Smith, McKinney Chosen In Round Two of 2015 NFL Draft
CHICAGO – For the second time in three years, Mississippi State football produced multiple picks in the first two rounds of a draft as defensive end Preston Smith and linebacker Benardrick McKinney were selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Friday night.
Smith was chosen by the Washington Redskins with the 38th overall selection. McKinney went five picks later when the Houston Texans traded up from No. 51 to No. 43. The Texans gave up a fourth- and sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to get to No. 41 and take McKinney.
“It means a lot to me, man," McKinney said. "They traded for me. It shows that they really wanted me and were interested in me. When I get there, I’m just going to work my heart out to be the best that I can be.”
Smith was the second-highest drafted MSU defensive lineman since 1983. Only Fletcher Cox went higher when he was taken in the 2012 first round by the Philadelphia Eagles. The 6-foot-5, 271-pound Smith met with Redskins officials at the NFL Combine in February. He is expected to make the transition to outside linebacker in Washington’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
“I feel like it’ll go well because we had a lot of different looks from college, playing stand-up and doing a lot of drops, doing a lot of different defensive looks from standing up,” Smith said. “I feel like it’ll be a great transition. It’s something I’m used to, something I’m familiar with, and it won’t be hard for me to adjust.”
McKinney was the second-highest drafted MSU linebacker in the modern era (since 1970) and the highest since Johnie Cooks went No. 2 overall in 1982. The former high school quarterback became the Bulldogs’ first first-team All-America selection at linebacker since 1999. He will join a stout Texans’ defense that includes J.J. Watt.
Both Smith and McKinney were two-star recruits coming out of high school that developed into All-SEC players at MSU. Under head coach Dan Mullen, the Bulldogs have now produced 15 NFL Draft picks since 2010.
Rounds four through seven of the 2015 NFL Draft will be televised live on ESPN and NFL Network beginning at 11 a.m. CT Saturday. Several other former Bulldogs are expected to come off the draft board, including defensive tackle Kaleb Eulls and running back Josh Robinson.
Mississippi State NFL Draft Notes
• It’s the second time in three years that MSU has produced multiple draft picks through the first two rounds. It happened in 2012 with two second round picks as well. Prior to 2012 that had not happened since 1999.
• Preston Smith is the fifth MSU player selected by the Redskins all-time, joining C Dave Price (1938), B Charlie Yancey (1943), C Charley Cadenhead (1946) and CB Fred Smoot (2001).
• Smith’s selection at No. 38 marks the highest the Redskins have taken a Mississippi State product, surpassing Price’s selection at No. 39 in the 1938 NFL Draft.
• Preston Smith is the highest drafted MSU player since Darius Slay went No. 36 in 2013.
• Benardrick McKinney is the first MSU player to ever be drafted by the Houston Texans since they joined the league in 2002.
• Benardrick McKinney is the highest drafted linebacker for MSU since Johnie Cooks went No. 2 overall in 1982.
• MSU has produced six first or second picks under head coach Dan Mullen since 2010.
• Smith and McKinney became the 10th and 11th different defensive Bulldogs to be taken under Mullen.
• MSU had multiple draft picks before six SEC schools even had a draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
• MSU was one of four SEC schools to have multiple picks through the first two rounds, joining Alabama, Missouri and Florida.