CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson likes to go fast.
His speed on the outside is one reason why he was named a Conerly Trophy nominee and an All-SEC receiver.
So it’s safe to say, he wasn’t going to turn down a chance to go even faster.
Thompson was one of several players to take a ride in a NASCAR stock car around the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday, an opportunity offered as part of the buildup to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl yesterday.
Thompson is an outdoorsman who does a fair share of hunting and fishing, and he’s no stranger to trail-riding, but the racecar he strapped into had a bit more power than the average four-wheeler.
“I definitely got in the car, absolutely,” Thompson said with a laugh. “I’ve never gone that fast in a moving vehicle before. It was awesome, and I’d do it again for sure.”
Head coach Jeff Lebby and several other players opted out of the top-speed adventure, and left the thrillseeking to guys like Thompson and offensive lineman Jacoby Jackson.
“Oh yeah, it was fun,” Jackson said. “I didn’t even know if I could fit in it, so I was already nervous about that, but it was crazy. I never realized how much skill it took to drive those things coming off the curve. Getting close to that wall, man, it makes your heart jump.”
The players didn’t get to experience the top speeds that America’s favorite motorsport has to offer, but the speed cap of 165 miles per hour was more than enough for those who did go for a ride.
It was quite the start to the week in Charlotte, which also featured a trip to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, where the Bulldogs teamed up with their Friday opponents from Wake Forest to pack thousands of food parcels for area children.
The teams also shared an evening together playing arcade games and sharing food, a friendly way to bring the teams together going into the New Year.
The task at hand
Thompson began his week going faster than he’d ever gone before on land, and when his feet hit the turf at Bank of America Stadium, he had a chance to end his senior year with the school’s single-season receiving record.
He hasn’t been totally focused on himself since the regular season ended. He is eager to end the campaign the right way, especially considering the uncertainty beyond the season’s end. He is weighing his options as a pro prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft while also awaiting news of an extra year of eligibility.
“I wasn’t sure really what I was going to do at first,” Thompson said, reflecting on the end of the regular season. “Obviously had a great season this year, not sure if I’m planning on going to the draft or not yet. That’s something to take into consideration, but I think for me there’s still so much left out there, so much to fight for. Getting together with my brothers one last time, I couldn’t pass it up.”
Jackson and linebacker Nic Mitchell shared a similar sentiment on media day before the bowl game. They know their eligibility is up after this week, but they’re eager to give everything for one last lap with their team.
“I want to make sure that I leave it in a good place and finish strong for the team,” Mitchell said. “I owe it to them. Just like they owe it to the seniors, playing hard for us in this game, we owe it to them to finish strong and send the program into the offseason with momentum.”
The ‘Dawg Knight’ Rises
One last bit of extracurricular work during bowl week was the announcement of MSU’s black-out uniform for the occasion against the Deacons.
The Bulldogs sported their all-black uniform in their memorable win over Arizona State in Week 2, and the decision was made several weeks ago that they would bring it back.
“Nic Mitchell asked me two nights before the Egg Bowl: ‘Coach, can we go all-black? I said, ‘No, we can’t,’” Lebby recounted. “Let’s go win, get in a bowl game, and we’ll go all-black.”
The win over Ole Miss didn’t come as they’d hoped, but a surprise opportunity to play in a bowl for the 5-7 team did, so the all-blacks made a return. The social media announcement put the team’s new quarterback in the role of the hero.
A video of Kamario Taylor atop a building, overlooking the city skyline was posted on social media, as well as photos of the new QB1 clad in all-black with the MSU interlocking logo helmet.
“The Dawg Night,” read one post, spelling out the intention of the creative choices in the uniform drop.
“There was a video I posted, and someone replied, ‘Superman,’ but I’m more of a Batman guy,” Taylor said of the uniform release. “I guess that’s where they got the idea from.”
Like the Caped Crusader of Gotham City, Taylor shoulders the heavy hopes of his people. It’s a burden at times that can be thankless, and it’s led to the freshman taking greater care with his time spent online on his personal social media, given his newfound status as a rising star for the Bulldogs. He did so in part on the advice of friend and former MSU starting quarterback, Blake Shapen.
“I remember Blake telling me, always remember your fans are fans for a reason. You love them, but they’re not your friends or family. Stay off social media and just lock into your game and the type of person you’re trying to become.”
Taylor has tried to take those lessons to heart, and he’s approached his first year with the Bulldogs in the same way he did his last year as a Noxubee County Tiger. For him, the game is about finding and strengthening that camaraderie.
“Football brings a lot of people together to make new friends,” Taylor said. “The connection that it builds is unforgettable, so it’s more than just putting pads on to go out there and play the game. It’s playing for your brothers. It’s more than yourself, honestly. You’re doing all of this for them.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
