Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Bulldog Duo Drafted on Final Day of 2020 NFL Draft
April 25, 2020 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Athletics Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – On the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft, Mississippi State's quarterback Tommy Stevens and safety Brian Cole II heard their names called to run the Bulldogs' three-day total to five for the second straight year.
The New Orleans Saints traded back into the seventh round to select Stevens with the 240th pick. Nine picks later, the Minnesota Vikings selected Cole II at 249th overall.
Stevens joins Bulldog J.T. Gray, who was signed by the Saints after the 2018 NFL Draft. Cole II joins his MSU teammate and cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who the Vikings selected Friday night in the third round with the 89th pick.
Five Bulldogs were selected in the NFL Draft for the second straight year, pushing the two-year total to 10. It was also the third consecutive year that four or more State players were drafted. Fourteen State players have been drafted since 2018.
State's five draft choices in 2020 ranks sixth in the SEC and tied for 11th in the country.
MSU's seven draft picks in the first three rounds the last two years (three in 2020, four in 2019) are the third-most in the SEC and the sixth-most in the nation during that span.
Stevens is the first Bulldog quarterback selected in the NFL Draft since 2016 when Dak Prescott got the call from the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round. Stevens is the first MSU player drafted by the Saints since defensive end Herman Carroll in the fifth round in 1994.
Cole II is the third Bulldog ever drafted by the Vikings, joining Dantzler and wide receiver Mardye McDole, who was taken in the second round in 1981. With Cole II's selection, State has had a safety drafted in each of the last two years. Johnathan Abram was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 27th overall pick last year.
A total of 17 State defensive players have been drafted since 2012, including three this year and four last year.
Other Bulldogs are expected to sign undrafted free agent contracts.
Stevens is a native of Indianapolis who started his collegiate career at Penn State and was a graduate transfer to MSU. In his lone season with the Bulldogs, he threw for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 381 yards and four scores.
Cole was a team captain and started 12 games at the STAR position for the Bulldogs in 2019. He finished third on the team in tackles with 65, second in tackles for loss with 7.5 and led the defensive backs unit in sacks with 2.0. The Saginaw, Michigan, native also made one interception and registered 12 total pressures, including four QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. He graduated from MSU in May 2019 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Mississippi State in the 2020 NFL Draft
Round (Pick), Name, Position, Team
2 (63), Willie Gay Jr., LB, Kansas City Chiefs
3 (89), Cameron Dantzler, CB, Minnesota Vikings
3 (106), Tyre Phillips, G, Baltimore Ravens
7 (240), Tommy Stevens, QB, New Orleans Saints
7 (249), Brian Cole II, S, Minnesota Vikings
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 – On the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft, Mississippi State's quarterback Tommy Stevens and safety Brian Cole II heard their names called to run the Bulldogs' three-day total to five for the second straight year.
The New Orleans Saints traded back into the seventh round to select Stevens with the 240th pick. Nine picks later, the Minnesota Vikings selected Cole II at 249th overall.
Stevens joins Bulldog J.T. Gray, who was signed by the Saints after the 2018 NFL Draft. Cole II joins his MSU teammate and cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who the Vikings selected Friday night in the third round with the 89th pick.
Five Bulldogs were selected in the NFL Draft for the second straight year, pushing the two-year total to 10. It was also the third consecutive year that four or more State players were drafted. Fourteen State players have been drafted since 2018.
State's five draft choices in 2020 ranks sixth in the SEC and tied for 11th in the country.
MSU's seven draft picks in the first three rounds the last two years (three in 2020, four in 2019) are the third-most in the SEC and the sixth-most in the nation during that span.
Stevens is the first Bulldog quarterback selected in the NFL Draft since 2016 when Dak Prescott got the call from the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round. Stevens is the first MSU player drafted by the Saints since defensive end Herman Carroll in the fifth round in 1994.
Cole II is the third Bulldog ever drafted by the Vikings, joining Dantzler and wide receiver Mardye McDole, who was taken in the second round in 1981. With Cole II's selection, State has had a safety drafted in each of the last two years. Johnathan Abram was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 27th overall pick last year.
A total of 17 State defensive players have been drafted since 2012, including three this year and four last year.
Other Bulldogs are expected to sign undrafted free agent contracts.
Stevens is a native of Indianapolis who started his collegiate career at Penn State and was a graduate transfer to MSU. In his lone season with the Bulldogs, he threw for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 381 yards and four scores.
Cole was a team captain and started 12 games at the STAR position for the Bulldogs in 2019. He finished third on the team in tackles with 65, second in tackles for loss with 7.5 and led the defensive backs unit in sacks with 2.0. The Saginaw, Michigan, native also made one interception and registered 12 total pressures, including four QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. He graduated from MSU in May 2019 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Mississippi State in the 2020 NFL Draft
Round (Pick), Name, Position, Team
2 (63), Willie Gay Jr., LB, Kansas City Chiefs
3 (89), Cameron Dantzler, CB, Minnesota Vikings
3 (106), Tyre Phillips, G, Baltimore Ravens
7 (240), Tommy Stevens, QB, New Orleans Saints
7 (249), Brian Cole II, S, Minnesota Vikings
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
S
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Thursday, April 16
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kamario Taylor
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kelley Jones
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Saturday, April 11