Cross, Emerson billboards on display

Mississippi State's nationally recognized #Fromstatetosundays billboard campaign returns this weekend following the 2022 National Football League Draft.

On April 28, with head football coach Mike Leach and offensive line coach Mason Miller in attendance, offensive tackle Charles Cross heard his name called at Caesers Forum in Las Vegas, when he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. A day later, the Cleveland Browns selected cornerback Martin Emerson with the 68th pick.

Billboards featuring Cross were recently on display last week in Seattle during the Seahawks' three-day rookie minicamp. Billboards showcasing Emerson were set to run in Cleveland during the Browns' camp that concluded today.

MSU also will pay tribute to Cross and Emerson over the next several days in their respective hometowns. Cross' will appear in Laurel until May 19, while Emerson's will be shown in Pensacola, Fla., until May 26.

The Bulldogs own more NFL starts per player over the last five years than any Southeastern Conference school.

With Cross drafted in the first round and Emerson following in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, a total of 14 MSU standouts have been selected through the first three rounds of the previous eight drafts. Impressively, that is the fifth most in the SEC during that span.

After Cross was drafted ninth overall, Leach and Miller became one of three head coach and offensive line coach tandems with a firstround offensive lineman selected in two of the last four NFL Drafts.

Additionally, Leach is one of only two active head coaches with at least one first-round pick at three different schools.