Former MSU players give NFL scouts something to consider
Year two of the Mike Leach era is underway at Mississippi State with the future looking bright for the young Bulldogs, but former Mississippi State players are also looking to produce their own big futures.
The annual Pro Day at MSU took place Wednesday as scouts from National Football League teams were in Starkville to see a group of players compete to impress ahead of this year’s NFL Draft. There were 18 former State players took part in the event, including several players that are a couple of years out from their careers.
One of the bigger names competing on Wednesday was former running back Kylin Hill. The Columbus native ended his career with the Bulldogs with over 2,500 rushing yards, 631 receiving yards and 22 career touchdowns. He ended his senior year prematurely after the Kentucky game when he decided to opt out to prepare for the draft.
Since that time, Hill has been mostly in the Dallas area training, but he was back on the MSU campus Wednesday and thought he performed well.
“(It’s been) a real grind, especially competing against athletes that are on the same level as me or better,” Hill said. “They’re at the same place as I am in the process. I got to display all the hard work (at Pro Day) and everything went smooth.
“I felt like I showed everything that scouts wanted to see. I felt like I checked all of the boxes, did what I had to do and proved what I had to.”
The draft eligible players that participated along with Hill were Erroll Thompson, Paul Blackwell, Reed Bowman, K.J. Costello, Kobe Jones, Osirus Mitchell, Marcus Murphy, Dareuan Parker and Marquiss Spencer.
There were also several players that played for the Bulldogs in 2020 as Fletcher Adams, Nick Gibson, Jaquarius Landrews, Mark Mclaurin, Maurice Smitherman, Deddrick Thomas and Tim Washington all got to work out.
Thompson was one of the players that was looking to prove the most on Pro Day and sources suggested that the former team captain linebacker was indeed impressive. Thompson said that he’s already had conversations with the New England Patriots,
Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. The Indianapolis Colts talked with him after Pro Day as well.
Thompson has spent the last couple of months training like Hill, but he’s also done his home work with former teammates Elgton Jenkins, J.T. Gray and Willie Gay Jr. on what to expect. His time in the conference and a veteran at MSU should help.
“I definitely believe playing the SEC is a selling point,” Thompson said. “You’re playing the best athletes week in and week out. I can really lay my hat on that I did play in the SEC and for Mississippi State which is a blue collar program as well.”
All in all, it was a good day for the Bulldogs. It was a chance to showcase their skills, but also a chance to rekindle friendships.
Hill felt the love that Starkville and MSU always tends to bring the minute he walked into the Seal Complex. He won’t forget one of the best times of his life at MSU.
“It’s family,” Hill said. “Walking into the building and seeing everybody, they see me and are smiling and I’m smiling back. We’re hugging and laughing and they ask me how life has been. Everything dealing with Mississippi State is family no matter what sport, the students, (or) janitors. It doesn’t matter what it is, everybody treats you like family. I always tell recruits that the number one thing with Mississippi State is family and if you want family, come here. Everybody gets treated equal and that’s what I love the most about this program.”