In the latest mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, four Bulldogs are projected to be selected in the first round.
#FromStateToSundays: MSU Looks to Make History in NFL Draft
April 24, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – It's shaping up to be a record-breaking draft for Mississippi State.
In 1995, the Bulldogs set the school record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft with six when Kendell Watkins, Jesse James, Melvin Hayes, Fred McCrary, Kevin Bouie and Welsey Leasy all heard their names called during the seven rounds (click here to view MSU's complete draft history).
State has its eyes set on breaking that mark this weekend in Nashville.
Schedule/How to Watch
Thursday, April 25 – 7 p.m. CT
Round 1: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
Friday, April 26 – 6 p.m. CT
Rounds 2-3: ABC, ESPN/ESPN2, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
Saturday, April 27 – 11 a.m. CT
Rounds 4-7: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
For the first time in its history, ABC will broadcast all three days of the NFL Draft, including two nights of primetime coverage. ABC will be the exclusive broadcast home of the event and will produce its own distinct telecast for the ABC audience, separate from ESPN and NFL Network, during the first two nights of coverage. For the second straight year, ABC will simulcast ESPN's presentation on Day 3.
NFL Network will provide live on-location coverage of the NFL Draft. Online coverage will be available at NFL.com/Watch.
Mississippi State in the 2019 NFL Draft
State sent a school-record eight Bulldogs to the NFL Scouting Combine in February and March, including – safety Johnathan Abram, offensive guard Deion Calhoun, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, defensive end Gerri Green, center Elgton Jenkins, safety Mark McLaurin, cornerback Jamal Peters and defensive end Montez Sweat.
In the latest mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, four Bulldogs are projected to be selected in the first round – Sweat at No. 16 to Carolina, Jenkins at No. 22 to Baltimore, Jeffery Simmons at No. 26 to Indianapolis and Abram at No. 29 to Seattle.
The only times State has had multiple first-round selections were in 1982 (Johnie Cooks – second overall and Glen Collins – 26th overall) and in 1996 (Walt Harris – 13th overall and Eric Moulds – 24th overall).
In the common-draft era, four MSU defenders have been picked in the first round – Fletcher Cox in 2012 (12th overall), Cooks in 1982 (second overall), Collins in 1982 (26th overall) and Jimmy Webb in 1975 (10th overall). State has 11 total first-round selections in its history.
MSU is seeking to have an offense lineman drafted for the third straight year. Justin Senior was selected in the sixth round in 2017 and Martinas Rankin went in the third round last year.
Sweat, a first-team All-American in 2018, is considered one of the top pass rushers in the draft and a consensus projected first round pick by NFL draft experts and analysts.
Abram is the top-ranked safety in the draft per Mel Kiper Jr. He earned All-America status from five different organizations and was an All-SEC second-team selection by the coaches in 2018.
Simmons totaled 163 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three blocked kicks during his three-year career. He ranks sixth in MSU career history in tackles for loss. Just six weeks after surgery to repair an ACL injury, Jeffery Simmons recorded an impressive 28 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press at the Bulldogs' annual pro day in March.
Jenkins, the winner of the 2018 Kent Hull Trophy, is the No. 1 center on Kiper's Big Board and the "Most NFL-Ready" center according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. Jenkins played in 49 career games with 34 starts – 26 at center, five at left tackle, two at left guard and one at right tackle, and he allowed only one sack in 762 pass-blocking snaps at center during his junior and senior seasons, per Pro Football Focus.
Miller has had Calhoun and McLaurin ranked inside the top 15 of their respective positions. The two were among the SEC's best during their junior and senior seasons. Calhoun played in 48 career games, finished with 36 starts and allowed only three sacks across 1,200 snaps in pass protection. McLaurin racked up 224 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and eight interceptions in 51 games played.
Fitzgerald, one of the toughest quarterbacks in college football the last three seasons, heads into the week after a standout career that saw him break 13 school records and become the SEC's all-time leading rusher at quarterback.
Peters is a lengthy, athletic playmaker who played in 46 games with 16 starts. He forced five turnovers during his career – three interceptions and two forced fumbles and also collected 99 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and 10 pass breakups.
Green has experience as a true 3-4 edge and as hybrid end after playing 52 career games with 27 starts. He totaled 161 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during his career.
