For the first time since 2009, no Mississippi State players were selected in the NFL Draft — although former Bulldogs running back Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks was picked in the fourth round by the Houston Texans after spending his final year at USC.
But that doesn’t mean nobody from the 2024 MSU roster will get a shot to play at the next level. Wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi and linebacker Stone Blanton signed with pro teams as undrafted free agents, and center Ethan Miner received a rookie minicamp invite from the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers also signed Jimmy Bell Jr. as an undrafted free agent to play offensive tackle. Bell never played football for the Bulldogs, or at all in college, with his last game experience on the gridiron coming as a high school sophomore in Saginaw, Michigan. Since then, Bell has been a basketball player, playing on the hardwood for Saint Louis, Moberly Area Community College, West Virginia and MSU.
He appeared in all 35 games for the Bulldogs in 2023-24, starting at center before Tolu Smith returned from a foot injury. Bell averaged 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, though his numbers were considerably higher early in the year when he was playing more minutes.
Bell worked out with the football teams at both West Virginia and MSU, joining the Bulldogs for spring practice in 2024. He has bulked up since his college basketball career ended, and certainly has the size to play offensive line at 6 feet, 9 inches and 330 pounds.
Akharaiyi signed with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He transferred to MSU in the 2023-24 offseason coming off a huge year at Texas-El Paso, and while he struggled to find a consistent role in the Bulldogs’ offense, he has breakaway speed and averaged 15.6 yards per catch last season.
Blanton signed later that evening with the San Francisco 49ers, coming off two seasons at South Carolina and one at MSU. As a Bulldog, Blanton finished second in the Southeastern Conference in tackles, behind teammate Isaac Smith, and also had two forced fumbles.
Miner spent four years at Arkansas State and one at North Texas before joining MSU in 2024, where he started all 12 games at center. He has been durable throughout his collegiate career, starting 47 straight games over his time at all three schools.
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