STARKVILLE — MIssissippi State is down a second defensive end.
Senior captain and former Starkville High School standout Kobe Jones released a video Friday afternoon announcing he will forgo his extra year of eligibility afforded by the NCAA amid to the COVID-19 pandemic and enter the 2021 NFL draft.
“God I can’t thank you enough!” Jones wrote in conjunction with his video on Twitter. “Through my experiences at Mississippi State University I confirmed who I am as a player, and ultimately a man. I’m beyond Grateful for the good times, but especially for the trials and tribulations.”
While Jones played more of a complementary role during his first four years in Starkville, the former Yellow Jacket proved a force during the 2020 campaign. He finished the season with 29 tackles — including four for a loss — and two sacks opposite running mate Marquiss Spencer at the other defensive end slot.
Jones was also outspoken regarding racial injustice issues throughout the summer, including speaking at the MSU football team’s walk-out of practice in protest of racial injustice in the United States in August. A Mississippi native, he was also the first player to carry the new state flag onto the field at Davis Wade Stadium ahead of the Bulldogs’ win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 7.
“That moment meant a lot for me,” Jones said at the time. “First off, it was a huge honor to be asked to carry the flag and I was just very proud to finally get to wave a flag that unites all Mississippians.”
Jones becomes the fourth player from this year’s roster to enter the NFL draft with eligibility still remaining. Junior safety Marcus Murphy became the first player to do so in early December after he had previously opted out of the rest of the season, while seniors Erroll Thompson and Spencer announced their intentions within the past week.
With Jones and Spencer off the NFL, the Bulldogs will have a handful of major holes to plug at defensive end. Junior Aaron Odom and freshman Jack Harris have both seen some, albeit limited, time during their respective tenures in Starkville. MSU did sign three-star pass rushers Deonte Anderson and Tre’von Marshall in its 2021 class, though how much impact they can have from Day 1 remains to be seen.
The Bulldogs closed their first season under head coach Mike Leach with last week’s win over No. 24 Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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