STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University will be bringing in a football player to its 2012 recruiting class that knows what it takes to win a national championship.
A few weeks removed from winning a NJCAA national championship at East Mississippi Community College, defensive end Denico Autry gave his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs program Tuesday afternoon.
“I have a pretty good relationship with the coaches,” Autry said. “I watched a lot of film and man I can see myself making a lot of tackles in(MSU defensive coordinator Chris)Wilson’s defense.”
Autry is expected to sign next Wednesday on junior college signing day and enroll in classes at MSU for the spring semester.
Autry led all Lion defensive linemen with 81 total tackles (54 solos and 27 assists), including a team-high 11 sacks and 13 other tackles for loss. The Albemarle, N.C., native was also credited with 41 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles on the season.
“He’s like DeMarcus Ware in the National Football League that’s practically unblockable with one person and a defensive player you have to account for on every play,” EMCC associate head coach/defensive coordinator William Jones said. “Denico might be the best player I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching because he’s such a unique pass rusher.”
After totaling 141 total tackles (97 solos & 44 assists) during his two-year stint at EMCC that included 16.5 career sacks, Autry has MSU fans already hoping his numbers will be similar to former MSU player Pernell McPhee. A transfer from Itawamba Community College, McPhee turned into being a significant contributor to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens this season.
“Let me stop you there — he’s better than Pernell,” Jones said. “He can take a game over, an SEC game right now.”
Jones said he’s close friends with Wilson and runs a very similar defensive style that’s transferable to what Autry will be asked to do in the Bulldogs multiple scheme.
“I know they thought of him very highly and it would overwhelm me if he’s not starting for them from day one,” Jones said. “I know Chris Wilson, Tony Hughes and Melvin Smith were targeting that defensive end and open side defensive end when they went out recruiting and Denico is all of that and more.”
Autry, a four-star prospect by most of the recruiting services, is a pass rushing specialist that will be looked to contribute on MSU’s defensive line when he arrives this summer.
“Pass rushers are hard to find and ones that can win one-on-one matchups are even harder to find,” Jones said. “If he’ll take the coaching, he’ll be one of the best at Mississippi State there’s no doubt in my mind.”
At the start of summer workouts this August, Autry will be the only player in the MSU locker room that knows what it feels like to win a national championship. East Mississippi defeated the previously unbeaten Arizona Western College in this year’s NJCAA Football Championship Game played Dec. 3 in Yuma, Ariz. Autry one of two Lions players to be named to the 2011 NJCAA Football All-America first team Monday.
“He’s such a competitive and a great teammate with an unbelievable spirit for the game,” Jones said. “He’ll being all of that to Mississippi State. That’s what he brings that to the table inside. At the SEC level with all the crowds and things, he’s going to act like he’s been there before.”
Autry, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound prospect, chose MSU over other scholarship offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas, Alabama, Miami (Fla.), Oregon and Tennessee.
“I was just tired of the process,” Autry said. “Guys just wouldn’t leave me alone and it is during finals week. I knew where I wanted to go so I just made my decision.”
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