NEW YORK — Mississippi State University’s Vick Ballard and Charles Mitchell and the University of Mississippi’s Bobby Massie were selected Saturday on the third and final day of the NFL draft.
Ballard was selected in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts, while Mitchell was taken in the sixth by the Atlanta Falcons. Massie, an offensive lineman, was selected in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals.
Ballard finished his two-year career as the Bulldogs’ starting running back with 2,157 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Despite spending only two falls in the Maroon and White, Ballard leaves MSU ranked second all-time in rushing touchdowns and 10th in rushing yardage. He was selected with the 35th pick in the fifth round, the 107th overall.
Playing in a school-record 50 career games, Mitchell recorded 293 career tackles during his four-year career, including 95 as a senior. He pulled down four interceptions and posted 7.5 tackles for loss from his free safety position, and started all 38 games over the last three seasons. Atlanta chose Mitchell with the 22nd pick in the sixth round, 192nd overall.
MSU has had seven players drafted in the past two years, the most in a two-year stretch since eight players were chosen in 2000 and 2001.
Massie elected to bypass his senior season to enter the draft. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder from Lynchburg, Va., played in every game the past three seasons, starting the last 29 at right tackle. Massie blocked for 14 individual 100-yard rushing performances, including a pair of 200-yard outbursts.
He is the 10th Rebel draftee in the past four years.
Ole Miss has had 279 draft picks and 19 first-round selections. There are 24 Rebels in the NFL, and 16 started games for their clubs in 2011.
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