STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football played host to several professional scouts on Friday to showcase rising prospects from the 2025 team. 24 National Football League and two Canadian Football League franchises sent scouts to Starkville to evaluate draft-eligible Bulldogs.
Brenen Thompson, one of the more likely MSU players to hear their name called in Pittsburgh next month, turned heads with his blazing speed as a receiver and a return specialist.
Thompson made a name for himself at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, running a 4.26 40-yard dash time, going down as the second fastest in combine history behind Kansas City Chiefs wideout Xavier Worthy.
Thompson hit a top speed of 23.95 miles per hour in his 40 run, faster than Worthy, and still came away a bit disappointed with his time.
“I think for me, I was a little disappointed,” he said. “All my times in training were faster than that, those training with me know that, so I think that was fast in a lot of people’s eyes, but for me, just another day in the office.”
Thompson was reunited with quarterback Blake Shapen for the throwing portion of workouts. The pair connected on several throws downfield last season, notably a last-minute winner against Arizona State and a do-or-die fourth-down conversion in MSU’s only SEC win at Arkansas.
In a year where Thompson set the program’s single-season receiving record with 1,054 yards, he made sure to credit the system and the players within it for allowing him to show his skillset at the highest level.
“I’m so thankful, so fortunate to be where my feet are. I thank the entire coaching staff for taking me in and trusting me and my ability to go out there every Saturday, because it takes that. Not only that, but my teammates. Blake Shapen for getting me those balls, linemen putting up the front, Booth in run protection. It’s not just me, it takes a team to do what I do, so I thank them for that.”
Seniors like Brylan Lanier, Nic Mitchell and Jahron Manning leave some shoes to fill in terms of leadership on the defense, but spoke highly of the opportunity the program offered them as well as the state they’re leaving the program in after a turbulent few years.
“I always promote Mississippi State because of the fans, it’s just unreal,” Lanier said. “I’ve been to other big programs, but the fans here are different. It’s real love. That was different for me, and the coaching. Coach Lebby is a real players’ coach. Our relationship played a significant part in my development, keeping your mind, some days it’s not easy as a man or a football player. Having guys like that around you is critical.”
Manning was one of a few players hoping for an additional year of eligibility, but found out in February that it wouldn’t be granted. After turning the page and preparing to fight for a spot in the pros, he said the experience of playing in the SEC will prepare him for what comes next.
“I think it definitely got me in shape to go out there and execute the style of play, the physicality, things of that nature,” Manning said. “‘Baby NFL’ is what they call the SEC, so getting a chance to experience that I feel like prepared me for the next level.”
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