STARKVILLE – Four years ago, Benardrick McKinney was a lightly recruited high school quarterback from a tiny high school in the Delta with just one major scholarship offer under his belt.
Now, he’s on the brink of watching his dreams come true.
On Friday, McKinney, Mississippi State’s All-American middle linebacker, confirmed what seemed to be inevitable when he announced he has decided to forgo his senior season at MSU in order to enter the NFL Draft.
“I have decided to enter the NFL Draft and look forward to the next chapter,” said McKinney. “I can’t thank enough my coaches, teammates and the Bulldog fans for the memories we have created over the years. It’s been a privilege to be a part of one of the best teams in school history. Mississippi State has developed me into the player I am today, and I will always be part of the Bulldog family.”
McKinney’s next step will be the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis. The 6-foot-4, 231-pounder is a native of Tunica, where he was a standout on both sides of the ball for Rosa Fort High.
At MSU, he was listed as a starter for three seasons after redshirting in 2011, and he helped the Bulldogs to a 25-14 mark in three years. That included a 10-3 season in his final go-round as a Bulldog, which ended last week with a 49-34 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia Tech. McKinney is ranked by ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. as the top inside linebacker prospect in this year’s draft.
McKinney has been projected by both ESPN.com and CBSSports.com as a first-round pick.
“We fully support Benardrick’s decision and know he is ready for the next level,” said MSU head coach Dan Mullen. “He has been a tremendous leader for our football team both on and off the field. His work ethic and intelligence make him a valuable first-round prospect for any NFL team. We are proud that he has helped raise the standard at Mississippi State.”
At 6-foot-4, McKinney was the Bulldogs’ top tackler the past two seasons. The middle linebacker played in 39 games with 36 career starts, racking up 244 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
McKinney is the second MSU underclassman to declare for the draft in the last two weeks. Bulldogs’ tailback Josh Robinson, MSU’s leading rusher in 2014, announced his intention to turn prop one night before the Orange Bowl.
MSU’s remaining junior with possible professional aspirations is quarterback Dak Prescott, who has yet to announce his intention. He has until Thursday to make his decision.
In 2014, McKinney became the first first-team All-America linebacker for Mississippi State since 1999 as the leader of the ‘psycho defense.’ He started all 13 games and finished with a team-best 71 tackles and eight tackles for loss. ESPN, the Football Writers Association, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated all recognized him as a first-team All-American. He was a 2014 semifinalist for the Bednarik, Butkus and Lombardi Awards. McKinney, who arrived at MSU as a two-star high school quarterback, helped lead the Bulldogs to their first No. 1 national ranking, a place they occupied for five consecutive weeks.
With the loss of McKinney, MSU’s defense will return just three starters in 2015.
Follow Dispatch Sports Writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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