Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks)
- Phone:
- 325-3470
- Position(s):
- Cornerbacks
Cornerbacks | Fourth season at MSU | @27TBuck
A Mississippian through and through, Terrell Buckley returned to his home state in 2016 as an assistant coach at Mississippi State. In 2019, Buckley enters his fourth season overseeing a very talented group of cornerbacks and second season working with the Bulldogs’ special teams return men.
On January 7, 2019, Buckley was elected to the 2019 induction class for the College Football Hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation. He will be inducted at the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10 in New York and immortalized at the Hall in Atlanta.
Buckley, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, was one of the most dynamic players in Mississippi history, guiding Pascagoula High School to a 1987 football state championship and undefeated season. He was inducted into the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame in June 2018. He was born in Columbia, Mississippi, and spent most of his childhood in Gautier.
Buckley was instrumental in helping MSU haul in three-straight Top 25 recruiting classes. During his coaching tenure, Buckley has coached 13 players who have signed professional contracts, including most recently Jamal Peters (Indianapolis Colts) and 2018 NFL first rounder Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers).
Buckley’s 2018 cornerbacks unit was part of arguably the most dominant defense in MSU history and in all of college football. Led by Associated Press second-team All-SEC selection Cameron Dantzler, Peters, Maurice Smitherman and Chris Rayford, State’s cornerbacks did not allow a touchdown during the 2018 regular season.
The 2017 and 2018 seasons have been two of the best on record in terms of pass defense at MSU. Buckley’s group spearheaded a Bulldog pass defense that was tops in the SEC and seventh nationally at 168.0 yards allowed per game. That figure was also the best by a State defense in 16 years when the 2002 squad allowed 153.9 yards per game passing. The Bulldogs allowed the fewest yards per passing attempt (5.5) in the nation and finished second in passer rating allowed (101.39). Dantzler, a preseason All-American for 2019, led MSU cornerbacks in 2018 with two interceptions.
In 2017, MSU allowed only 174.7 yards per game through the air, which ranked fourth in the SEC and 12th nationally. Buckley’s squad of Lashard Durr, Tolando Cleveland, Peters, Rayford and Dantzler was rarely challenged. As a whole, the Bulldog defense ranked 10th nationally, allowing only 306.3 yards per game. MSU ranked fourth in the SEC in interceptions with 13, including a 90-yard pick six from Peters.
Buckley helped the Bulldogs claim nine victories for the third time in four years, and it culminated with an impressive victory against Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl. His disruptive unit forced 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson into a career-high four interceptions, including one from Dantzler.
Despite a rash of injuries in the secondary in 2016, the Bulldogs ranked in the top tier of the league in interceptions with 14. Buckley’s squad closed the year on a two-game winning streak, shutting down Ole Miss and Miami (Ohio) to capture the Egg Bowl and St. Petersburg Bowl, respectively.
Buckley spent the 2014-15 seasons coaching cornerbacks at Louisville and helping the Cardinals to back-to-back bowl appearances, including a Music City Bowl victory over Texas A&M in December 2015. In both of Buckley’s seasons, Louisville led the Atlantic Coast Conference in interceptions and turnovers gained.
His two starting cornerbacks – Trumaine Washington and Shaq Wiggins -- earned honorable mention All-ACC honors. Despite a young secondary in 2015, Louisville ranked 14th nationally in interceptions with 14. The Cardinals also led the league in turnovers gained (26, 20th nationally) and were second in the ACC in passes defended (66, 30th nationally).
In Buckley’s first season of 2014, Louisville boasted one of the elite secondary’s in all of college football. The Cardinals led the nation in interceptions with 26. As a unit, the squad ranked sixth nationally in total defense (308.5 ypg) and 11th nationally in turnovers gained (30). Buckley mentored corners Charles Gaines and Terell Floyd, both of whom inked NFL contracts following their collegiate careers.
Prior to Louisville, Buckley was a member of Terry Bowden’s staff at Akron, coaching corners from 2012-13. Two of Buckley’s players - Micklos Blake and Bryce Cheek - earned academic honorable mention honors from the Mid-American Conference.
Buckley got his coaching start after earning his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 2007. From 2008-11, he served in various assistant roles on Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher’s staffs. During his Seminole coaching days, he worked closely with Xavier Rhodes and Patrick Robinson, both first round draft choices. Rhodes is a two-time NFL Pro Bowler, while Robinson won a Super Bowl.
A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner as a cornerback and return specialist at FSU (1989-91), he was inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame in 2003. He had his jersey No. 27 retired in 2011, and he is one of nine players in FSU history to earn that distinction.
Buckley left FSU as the program’s all-time leader in interceptions (21) and interception return yards (501). He tied school records for touchdowns off interceptions (4) and punt returns (3). His interception return yardage still stands as an NCAA FBS record.
He earned consensus All-America honors as a junior in 1991 and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. That same season, he finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Buckley was also a member of the Seminoles baseball team for two seasons (1990-91), playing outfield and second base, and was a sprinter on the outdoor track team (1991-92). He was picked fifth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and spent the next 14 seasons in the league on six different teams (1992-2005).
During his NFL career, Buckley amassed 50 interceptions. In 1996, Buckley led the league in interception return yards (164) and, as a rookie in 1992, set what remains a current record as the youngest player to return a punt for a touchdown (21 years, 105 days - Sept. 20, 1992, versus Cincinnati). Buckley had at least one interception in 13 consecutive NFL seasons. As a member of the New England Patriots in the 2001 AFC Championship game, he tallied an interception in a 24-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two weeks later, he added a championship ring to his collection when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI over the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans, not far from his hometown.
Buckley has three daughters, Sherrell, Brianna and Britney.
Personal Information
Hometown: Pascagoula, Miss.
Education: Florida State, 2007
Children: Sherrell, Brianna, Britney (three daughters)
Birthday: June 7, 1971
Coaching Experience
2016-p: Mississippi State (Cornerbacks)
2014-15: Louisville (Cornerbacks)
2012-13: Akron (Cornerbacks)
2010-11: Florida State (Weight Room)
2009: Florida State (Graduate Assistant)
2008: Florida State (Assistant Wide Receivers)
2007: Florida State (Student Assistant)
Bowl Games as a Coach
2019 Outback Bowl (Mississippi State)
2017 TaxSlayer Bowl (Mississippi State)
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl (Mississippi State)
2015: Music City Bowl (Louisville)
2014: Belk Bowl (Louisville)
2011: Champs Sports Bowl (Florida State)
2010: Chick-fil-A Bowl (Florida State)
2009: Gator Bowl (Florida State)
2008: Champs Sports Bowl (Florida State)
2007: Music City Bowl (Florida State)
Playing Experience
2005: New York Giants
2004: New York Jets
2003: Miami Dolphins
2001-02: New England Patriots
2000: Denver Broncos
1995-99: Miami Dolphins
1992-94: Green Bay Packers
1989-91: Florida State Seminoles
Bowl Games as a Player
2001: Super Bowl (New England)
1991: Cotton Bowl (Florida State)
1990: Blockbuster Bowl (Florida State)
1989: Fiesta Bowl (Florida State)
