Martinas Rankin and Jordan Thomas are projected in several mock NFL Drafts.
#FromStateToSundays: Rankin, Thomas Ready For 2018 NFL Draft
April 25, 2018 | Football
ARLINGTON, Texas – An annual late April tradition resumes this weekend as multiple Mississippi State Bulldogs take the next step in their professional football careers in the NFL Draft.
The three-day event begins at 7 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN, NFL Network and FOX. It continues at 6 p.m. Friday on all three networks and concludes at 11 a.m. Saturday. NFL.com and the ESPN app will also have coverage all weekend.
Offensive lineman Martinas Rankin and tight end Jordan Thomas – both of whom were invited to the NFL Combine – are listed in several mock drafts. Rankin is projected as a Day 2 selection with his versatility and ability to play tackle or center.
"It hasn't hit me yet," Rankin said. "My entire life I have dreamed of this opportunity. To know that it is right around the corner is crazy. I am thankful, and I hope I am an inspiration to all of my people in my hometown and to everyone at Mississippi State. I hope to continue to motivate these guys to be great."
The Mendenhall, Miss., native played in 23 career games with 18 starts in his two-year on-field career. He became the first MSU offensive lineman to earn Coaches All-SEC first-team honors since current Oakland Raider Gabe Jackson did so in 2013.
MSU is seeking to produce back-to-back years of an offensive lineman being selected in the NFL Draft. Justin Senior went to the Seattle Seahawks in round six last year.
Thomas would be the second Bulldog tight end chosen in the NFL Draft in the last four years as Malcolm Johnson was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Thomas, a native of Sumrall, played two seasons, hauling 31 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns. He saw most of his action on the outside in 2017 where he broke out with 22 catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Several other Bulldogs could be in the mix on Saturday and among undrafted free agent signings, including specialists Hunter Bradley and Logan Cooke, safety J.T. Gray, wide receiver Donald Gray, linebacker Dez Harris and cornerback Lashard Durr.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
The three-day event begins at 7 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN, NFL Network and FOX. It continues at 6 p.m. Friday on all three networks and concludes at 11 a.m. Saturday. NFL.com and the ESPN app will also have coverage all weekend.
Offensive lineman Martinas Rankin and tight end Jordan Thomas – both of whom were invited to the NFL Combine – are listed in several mock drafts. Rankin is projected as a Day 2 selection with his versatility and ability to play tackle or center.
"It hasn't hit me yet," Rankin said. "My entire life I have dreamed of this opportunity. To know that it is right around the corner is crazy. I am thankful, and I hope I am an inspiration to all of my people in my hometown and to everyone at Mississippi State. I hope to continue to motivate these guys to be great."
The Mendenhall, Miss., native played in 23 career games with 18 starts in his two-year on-field career. He became the first MSU offensive lineman to earn Coaches All-SEC first-team honors since current Oakland Raider Gabe Jackson did so in 2013.
MSU is seeking to produce back-to-back years of an offensive lineman being selected in the NFL Draft. Justin Senior went to the Seattle Seahawks in round six last year.
Thomas would be the second Bulldog tight end chosen in the NFL Draft in the last four years as Malcolm Johnson was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Thomas, a native of Sumrall, played two seasons, hauling 31 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns. He saw most of his action on the outside in 2017 where he broke out with 22 catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Several other Bulldogs could be in the mix on Saturday and among undrafted free agent signings, including specialists Hunter Bradley and Logan Cooke, safety J.T. Gray, wide receiver Donald Gray, linebacker Dez Harris and cornerback Lashard Durr.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
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