Social Media
For more information and draft coverage on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
STARKVILLE – It's shaping up to be a record-breaking draft for Mississippi State.
In 1995, the Bulldogs set the school record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft with six when Kendell Watkins, Jesse James, Melvin Hayes, Fred McCrary, Kevin Bouie and Welsey Leasy all heard their names called during the seven rounds (click here to view MSU's complete draft history).
State has its eyes set on breaking that mark this weekend in Nashville.
Schedule/How to Watch
Thursday, April 25 – 7 p.m. CT
Round 1: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
Friday, April 26 – 6 p.m. CT
Rounds 2-3: ABC, ESPN/ESPN2, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
Saturday, April 27 – 11 a.m. CT
Rounds 4-7: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network | NFL.com/Watch
For the first time in its history, ABC will broadcast all three days of the NFL Draft, including two nights of primetime coverage. ABC will be the exclusive broadcast home of the event and will produce its own distinct telecast for the ABC audience, separate from ESPN and NFL Network, during the first two nights of coverage. For the second straight year, ABC will simulcast ESPN's presentation on Day 3.
NFL Network will provide live on-location coverage of the NFL Draft. Online coverage will be available at NFL.com/Watch.
Mississippi State in the 2019 NFL Draft
State sent a school-record eight Bulldogs to the NFL Scouting Combine in February and March, including – safety Johnathan Abram, offensive guard Deion Calhoun, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, defensive end Gerri Green, center Elgton Jenkins, safety Mark McLaurin, cornerback Jamal Peters and defensive end Montez Sweat.
In the latest mock draft by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, four Bulldogs are projected to be selected in the first round – Sweat at No. 16 to Carolina, Jenkins at No. 22 to Baltimore, Jeffery Simmons at No. 26 to Indianapolis and Abram at No. 29 to Seattle.
The only times State has had multiple first-round selections were in 1982 (Johnie Cooks – second overall and Glen Collins – 26th overall) and in 1996 (Walt Harris – 13th overall and Eric Moulds – 24th overall).
In the common-draft era, four MSU defenders have been picked in the first round – Fletcher Cox in 2012 (12th overall), Cooks in 1982 (second overall), Collins in 1982 (26th overall) and Jimmy Webb in 1975 (10th overall). State has 11 total first-round selections in its history.
MSU is seeking to have an offense lineman drafted for the third straight year. Justin Senior was selected in the sixth round in 2017 and Martinas Rankin went in the third round last year.
Sweat, a first-team All-American in 2018, is considered one of the top pass rushers in the draft and a consensus projected first round pick by NFL draft experts and analysts.
Abram is the top-ranked safety in the draft per Mel Kiper Jr. He earned All-America status from five different organizations and was an All-SEC second-team selection by the coaches in 2018.
Simmons totaled 163 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three blocked kicks during his three-year career. He ranks sixth in MSU career history in tackles for loss. Just six weeks after surgery to repair an ACL injury, Jeffery Simmons recorded an impressive 28 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press at the Bulldogs' annual pro day in March.
Jenkins, the winner of the 2018 Kent Hull Trophy, is the No. 1 center on Kiper's Big Board and the "Most NFL-Ready" center according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. Jenkins played in 49 career games with 34 starts – 26 at center, five at left tackle, two at left guard and one at right tackle, and he allowed only one sack in 762 pass-blocking snaps at center during his junior and senior seasons, per Pro Football Focus.
Miller has had Calhoun and McLaurin ranked inside the top 15 of their respective positions. The two were among the SEC's best during their junior and senior seasons. Calhoun played in 48 career games, finished with 36 starts and allowed only three sacks across 1,200 snaps in pass protection. McLaurin racked up 224 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and eight interceptions in 51 games played.
Fitzgerald, one of the toughest quarterbacks in college football the last three seasons, heads into the week after a standout career that saw him break 13 school records and become the SEC's all-time leading rusher at quarterback.
Peters is a lengthy, athletic playmaker who played in 46 games with 16 starts. He forced five turnovers during his career – three interceptions and two forced fumbles and also collected 99 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and 10 pass breakups.
Green has experience as a true 3-4 edge and as hybrid end after playing 52 career games with 27 starts. He totaled 161 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during his career.
Social Media
For more information and draft coverage on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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