STARKVILLE — Montez Sweat is an elite pass rusher in a sport that values them more than any other time in its history. Pass rushers of Sweat’s projected ability can easily makes tens of millions of dollars before their 30th birthday and Sweat had every opportunity to join them in April’s NFL Draft; instead, he’s spending this spring practicing as a Mississippi State Bulldog.
After a junior season that ended with Sweat atop the Southeastern Conference in sacks (10.5) and tied for the lead in tackles for a loss (15.5), Sweat chose to return to MSU for his senior season. Sweat discussed that decision after MSU’s practice Tuesday, ironically enough doing so the day before MSU’s Pro Day event for NFL scouts.
“It was decision I made with my family and coaching staff. We all thought it was the best decision for me to come back, get my degree in December, have another great season and take it from there,” Sweat said.
Sweat repeated during MSU’s preparation for last season’s TaxSlayer Bowl win over Louisville that he was not considering the prospect of declaring for the draft, holding all consideration of that until after the bowl game. Clearly, the process started very quickly after that; Sweat announced his intent to return on Jan. 6 after the Dec. 30 game.
“We touched base almost every other day leading up to it,” Sweat said of communication with the new coaching staff. “A lot with (new defensive coordinator Bob) Shoop and (retained defensive line coach Brian) Baker. They wanted me to come back and lead the team, stuff like that. They started something good here and I believe in it, honestly. I believe in the way they’re working around here; it’s not a bad decision to come back to it.
“It did influence it a lot. They were saying how much of a benefit it would be to come back and I have a couple of relationships on the team I didn’t want to let go, too.”
It is obvious Sweat had a sympathetic ear to those trying to bring him back to MSU, possibly to the point that he didn’t pursue input from the NFL’s College Advisory Board. It is a body formed essentially to give players like Sweat the best advise possible: a group of NFL approved evaluators, at the school’s request, grades prospects as potential first round, potential second round or neither. It gives players in Sweat’s position an initial read of what NFL franchises are likely to think about them, thus whether it is financially smart to forego the final year of college eligibility.
Sweat said he didn’t get that report. Even without it, he remains confident he is good enough to be a sought after asset in the NFL after one more college season.
“A little swagger, a little confidence. Just do the same thing but a little better,” Sweat said.
Four practices into the spring with the new coaching staff, Sweat has every reason to believe he will be able to do more of the same. As he put it, “I’m a pass rusher, I’m just on the edge.” Shoop sees him the same way and hopes to give him what he didn’t have at the end of last season — somehow making him more attractive to the franchises waiting to draft him.
“He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast; I mean, he looks like a power forward,” Shoop said. “I’m impressed with his work ethic. He seems to understand football and I think he made a smart investment coming back to college because I think what he lacked was real big-time game experience: he didn’t play much at Michigan State, he didn’t play much in the junior college ranks and then came here. He just needs a little more seasoning.
“The expectations for him are high this year and he’s got a bright future in the game.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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