MSU’S Cross, Forbes, Walley recognized by SEC

Freshmen have played a huge role for this year’s Mississippi State football team.

Several of the young Bulldogs have been successful and three of them were recognized on Tuesday by Southeastern Conference

coaches.

MSU’S Charles Cross, Emmanuel Forbes and Jaden Walley were selected to the Freshmen ALL-SEC Team. It is the most Bulldogs selected to the team since four were recognized back in 2009 with Johnthan Banks, Corey Broomfield, Chad and Fletcher Cox.

It has definitely been an unusual year for MSU head coach Mike Leach, who has often said he never thought he would play this many freshman during a season.

“Anytime you play young guys, it’s tough for the present and exciting for the future,” Leach

said. “The exciting part is it’s like being on a roller coaster.”

It has been an up and down season for the Bulldogs, but there have been many excited moments and accomplishments by freshmen.

Walley broke the MSU freshman record for receiving yards in a season with 691. That mark ranks second among all freshmen nationally and ninth overall in the SEC. He ended the regular season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances, becoming the first true freshman in program history to achieve the feat.

Along with his SEC honor, Walley was also chosen second team Freshman All-american by The Athletic.

Also on offense, Cross became a starter at left tackle in nine games this season. The Bulldogs were productive immediately in his first start at LSU as they produced an SEC and school record 623 yards and five touchdowns.

MSU had four 400-yard outings behind Cross and the offensive line.

Forbes has been a playmaker on defense as an eight-game starter for the Bulldogs in the secondary, especially as of late. He had two interceptions in last Saturday’s 51-32 home win over Missouri and returned one for 29-yard touchdown.

During the regular season, Forbes had 41 tackles and 10 passes defended with four interceptions, which is tied for fifth in the FBS and first in the SEC.

Forbes also had a 60-yard interception return for points against Texas A&M.

The honor for Forbes was not the only one for the MSU defense on Tuesday as sophomore defensive back Martin Emerson picked up All-america recognition from PFF.

Emerson stands 10th nationally with 11 forced incompletions. He has 67 tackles this season, nine pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Emerson, Forbes, Cross, Walley and the rest of the Bulldogs will participate in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on December 31 in Fort Worth, Texas.