Recent Posts
Home >Unlabelled > Mississippi State defenders keep eyes on NFL status | The Tennessean on Astini News
Mississippi State defenders keep eyes on NFL status | The Tennessean on Astini News
Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2011 by astini
Fletcher Cox and Johnthan Banks were prepared for the question.
Will Mississippi State's two junior stars bolt for the NFL in the spring?
Cox, a defensive tackle, and Banks, a cornerback, offered reporters little more than the equal of a "no comment," a polite shrug and a few declarative statements deflecting the attention from their NFL futures to the Bulldogs' game against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl on Friday.
"I'm not talking about that," said Cox, who's projected to be a first- or second-round selection. "I think it's personal, and if I feel like I should let the media know, I'll just talk to (MSU spokesman) Joe (Galbraith) and Coach (Dan) Mullen about it."
The questions are the result of successful seasons. It's a double-edged sword for MSU fans who love seeing a dominant defense but hate losing star players early to the NFL.
Cox (6-4, 295), criticized by coaches early in the season, has made 12 tackles for loss and four sacks.
After a slow, start Cox had seven tackles for loss in back-to-back weeks against South Carolina and Kentucky, and returned a fumble 52 yards and also blocked a field goal against Arkansas.
The result? A school-record four defensive lineman of the week honors from the SEC.
"It's a big difference," Cox said of the turnaround. "I talked to the coaches at the beginning of the season, and they said they needed more out of me. And I promised them they would get more out of me, and I started developing."
Cox received feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee recently but did not divulge details or his draft grade Tuesday.
"It's exciting," Cox said. "You have a chance. It's something you work hard for, and that was a goal in my life."
If Cox or Banks declares for the draft, it'll be a rarity for Mississippi State. The last Bulldog who left early for the draft was wide receiver Olanda Truitt, who was was picked in the fifth round in 1993 by the Oakland Raiders.
Banks is not expected to be a first-round prospect, though he could be a second-round selection, said NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier.
Banks leads MSU with five interceptions (one for a touchdown), and led the nation halfway through the season with his five picks. He also has seven tackles for loss and nine pass deflections.
"The neat thing about Johnthan is that he finds the football quickly during the play," Detillier said. "A lot of cornerbacks are there, but they can't make the play. Banks has the ability to close on the football quickly."
Wake Forest update: The Demon Deacons practiced in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Tuesday morning, then headed to Nashville.
Sophomore running back Josh Harris, who missed the last three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury, is practicing and expected to play.
Harris rushed for 432 yards on 101 carries and scored three TDs.
Flanker Lovell Jackson, who is nursing a shoulder injury, also is expected to play. He had four catches for 41 yards in the regular season.
Two other Demon Deacons on the mend and expected to play are offensive tackle Steven Chase (knee) and guard Colin Summers (ankle).
Four Wake Forest players who have been ruled out include cornerback Dominique Tate (knee), linebacker Kyle Jarrett (back), offensive tackle Dylan Hertstill (back) and wide receiver Airyn Willis (leg).
Ticket sales: Music City Bowl officials report total ticket sales are approaching 55,000 for Friday's game.
Mississippi State has sold just under 14,000 tickets, while Wake Forest has sold about 7,000.
The largest crowd ever to see a Music City Bowl at LP Field was last year, when Tennessee and North Carolina played and 69,143 showed up.
The smallest was in 2002, when 39,183 attended the Arkansas-Minnesota game.
Blog Archive
-
▼
2011
(2934)
-
▼
December
(691)
- Victoria Justice's Gleamy Glamour, DL1961 Denim an...
- Super food pomegranate keeps you young on Astini News
- Lady Antebellum Top Country Album Chart on Astini ...
- Photo Release -- ZAP Jonway Announcing New JNZ SHU...
- Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams...
- ESPN's Berman, Jackson bring back 'NFL PrimeTime' ...
- Norma King | Crazy chemo lady on board on Astini News
- Seattle chain looks to become Hooters of coffee sh...
- Baker, North power into Queen of the Palms Classic...
- Injury, misfortune will test Warriors' guard depth...
- Indiana prep QB Gunner Kiel commits to LSU Tigers ...
- Eyewitness News Story Rundown for Saturday, Decemb...
- Cooking in Progress' leaves you hungry for more on...
- AP Police mulls giving corporate look to police st...
- Amber Rose Buttons Up For New StyleCaster Photo Sh...
- $172K violin left on Philly-bound bus is recovered...
- Eddie Vedder | Pearl Jam Donate Guitar To Burglary...
- Justin Bieber And His Little Sister Sing 'Baby' At...
- Have you got The X Factor? Online auditions now op...
- Rupert Grint is the Ultimate Santa Claus :: Elites...
- Colts' Future To Be Determined In Finale With Jags...
- Will Hollywood still shower the love on Obama? - E...
- Russia orders submarine blaze investigation - Cent...
