Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Three Bulldogs Land on Phil Steele All-SEC Squad
January 05, 2021 | Football
Freshmen Forbes and Walley join senior Thompson on Phil Steele's All-SEC squads
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State football saw a trio of student-athletes earn All-SEC honors from Phil Steele, as Emmanuel Forbes earned second-team honors, Erroll Thompson was tabbed third team and Jaden Walley earned fourth-team laurels from the publication on Tuesday (January 5).
Forbes and Walley have each earned Freshman All-America honors for their 2020 performance, while Thompson was the team's leading tackler during the 2020 season.
After earning Freshman All-SEC from the conference coaches and True Freshman All-America honors from 247Sports, Forbes ended his first season on the field as the nation's leader in defensive touchdowns. The rookie took three of his five interceptions back for scores, totaling an FBS-best 183 interception return yards, which set an MSU single-season standard, previously held by Johnthan Banks (145; 2009).
The Grenada, Mississippi, native finished the regular season ranked No. 8 among FBS true freshmen cornerbacks in coverage grade (71.6) and tied for No. 3 nationally in interceptions (5). His five interceptions were the most in the SEC and are the most by a Bulldog since Mark McLaurin grabbed six during the 2017 campaign.
His three interception returns for touchdowns are the most by an MSU student-athlete in a single season and are tied for the career record at MSU with Banks (3; 2009-12), Corey Broomfield (3; 2009-12) and Derek Pegues (3; 2005-08). Against Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl, Forbes returned a third-quarter pick 90 yards for a score, marking the longest interception return in the bowls history and tying for the sixth-longest return in MSU history, equaling Anthony Derricks' 90-yard return against Auburn in 1997.
For the season, Forbes finished with 44 tackles, five interceptions, six pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss. He piled up a season-best eight stops against Auburn and totaled seven tackles versus Missouri to close out the SEC schedule. His 701 defensive snaps played rank No. 4 nationally among true freshmen defenders and No. 2 by a rookie in the SEC.
Thompson enjoyed his finest season on the field for the Maroon and White, while he also wrapped up his degree and graduated in December. In 11 games, Thompson piled up double-digit tackles in seven of those games to end the season with a career-high 96 tackles.
The Florence, Alabama, native appeared in 50 games and started 40 of his last 41 games. He became the 16th Bulldog to eclipse the 300-tackle mark and ended 2020 with 313 career stops. Thompson piled up 80-plus tackles during each of his final three seasons, and compiled 22.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovered over his career.
Walley garnered second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic and was a Freshman All-SEC pick by the conference coaches after he broke Mardye McDole's 43-year-old MSU freshman record for receiving yards in a season (718) and finished with the second-most receptions by a freshman in school history (52). His receptions and receiving yardage totals each ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC among freshmen. He put together four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances to end the regular season, becoming the first true freshman in program history to achieve the feat.
The D'Iberville, Mississippi, native also set the MSU record for freshman receiving yards in a game when he hauled in nine catches for 176 yards at Ole Miss. Walley had two touchdown catches on the year, including a career-long 51-yard touchdown reception against Georgia. He appeared in all 11 games for the Bulldogs while earning eight starts and led the team with 750 all-purpose yards.
Forbes and Walley have each earned Freshman All-America honors for their 2020 performance, while Thompson was the team's leading tackler during the 2020 season.
After earning Freshman All-SEC from the conference coaches and True Freshman All-America honors from 247Sports, Forbes ended his first season on the field as the nation's leader in defensive touchdowns. The rookie took three of his five interceptions back for scores, totaling an FBS-best 183 interception return yards, which set an MSU single-season standard, previously held by Johnthan Banks (145; 2009).
The Grenada, Mississippi, native finished the regular season ranked No. 8 among FBS true freshmen cornerbacks in coverage grade (71.6) and tied for No. 3 nationally in interceptions (5). His five interceptions were the most in the SEC and are the most by a Bulldog since Mark McLaurin grabbed six during the 2017 campaign.
His three interception returns for touchdowns are the most by an MSU student-athlete in a single season and are tied for the career record at MSU with Banks (3; 2009-12), Corey Broomfield (3; 2009-12) and Derek Pegues (3; 2005-08). Against Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl, Forbes returned a third-quarter pick 90 yards for a score, marking the longest interception return in the bowls history and tying for the sixth-longest return in MSU history, equaling Anthony Derricks' 90-yard return against Auburn in 1997.
For the season, Forbes finished with 44 tackles, five interceptions, six pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss. He piled up a season-best eight stops against Auburn and totaled seven tackles versus Missouri to close out the SEC schedule. His 701 defensive snaps played rank No. 4 nationally among true freshmen defenders and No. 2 by a rookie in the SEC.
Thompson enjoyed his finest season on the field for the Maroon and White, while he also wrapped up his degree and graduated in December. In 11 games, Thompson piled up double-digit tackles in seven of those games to end the season with a career-high 96 tackles.
The Florence, Alabama, native appeared in 50 games and started 40 of his last 41 games. He became the 16th Bulldog to eclipse the 300-tackle mark and ended 2020 with 313 career stops. Thompson piled up 80-plus tackles during each of his final three seasons, and compiled 22.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovered over his career.
Walley garnered second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic and was a Freshman All-SEC pick by the conference coaches after he broke Mardye McDole's 43-year-old MSU freshman record for receiving yards in a season (718) and finished with the second-most receptions by a freshman in school history (52). His receptions and receiving yardage totals each ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC among freshmen. He put together four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances to end the regular season, becoming the first true freshman in program history to achieve the feat.
The D'Iberville, Mississippi, native also set the MSU record for freshman receiving yards in a game when he hauled in nine catches for 176 yards at Ole Miss. Walley had two touchdown catches on the year, including a career-long 51-yard touchdown reception against Georgia. He appeared in all 11 games for the Bulldogs while earning eight starts and led the team with 750 all-purpose yards.
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