Moulds Recalls Fun Memories At MSU

STARKVILLE – Eric Moulds certainly had his share of options coming out of George County High School back in 1993.

Moulds sported a college offer sheet which read like a Who's Who list in both basketball and football. And if it weren't for the advice and encouragement of his grandfather, Tommy Boulton, the former Mississippi State and NFL great's life may have gone in a completely different direction.

"A lot of people were shocked that I chose to play football because I was recruited just as much for basketball as I was for football," Moulds said. "My grandfather really wanted me to play football. He was a football guy and wasn't really into basketball as much. He said he'd like to see me play football before he passed away so that's why I chose to play football. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have played football."

Moulds' decision to carve out a career path on the gridiron proved to be a prodigious one. He later became a two-time All-SEC selection during his tenure at MSU before being drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills and developed into a three-time Pro Bowler during his 12-year NFL career.

Those accolades not only helped him become one of the best wide receivers in the Bulldogs and Bills' history, but also Moulds enshrinement into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The Lucedale native will be inducted in to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday alongside fellow MSU legends Bob Tyler and Kermit Davis Sr.

"It's one of those things that's actually special because I'm really from Mississippi," Moulds said. "When you're in the hall of fame in your home state, it means a whole lot more because you're from that area and grew up there your whole life. To be recognized by the state that you come from is special."

MAROON MEMORIES

Whenever Moulds decided football was his future ticket following high school, he still had to choose a college to attend.

Coaches from across the country flocked to the South Mississippi in hopes of signing the George County standout. But it would be MSU's Jackie Sherrill that was able to convince Moulds to remain in the Magnolia State and play for his home state Bulldogs.

"I was being recruited by LSU, Alabama, Florida and Texas and a lot of the coaches were saying the same things," Moulds said. "A lot of our top players (in Mississippi) were leaving the state at the time and Jackie told me that if we could keep our top players in the state then we could compete with any team. I decided to believe his word and it was true. We were able to compete with any team that we played."

Competition was certainly not limited to opponents on Saturdays in the fall. Even before either arrived in Starkville, Moulds was going head-to-head against another future Mississippi State star in cornerback Walt Harris.

"Walt and I started going against each other even before we got to Mississippi State," Moulds said. "My first experience with him was in high school at a camp up there. We were going back-and-forth. Jackie came up to us and said if he got the two of us, then (MSU) would be pretty good. We both ended up going to Mississippi State and made each other better."

Harris and Moulds were both be selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft, going 13^th and 24^th respectively to the Bears and Bills. Each have also earned a place in Mississippi State's M-Club Hall of Fame.

Moulds made 117 catches for 2,022 yards and 17 touchdowns during his Bulldog career, which spanned from 1993-95. He led the country in average kickoff return yardage as a sophomore at 32.8 yards, a school record that was matched this past season by Lideatrick Griffin.

Moulds also still owns a share of the MSU marks for single-game catches (15) and double-digit reception games (15).

"There are a lot of fun and exciting memories at Mississippi State," Moulds said. "It brings back a lot of great times in my life. I always tell the kids that I train now that college is the best time of your life. You're going to meet a lot of friends that you're going to continue to talk to no matter your age or how long you've been out of college. College is the best time of your life and Mississippi State was one of my best times."

PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Moulds spent 12 seasons in the NFL playing for the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1998, 2000 and 2002 and finished his pro career with 764 catches for 9,995 yards and 49 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder also had a 97-yard kickoff return on his resumé as a rookie and was one of only three receivers selected to the Bills' 50^th anniversary team.

Moulds credits his time playing in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State for preparing him for success on the professional level.

"If you can play in the SEC, you can pretty much play anywhere because half of the guys I played with in the National Football League, I played against them in college," Moulds said. "It wasn't a shock to me when I got there because I saw a lot of those guys every Saturday. That made the transition a lot easier because in the SEC, everybody is big and fast. Other conferences you might have speed here and there but in the SEC they're big, strong and fast. You've got to be a man to play in the SEC."

MOULDS IN THE AIR RAID?

Moulds retired from the NFL following the 2007 season and now operates a training facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

However, the 49-year old is still keeping tabs on his former school and what is going on in Starkville.

"I do keep up with Mississippi State and think coach (Mike) Leach is doing a great job," Moulds said. "As a receiver, I'm enjoying him throwing the football. He's an established coach and knows what he is doing. I love watching them play and hope we'll continue to grow."

Watching the way offense has evolved and how Leach's Air Raid system is consistently among the top passing offenses in the country, Moulds cannot help but wonder what it would be like to still be suiting up for the Bulldogs today.

"Me being in the Air Raid offense, it wouldn't be fair," Moulds said. "I had some really good years coming from a run-oriented offense. But if I were to play in an offense where they throw it 50 times a game, that would be a lot of fun."

Moulds also had another reason to keep a keen eye on MSU's football program in recent years. His son, Randy, also played receiver for the Bulldogs in 2010-11.

"It was special to watch your kid follow in your footsteps," Moulds said. "As a dad, I've never put pressure on my kids to follow in my footsteps. My only rule was if you start it, you're going to finish it. I never wanted them to feel like they had to play because I did. I wanted them to find their own way."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Moulds Recalls Fun Memories At MSU

Players Mentioned

Lideatrick Griffin

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