Willie Gay Jr. First Bulldog Off The Board
April 24, 2020 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Athletics Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – The Kansas City Chiefs selected Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr. with the No. 63 overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday night.
Gay Jr. contributed to a takeaway in seven of his final nine games with the Bulldogs between the 2018-19 seasons, tallying three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Most notably, he picked off a pass on his first play of the game against Kentucky in 2019 and returned it 52 yards for a score.
"He was the linebacker we wanted," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.
The Starkville native racked up 76 tackles and nine for loss in his last 18 games. He finished his career with 99 tackles, including 11 for loss and six sacks, and forced two fumbles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted three passes.
"It's a great defense all around — Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones and those great linebackers," Gay Jr. said. "I feel like it's perfect for me. I can get better from those guys. I can learn a lot. They can teach me a lot."
Gay Jr. joins former Bulldogs All-Pro defensive tackle Jones, offensive lineman Martinas Rankin and defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett on the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Gay Jr. was one of the elite linebacker recruits in America and the top overall defensive player in the state of Mississippi out of Starkville High School, who helped lead the Yellowjackets to the 2015 Class 6A state title.
"I started playing the game when I was six and I was always the fastest guy on the field," Gay Jr. said. "But when I got to high school, I was able to compete with guys that were just as good as me, it made me fall in love with competing."
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 – The Kansas City Chiefs selected Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr. with the No. 63 overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday night.
Gay Jr. contributed to a takeaway in seven of his final nine games with the Bulldogs between the 2018-19 seasons, tallying three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Most notably, he picked off a pass on his first play of the game against Kentucky in 2019 and returned it 52 yards for a score.
"He was the linebacker we wanted," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.
The Starkville native racked up 76 tackles and nine for loss in his last 18 games. He finished his career with 99 tackles, including 11 for loss and six sacks, and forced two fumbles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted three passes.
"It's a great defense all around — Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones and those great linebackers," Gay Jr. said. "I feel like it's perfect for me. I can get better from those guys. I can learn a lot. They can teach me a lot."
Gay Jr. joins former Bulldogs All-Pro defensive tackle Jones, offensive lineman Martinas Rankin and defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett on the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Gay Jr. was one of the elite linebacker recruits in America and the top overall defensive player in the state of Mississippi out of Starkville High School, who helped lead the Yellowjackets to the 2015 Class 6A state title.
"I started playing the game when I was six and I was always the fastest guy on the field," Gay Jr. said. "But when I got to high school, I was able to compete with guys that were just as good as me, it made me fall in love with competing."
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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