Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC. Welcome to a list of the Mississippi State Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, as seen by Draft Scout.
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Mo. from April 27-29.
Our series will run beginning Oct. 31 and running for five consecutive days, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the SEC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Friday, Nov. 4. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
SEC TOP 25 NFL PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Overall SEC Top Prospect List
SEC EAST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Mizzou | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
SEC WEST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M
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So we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on it. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL and flourishing.
Below is a look at Mississippi State’s Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. For now, we’ll go strictly with seniors, as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.
MISSISSIPPI STATE TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Cameron Young (DT)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 5th round
CAREER STATISTICS: Cameron Young was tabbed as the No. 25 overall recruit coming out of high school. Young appeared in only one game during his freshman season in 2018 where he would use his redshirt.
He would see more game action in 2019 where he appeared in eight games during the year. Young would continue to see an uptick in production during the 2020 season where he posted 13 total tackles (5 solo) and 2.5 tackles, including a sack.
Young would have his best season yet in 2021 where he registered 51 total tackles (18 solo) and 2.5 tackles for loss. He would also tack on an interception, two QB hurries, a pair of pass breakups and blocked a kick.
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scouts, over 20 NFL teams consider him as a Top 10 Senior Defensive Tackle. Young has been an anchor on Mississippi’s State defensive line and he is a menace of the attack inside. He can easily slide into the fourth round discussion for his physical presence on the interior of the defensive line.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Jaden Crumedy (DT)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th or 7th round
CAREER STATISTICS: Jaden Crumedy was a four-star recruit coming out of high school before stepping on Mississippi State’s campus. Crumedy would only appear in two games during his freshman season in 2018. He decided to use his redshirt his initial year with the program.
He would start in seven games with the Bulldogs in 2019 where he would post 18 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack on the season. Crumedy would continue to see the field more during the 2020 campaign where he would tally 31 tackles, 3.5 for loss, two sacks, three QB hurries and two pass deflections on the year.
Crumedy would start in all 12 games for Mississippi State in 2021 where he posted 20 tackles, two for loss, one sack, seven quarterback hurries, one pass deflection, forced one fumble and blocked a field goal. He was named to Fourth Team-All SEC after his performance on the field in 2021.
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scouts, he is listed as one of the Top 250 prospects heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Crumedy has been a veteran on Mississippi State’s defense and brings consistent pressure to the opposition. He is projected as a sixth or seventh rounder, but his production in the middle of the defense could vault him into the fifth round.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Tyrus Wheat (OLB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th round
CAREER STATISTICS: Tyrus Wheat started his collegiate career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College before transferring to Mississippi State before the 2020 season. Wheat would total for 104 tackles, including 8.0 for loss, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and five interceptions. He would be named first-team Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges as a sophomore.
During his first year with the Bulldogs in 2020, he ranked No. 12 in the FBS and No. 2 in the SEC in fumbles recovered (2). Wheat was also ranked No. 82 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC in sacks per game (0.56).
His production would continue in 2021 as he started in all 13 games for Mississippi State. The star linebacker would register 46 total tackles, including 20 solo stops, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scouts, over 20 NFL teams consider him a Top 10 Senior Outside Linebacker. The Amite, Louisiana native has been a force for the Bulldog defense. Wheat did recieve some preseason recognition by landing on Phil Steele’s All-American team. He is currently slate on going in the seventh round, but combined with the upside and production he brings on the field he will slide all the way into the fourth round.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Jalen Green (FS)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Jalen Green was listed as a Top-150 national prospect coming out of high school. Green would spend three season with the Texas Longhorns before transferring to Mississippi State in 2021. He would appear in 11 games during his freshman season in 2018 where he saw stints on the defense and on special teams.
Green would see more game action in 2019 for the Texas defense. His time on the field would go down in 2020 where he only saw one start with the Longhorns.
During his first year with Mississippi State in 2021, Green would make 10 starts. Green registered 41 total tackles, including 22 solo stops. He would add 1.5 tackles for loss, along with two interceptions and four pass breakups
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scouts, he is currently listed as a HPFA heading into next year’s NFL Draft. Green has a nose for the football as he has had made an impact on the Bulldog defense. Coupled with his athleticism makes him a dangerous weapon on the field. Green will slide into hearing in his name called by the time the NFL Draft rolls around and sneak up into the sixth round.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Austin Williams (WR)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Austin Williams was ranked as the No. 15 overall recruit in Mississippi before stepping on Mississippi State’s campus. Williams enrolled early before the 2017 season where he would redshirt his initial year with the program.
He would start to see more game action in 2018 where he would catch a pass in seven different games. He had eight receptions that either went for a first down or a touchdown. In the 2019 season, Williams would rank third on the team with two receiving touchdowns.
During the 2020 season, Williams saw time at wide receiver and punt returner. In 2021, he would serve as the primary punt returner for the Bulldogs. Williams would make a career-best 52 catches for 617 yards and four touchdowns.
THE TRUTH: According to Draft Scouts, is listed as a HFPA heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. It is hard to believe that projection as he has been very consistent in the Bulldog’s passing attack. Williams would finish the 2021 season with the highest hands grade (92.5) among all wide receivers in the nation. Pair that with his exceptional route running and he will land himself into the sixth or seventh round discussion.
