Seniors To Be Honored Thursday Night
November 21, 2017 | Football
The following feature story can be found in the Nov. 23 Mississippi State Football Game Program, which can be purchased for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on Thursday.
While some of this year's senior class were members of the 2014 team that rose to No. 1 in the country, they have been able to create a legacy of their own.
This year's 13-man senior class has the potential to become the winningest class in the 118-year history of Mississippi State football and head coach Dan Mullen is proud of the players this class has developed into.
"It is not a big senior class, but every one of them have had to deal with different adversities in their career," Mullen said. "They bought into the program and believed in every aspect of it. It is unbelievable they could have that kind of success. All of these seniors have such special stories of what sacrifices they have made and the adversities they have had to overcome during their career, but they have believed in everything this program stands for and what it is about and they have been rewarded with the success they have had."
SN Hunter Bradley is one of two graduates on the team obtaining his degree in Kinesiology and also is a SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Entering his sixth season with the Bulldogs, he became the primary long snapper on the team in 2015 and has completed nearly every snap in 39 games since taking on the role.
RB Bennie Braswell III is a Mississippi native who has displayed intelligence on and off the field being a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll for every year in which he was a Bulldog. He also serves as a key contributor on the scout team.
C Tolando Cleveland is a captain this season. He appeared in every game during his junior season in 2015 and missed his original senior season due to a torn ACL in 2016. Has made an appearance in 49 games with the Bulldogs and is also a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member.
P/K Logan Cooke is a veteran on the team with a strong leg who was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List prior to this season. He has been the primary punter since the 2015 season appearing in 43 games. He was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015.
C Lashard Durr is a transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He has appeared in 23 games in just two seasons since becoming a Bulldog. This season, so far, he has recorded nine tackles, six solo and three assisted, along with his first-career interception.
WR Donald Gray was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and spent a season at Copiah-Lincoln before beginning his three-year career in Starkville. Gray is the second graduate on the team, earning a degree in sociology. In just three years as a Bulldog, he has appeared in 34 games with 21 starts and has amassed 1,309 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
S J.T. Gray is a versatile defensive back who has made the switch back to safety this season after having previously played special teams and linebacker. He has started every game this year logging 57 tackles thus far, which ranks second among the Bulldogs, and has appeared in 46 games in his career, with 16 starts.
LB Dezmond Harris is a captain who has served as the quarterback of the MSU defense in the middle linebacker role. He is a key component on defense and is a very vocal leader. He has logged a career-high 56 tackles this season in 10 starts.
LB Traver Jung came to Mississippi State as a highly-rated junior college linebacker from Holmes Community College. He wears No. 3 as a tribute to his grandmother.
WR Gabe Myles is a native of Starkville, Miss. He is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. He has aided the Bulldogs in 40 games, collecting five touchdowns.
OL Martinas Rankin serves as a team captain and was recently selected to participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl. He transferred to Mississippi State from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where he was one of the nation's top JUCO offensive lineman. He was tabbed SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the team's win against Texas A&M in 2016. He is also an SEC Honor Roll recipient.
TE Jordan Thomas has notched a career-high three touchdowns this season. A Mississippi native who transferred to State from East Central Community College. He has made an appearance in every game this season.
WR Kareem Vance Jr. saw action in four games in 2014 and has since been an essential member of the scout team. He has been on the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year he has been a Bulldog and was also tabbed a Dean's Scholar in the Fall of 2015.
While some of this year's senior class were members of the 2014 team that rose to No. 1 in the country, they have been able to create a legacy of their own.
This year's 13-man senior class has the potential to become the winningest class in the 118-year history of Mississippi State football and head coach Dan Mullen is proud of the players this class has developed into.
"It is not a big senior class, but every one of them have had to deal with different adversities in their career," Mullen said. "They bought into the program and believed in every aspect of it. It is unbelievable they could have that kind of success. All of these seniors have such special stories of what sacrifices they have made and the adversities they have had to overcome during their career, but they have believed in everything this program stands for and what it is about and they have been rewarded with the success they have had."
SN Hunter Bradley is one of two graduates on the team obtaining his degree in Kinesiology and also is a SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Entering his sixth season with the Bulldogs, he became the primary long snapper on the team in 2015 and has completed nearly every snap in 39 games since taking on the role.
RB Bennie Braswell III is a Mississippi native who has displayed intelligence on and off the field being a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll for every year in which he was a Bulldog. He also serves as a key contributor on the scout team.
C Tolando Cleveland is a captain this season. He appeared in every game during his junior season in 2015 and missed his original senior season due to a torn ACL in 2016. Has made an appearance in 49 games with the Bulldogs and is also a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member.
P/K Logan Cooke is a veteran on the team with a strong leg who was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List prior to this season. He has been the primary punter since the 2015 season appearing in 43 games. He was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015.
C Lashard Durr is a transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He has appeared in 23 games in just two seasons since becoming a Bulldog. This season, so far, he has recorded nine tackles, six solo and three assisted, along with his first-career interception.
WR Donald Gray was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and spent a season at Copiah-Lincoln before beginning his three-year career in Starkville. Gray is the second graduate on the team, earning a degree in sociology. In just three years as a Bulldog, he has appeared in 34 games with 21 starts and has amassed 1,309 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
S J.T. Gray is a versatile defensive back who has made the switch back to safety this season after having previously played special teams and linebacker. He has started every game this year logging 57 tackles thus far, which ranks second among the Bulldogs, and has appeared in 46 games in his career, with 16 starts.
LB Dezmond Harris is a captain who has served as the quarterback of the MSU defense in the middle linebacker role. He is a key component on defense and is a very vocal leader. He has logged a career-high 56 tackles this season in 10 starts.
LB Traver Jung came to Mississippi State as a highly-rated junior college linebacker from Holmes Community College. He wears No. 3 as a tribute to his grandmother.
WR Gabe Myles is a native of Starkville, Miss. He is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. He has aided the Bulldogs in 40 games, collecting five touchdowns.
OL Martinas Rankin serves as a team captain and was recently selected to participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl. He transferred to Mississippi State from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where he was one of the nation's top JUCO offensive lineman. He was tabbed SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the team's win against Texas A&M in 2016. He is also an SEC Honor Roll recipient.
TE Jordan Thomas has notched a career-high three touchdowns this season. A Mississippi native who transferred to State from East Central Community College. He has made an appearance in every game this season.
WR Kareem Vance Jr. saw action in four games in 2014 and has since been an essential member of the scout team. He has been on the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year he has been a Bulldog and was also tabbed a Dean's Scholar in the Fall of 2015.
Players Mentioned
SN
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ATH
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DB
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P/K
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DB
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WR
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DB
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LB
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LB
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WR
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OL
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TE
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ATH
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