Q&A: Brad Cumbest

STARKVILLE - Each week during the 2020 football season, HailState.com will catch up with one football student-athlete to talk about football, personal favorites and everything that makes them unique. This week, we catch up with sophomore wide receiver Brad Cumbest.

Q: What made you want to be a dual-sport student-athlete?
BC: I had wanted to play football and baseball for Mississippi State since I was a ninth grader in high school. I remember telling my baseball coach my sophomore year when he asked what I wanted to do for college, "Coach, I want to play football and baseball for Mississippi State." That was just a dream. I love both games, the feel of them go in different directions. They are total opposites. I love the feeling of getting to play both of them.

Q: Why did you choose Mississippi State?
BC: Mainly because of the family feeling. When I came here, I feel like I have known my teammates and coaches for ten years. It is three hours away [from home], so if I have a day off, I can go home.

Q: What is your nickname?
BC: Mule. I was four or five years old, and was just bigger and stronger than the other kids. What started it was my T-ball coach. I have known him for most of my life, he is a good friend of mine now. He used to say that I was stronger than a pack mule and then it just shortened to mule. I have had that nickname for fifteen years ever since t-ball.

Q: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, regardless of cost, where would you go and why?
BC: You will think I am crazy for saying this. I would probably go to the Rocky Mountains to do some bow hunting. I also want to go to Guatemala or Honduras.

Q: Who has had the biggest impact on your athletic career?
BC: Probably my dad. He has always told me the sacrifice is worth the reward, and he is right.

Q: What went through your head when you first jogged out of the tunnel onto the field for your first game?
BC: It was like something I have never seen before. All of the fans and cowbells in that huge stadium. I felt like I was in a spaceship out there.

Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island with some of your teammates, who would you want to be stranded with?
BC: It is going to be J.P. Purvis, Jaden Walley and Haze Greer. I could survive with those three dudes. We would 100 percent be able to survive, we might need a match, though.

Q: What is your major and why did you choose it?
BC: My major is interdisciplinary study, business communication and kinesiology. I want to be a manager of a sports park one day, but I'd also like to coach college football.

Q: Who was your sports idol growing up and why?
BC: Rob Gronkowski for sure. I play tight end and I look up to that dude.

Q: You made your first start at Alabama this season. What was that like?
BC: Coach [Steve] Spurrier told me right after we got done wrapping up Texas A&M. I wasn't even that nervous. I mean every football game you are going to be nervous, but this was [more of an excited nervous] than being nervous about not playing well. I told my dad first. He told me when you go out there every day and work hard that is the [result].

Players Mentioned

Brad Cumbest

Haze Greer

JP Purvis

Jaden Walley

Mississippi State University Athletics

Q&A: Brad Cumbest

Players Mentioned

Brad Cumbest

Haze Greer

JP Purvis

Jaden Walley

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