From State To Sundays: 16 Former Bulldogs on 2017 NFL Rosters
September 04, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. - As the 2017 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, 16 former Bulldogs have gone from State to Sundays. A total of 11 made their team's final 53-man roster, two were placed on injured reserved and three made practice squads.
Dak Prescott will begin his second year as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys after a historic season in which he won Rookie of the Year and earned Pro Bowl honors. Prescott trailed only Matt Ryan and Tom Brady for QB Rating last season, and was only picked-off four times as he led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and a playoff berth. Prescott and the Cowboys host the New York Giants at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday Night Football.
K.J. Wright and Pernell McPhee are the longest tenured former Bulldogs as they begin their seventh seasons in the NFL. Wright finished last season 13th in the league in tackles with 126, while also recording four sacks on his way to a Pro Bowl appearance. In nine games, McPhee also recorded four sacks in his injury-shortened season.
Fletcher Cox was the third Bulldog to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl last season. According to Forbes, Cox is the 27th highest paid athlete in the world, the third highest paid football player and the highest paid defensive player. Cox has amassed 186 career tackles and 28.5 sacks.
Benardrick McKinney is set to start his third year in the NFL after two successful seasons with the Houston Texans. The linebacker ended the season as the only player in the league to record 100 tackles and five sacks.
Below is a list of former Mississippi State student-athletes who are currently with NFL teams. Please use the link to view season and career statistics from NFL.com.
Bulldogs in the NFL
| NAME | AT MSU | TEAM | YEARS IN LEAGUE | POS |
| Denico Autry | 2012-13 | Oakland Raiders | 4 | DE |
| Fletcher Cox^* | 2009-11 | Philadelphia Eagles | 6 | DE |
| Kaleb Eulls -- IR | 2010-14 | Los Angeles Chargers | 3 | DL |
| Gabe Jackson* | 2009-13 | Oakland Raiders | 4 | G |
| Chris Jones* | 2013-15 | Kansas City Chiefs | 1 | DL |
| Kyle Love | 2006-09 | Carolina Panthers | 6 | DL |
| Benardrick McKinney* | 2011-14 | Houston Texans | 3 | LB |
| Pernell McPhee* | 2009-10 | Chicago Bears | 7 | LB |
| Dak Prescott^! | 2011-15 | Dallas Cowboys | 1 | QB |
| Fred Ross -- IR | 2013-16 | Carolina Panthers | R | WR |
| Darius Slay* | 2011-12 | Detroit Lions | 5 | CB |
| Preston Smith* | 2011-14 | Washington Redskins | 3 | LB |
| K.J. Wright^* | 2007-10 | Seattle Seahawks | 7 | LB |
* Regular Starter
^ 2017 Pro Bowl Selection
! 2017 NFL Rookie of the Year
IR Injured Reserve
Three former Bulldogs will contribute to their organizations and look to make the active roster in the future by participating on practice squads.
| NAME | AT MSU | TEAM | POS |
| Fred Brown | 2012-14 | Indianapolis Colts | WR |
| Blaine Clausell | 2010-14 | Carolina Panthers | OL |
| Dillon Day | 2011-14 | Denver Broncos | OL |