- Wenzhouâs Black Box: How Chinaâs Train Tragedy...
- Organism in tap water prompts Neti pot warning | L...
- Pro-Huntsman super PAC calls Romney a âchameleon...
- Sneak Peek: CBS gives final look of Marg Helgenber...
- Healthy Deviled Eggs Using Garbanzo Beans Recipe o...
- The American Reporter Vol. 16, No. 4,365 on Astini...
- The Secret World unveils new horrific creatures on...
- Forecast: Rain today, and a chance of rain for New...
- Chicago corn, soybean jump on South America weathe...
- Electronic Deals at Sears 1-Day Sale this Thursday...
- Viggo Mortensen Reveals How He Became Freud in â...
- The Blackberry 9860 Torch is an advanced handset o...
- PlayStation Vita sales drop in Japan on Astini News
- BlackBerry Bold 9900: The swan song of a standard ...
- Danny Green pulls out of Sydney to Hobart race on ...
- George Soros Heads to Myanmar - Southeast Asia Rea...
- As 2012 nears, keep your Bic ready to flick » Abi...
- USC, Utah and Oregon State sign JC players - Pac-1...
- Diet Detective: A healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2011 ...
- Vanity Fairâs Carter Adds Pickled Pear at Monkey...
- Permit extended for Washington protesters on Astin...
- Paying Homage To Outcasts On 'Bad As Me' : NPR on ...
- MMA: Why Jon Jones Is a Future Heavyweight Champio...
- Salt-potassium ratio may trump blood pressure for ...
- Daredevil Inventor Gets on History Channel: on Ast...
- Cain Accuser Says She Doesn't Regret Speaking Out ...
- Attack of the Super Bee! on Astini News
- Your New iPhone: What You Need to Know on Astini News
- Odd weather pattern keeps snow away from Minnesota...
- ESPN's "The Wrestler" Segment on Wrestling's Scott...
- Senate Bill 5 foes not sure how to use funds on As...
- The American Reporter Vol. 16, No. 4,362 on Astini...
- Idaho Man Ordered Held for White House Shooting on...
- St. Louis Rams: Jon Gruden's QB May Not Be Sam Bra...
- Katy Perry and Russell Brand spend Holiday break a...
- Growing up as John Wayne's son in O.C. - Local New...
- What a waste! $77 million Powerball jackpot expire...
- Elk program cost 3 times original estimate on Asti...
- Venezuela's Chavez: Did U.S. give Latin American l...
- Mississippi State defenders keep eyes on NFL statu...
- ÂRemasters, at Plug Projects, draws on art hist...
- LSE Says 2011 London IPO Proceeds Up 27%, Sees "Ex...
- Cincinnati Bengals avoid blackout for second time ...
- BLOG: Rick Perry's inadvertent tribute to toleranc...
- 'Deus Ex: Human Revolution' heads 2011 Top 10 list...
- Tigers expected to offer contract to Delmon Young ...
- Ashley Judd Stars in ABC's MISSING, Premiering 3/1...
- Gamasutra - Press Releases - Combat Arms Brings Fe...
- Mike Rowe Visits The 'Doomsday Vault' (VIDEO) on A...
- Inside Pulse | Paranormal Activity 3 Blu-ray Annou...
- Asetek to Offer Liquid Cooling Solutions for Incre...
- Concept First Drive: Land Rover DC100 Sport on Ast...
- Taylor Swift's 'Hunger Games' song, and an upset u...
- BoT against passing the buck on Astini News
- World Eagerly Awaits Christmas Miracle of Dick Che...
- Elizabeth Taylor remembered by Shirley MacLaine | ...
- State's Seismic Regulators Erase Electronic Inform...
- Iran warns of closing strategic oil route - World ...
- Evolution triggered by climate change on Astini News
- Camelot Information Systems Announces Appointment ...
- Two resign from Kodak board; represented KKR | Reu...
- Japanese judo Olympic champ Masato Uchishiba charg...
- Napoleon Bonaparte and Egypt's lost scrolls | Art ...
- Tiger Woods Girlfriend | Hot Momma Gossip on Astin...
- Drew Peterson Finds Movie Trailer 'Hilarious' - Lo...
- Congress seeks legal framework for Internet censor...
- Donât Be Afraid of the Dark brings the scares in...
- Former workers seek state investigation of Chrome ...
- New Citibank Survey Shows Rebound in Economic Opti...
- TalkRadio 790 KABC-AM - Los Angeles on Astini News
- Barronâs Sees Shares of Ulta Salon (ULTA) Near P...
- Ultimate Leading Lady: Anna Paquin vs. Nina Dobrev...
- Passion for technology, curiosity drive scholar at...
- Blagojevich cohort won't serve more time for fraud...
- BBC News - Berkshire Hathaway buys Warren Buffett'...
- Meyer not looking back | Gainesville.com on Astini...
- SOPA Haters Are Already Finding Easy Ways To Circu...
-
▼
December
(691)