Erroll Thompson is MSU's leading returning tackler from a season ago (87).
Thompson Headlines Athlon’s All-SEC List
May 22, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – One of the top linebackers in college football, Erroll Thompson earned first-team preseason All-SEC recognition from Athlon Sports on Wednesday. Thompson was among five Mississippi State Bulldogs who landed on one of the publication's teams.
Below is the complete list of Bulldogs who were named All-SEC by Athlon Sports:
Dantzler is arguably the top returning SEC cornerback this year. He ranked second in the conference last season among corners with a 41.1 passer rating allowed, according to PFF, and was one of only four SEC cornerbacks that did not allow a touchdown (min. 345 coverage snaps played). The Louisiana product also had a pair of interceptions and led the Bulldogs in passes defended (11).
Hill, a bruising, elusive back, rushed for 734 yards and four touchdowns on 117 attempts last season. He started all 11 games he played in, and his top performance came in a road win at Kansas State, where he ran for 211 yards and accounted for three scores. Hill also produced 100-yard rushing games in wins against No. 8 Auburn (126) and Ole Miss (108) and finished with a 116.1 elusive rating, per PFF, which ranked fourth in the conference among running backs.
Williams, one of the top offensive linemen in the nation, was named offensive team captain following the spring game. He moved from left guard to center during spring drills to replace second-round draft pick and All-American Elgton Jenkins. Williams allowed only one sack, three QB hits, and five hurries for just nine total pressures in 2018, according to PFF. The Bessemer, Alabama, native was the No. 5 overall graded guard in the SEC by PFF last season (71.1) and had the No. 5 best pass blocking grade (82.9).
Rivers, who steps into a starting role after the graduation of Montez Sweat and Gerri Green, played in all 13 games in 2018 and had impressive numbers on one of the best defensive lines in college football. He made 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two and 2.5 sacks. The Stone Mountain, Georgia, native recorded an impressive 19 pressures across 339 snaps played, according to PFF.
Note from Athlon Sports on its all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2019. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2019 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
STARKVILLE – One of the top linebackers in college football, Erroll Thompson earned first-team preseason All-SEC recognition from Athlon Sports on Wednesday. Thompson was among five Mississippi State Bulldogs who landed on one of the publication's teams.
Below is the complete list of Bulldogs who were named All-SEC by Athlon Sports:
- LB Erroll Thompson (First-Team Defense)
- CB Cameron Dantzler (Second-Team Defense)
- RB Kylin Hill (Third-Team Offense)
- C Darryl Williams (Third-Team Offense)
- DE Chauncey Rivers (Third-Team Defense)
Dantzler is arguably the top returning SEC cornerback this year. He ranked second in the conference last season among corners with a 41.1 passer rating allowed, according to PFF, and was one of only four SEC cornerbacks that did not allow a touchdown (min. 345 coverage snaps played). The Louisiana product also had a pair of interceptions and led the Bulldogs in passes defended (11).
Hill, a bruising, elusive back, rushed for 734 yards and four touchdowns on 117 attempts last season. He started all 11 games he played in, and his top performance came in a road win at Kansas State, where he ran for 211 yards and accounted for three scores. Hill also produced 100-yard rushing games in wins against No. 8 Auburn (126) and Ole Miss (108) and finished with a 116.1 elusive rating, per PFF, which ranked fourth in the conference among running backs.
Williams, one of the top offensive linemen in the nation, was named offensive team captain following the spring game. He moved from left guard to center during spring drills to replace second-round draft pick and All-American Elgton Jenkins. Williams allowed only one sack, three QB hits, and five hurries for just nine total pressures in 2018, according to PFF. The Bessemer, Alabama, native was the No. 5 overall graded guard in the SEC by PFF last season (71.1) and had the No. 5 best pass blocking grade (82.9).
Rivers, who steps into a starting role after the graduation of Montez Sweat and Gerri Green, played in all 13 games in 2018 and had impressive numbers on one of the best defensive lines in college football. He made 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two and 2.5 sacks. The Stone Mountain, Georgia, native recorded an impressive 19 pressures across 339 snaps played, according to PFF.
Note from Athlon Sports on its all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2019. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2019 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
For more information 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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