blaine Clausell.
Smith and McKinney enter their second years in the NFL as anchors of their respective defenses. Smith was named All-Rookie in 2015 with the Washington Redskins, racking up 30 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in the regular season. The once three-star high school recruit led all rookies in sacks. McKinney, a starter at inside linebacker, accumulated 63 tackles in his rookie year with the Houston Texans.
Linebacker K.J. Wright is the veteran of the group as he enters his sixth year with the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is coming off the most productive season of his career. Cox reached the Pro Bowl for the first time after gathering 9.5 sacks. He then signed a six-year, $103 million contract in the offseason, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Cornerback Darius Slay enters his fourth season with the Detroit Lions. Slay recorded 59 tackles and was rated No. 2 overall at this position in 2015 by Pro Football Focus. He too signed a lucrative contract this offseason as a leader for the Lions.
Offensive guard Gabe Jackson has blossomed into one of the elite young linemen in the NFL. Jackson started all 16 games a year ago.
Prescott made his presence known in the preseason and has taken over the starter role for the Cowboys after an injury to Tony Romo. He was recently rated the No. 1 rookie in the NFL by NFL.com. As of Wednesday, he is the only rookie projected to start in Week 1.
Prescott became the highest drafted quarterback in MSU history (drafted to play QB) and will become the first Bulldog to start under center in the NFL since Joe Reed of the Detroit Lions did so against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 2, 1979. Prescott makes his debut at 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday against the New York Giants live on FOX.
Prescott is one of three former Mullen protégés who is starting at quarterback in Week 1, joining Kansas City's Alex Smith (Utah) and Carolina's Cam Newton (Florida). Â
Bulldogs on Active NFL Rosters (11)
Name (Years at MSU), NFL Team, Year in NFL
DE Denico Autry (2012-13), Oakland Raiders, 3
CB Johnthan Banks (2009-12), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4
* DT Fletcher Cox (2009-11), Philadelphia Eagles, 5
* OG Gabe Jackson (2009-13), Oakland Raiders, 3
* FB Malcolm Johnson (2010-14), Cleveland Browns, 2
DT Chris Jones (2013-15), Kansas City Chiefs, R
* LB Benardrick McKinney (2011-14), Houston Texans, 2
* QB Dak Prescott (2011-15), Dallas Cowboys, R
* CB Darius Slay (2011-12), Detroit Lions, 4
* LB Preston Smith (2011-14), Washington Redskins, 2
* LB K.J. Wright (2007-10), Seattle Seahawks, 6
* - denotes starter on depth chart
Bulldogs on NFL Rosters Injured Reserve (2)
LB Pernell McPhee (2009-10), Chicago Bears, 6
CB Will Redmond (2012-15), San Francisco 49ers, R Â
Bulldogs on NFL Practice Squads (6)
LB Beniquez Brown (2013-15), Packers, R
DE Ryan Brown (2012-15), Cincinnati Bengals, R
CB Taveze Calhoun (2012-15), New Orleans Saints, R
OT Blaine Clausell (2011-14), Baltimore Ravens, 2
C Dillon Day (2011-14), Denver Broncos, 2
DT Kaleb Eulls (2011-14), San Diego Chargers, 2
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In addition, two former Bulldogs will begin the year on injured reserve and another six are part of NFL practice squads. All 19 of the former Bulldogs played under head coach Dan Mullen.
A total of 11 players from the memorable 2014 squad that reached the No. 1 ranking are on NFL rosters, including quarterback Dak Prescott, fullback Malcolm Johnson, defensive tackle Chris Jones, linebacker Benardrick McKinney, linebacker Preston Smith, cornerback Will Redmond (injured reserve), linebacker Beniquez Brown, defensive end Ryan Brown, cornerback Taveze Calhoun, center Dillon Day and offensive tackle Blaine Clausell.
Smith and McKinney enter their second years in the NFL as anchors of their respective defenses. Smith was named All-Rookie in 2015 with the Washington Redskins, racking up 30 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in the regular season. The once three-star high school recruit led all rookies in sacks. McKinney, a starter at inside linebacker, accumulated 63 tackles in his rookie year with the Houston Texans.
Linebacker K.J. Wright is the veteran of the group as he enters his sixth year with the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is coming off the most productive season of his career. Cox reached the Pro Bowl for the first time after gathering 9.5 sacks. He then signed a six-year, $103 million contract in the offseason, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Cornerback Darius Slay enters his fourth season with the Detroit Lions. Slay recorded 59 tackles and was rated No. 2 overall at this position in 2015 by Pro Football Focus. He too signed a lucrative contract this offseason as a leader for the Lions.
Offensive guard Gabe Jackson has blossomed into one of the elite young linemen in the NFL. Jackson started all 16 games a year ago.
Prescott made his presence known in the preseason and has taken over the starter role for the Cowboys after an injury to Tony Romo. He was recently rated the No. 1 rookie in the NFL by NFL.com. As of Wednesday, he is the only rookie projected to start in Week 1.
Prescott became the highest drafted quarterback in MSU history (drafted to play QB) and will become the first Bulldog to start under center in the NFL since Joe Reed of the Detroit Lions did so against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 2, 1979. Prescott makes his debut at 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday against the New York Giants live on FOX.
Prescott is one of three former Mullen protégés who is starting at quarterback in Week 1, joining Kansas City's Alex Smith (Utah) and Carolina's Cam Newton (Florida). Â
Bulldogs on Active NFL Rosters (11)
Name (Years at MSU), NFL Team, Year in NFL
DE Denico Autry (2012-13), Oakland Raiders, 3
CB Johnthan Banks (2009-12), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4
* DT Fletcher Cox (2009-11), Philadelphia Eagles, 5
* OG Gabe Jackson (2009-13), Oakland Raiders, 3
* FB Malcolm Johnson (2010-14), Cleveland Browns, 2
DT Chris Jones (2013-15), Kansas City Chiefs, R
* LB Benardrick McKinney (2011-14), Houston Texans, 2
* QB Dak Prescott (2011-15), Dallas Cowboys, R
* CB Darius Slay (2011-12), Detroit Lions, 4
* LB Preston Smith (2011-14), Washington Redskins, 2
* LB K.J. Wright (2007-10), Seattle Seahawks, 6
* - denotes starter on depth chart
Bulldogs on NFL Rosters Injured Reserve (2)
LB Pernell McPhee (2009-10), Chicago Bears, 6
CB Will Redmond (2012-15), San Francisco 49ers, R Â
Bulldogs on NFL Practice Squads (6)
LB Beniquez Brown (2013-15), Packers, R
DE Ryan Brown (2012-15), Cincinnati Bengals, R
CB Taveze Calhoun (2012-15), New Orleans Saints, R
OT Blaine Clausell (2011-14), Baltimore Ravens, 2
C Dillon Day (2011-14), Denver Broncos, 2
DT Kaleb Eulls (2011-14), San Diego Chargers, 2
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Players Mentioned
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