Dale’s Sideline Report

History was made twice at Mississippi State this week. Jake Mangum achieved a historic honor as he became the all-time Southeastern Conference hits leader on Saturday with his 353^rdcareer hit, passing LSU’s Eddie Furniss (352). 

MSU has three first round picks 

The other notable accomplishment in Starkville this week was for the first time in school history three MSU players were drafted in the first round. The Bulldogs were tied with Alabama and Clemson with three selections in the first round. The nation’s number one defense had four players selected as Jeffery Simmons (DT) was the 19^thoverall pick to the Tennessee Titans, Montez Sweat (DE) went 26^thto the Washington Redskins, and former Jones County Junior College star Johnathan Abram (DB) went at No. 27 to the Oakland Raiders. The Indianapolis Colts with the 199th pick took the final MSU defensive player as Gerri Green (DE) was taken in the sixth round. Center Elgton Jenkins (C) was the lone offensive Bulldog taken by the Green Bay Packers at 44th overall in the second round. The school record for picks was six, set in 1995. 

Rebels are offensive minded 

Ole Miss had the most players taken in the draft in 48 years as six players were selected. The previous mark was nine back in 1971 in a 17-round draft led by the second overall pick in Archie Manning. The Rebels dominated the second round with three offensive selections as tackle Greg Little was taken 37^thoverall, wide receiver A.J. Brown went to Tennessee with the 51st pick, and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf was chosen 64^thby Seattle. Tight end Dawson Knox went to Buffalo (96^th) in round three. The final two picks were tackle Javon Patterson to Indianapolis with the 246th overall pick in the seventh round followed by New England’s selection of Ken Webster with the 252nd pick. 

Odds-and-Ends of the draft 

Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew was selected in the sixth round (178) by Jacksonville. Minshew and Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, along with Ole Miss signal caller Jordan Ta’ama, were together in Florida deep sea fishing during the draft. A couple of former East Mississippi Community College players and “Last Chance U” stars in Dakota Allen and Ronald Ollie have NFL homes. Allen, who played at Texas Tech this year, was drafted in the seventh round by the L.A. Rams while Ollie, a defensive tackle from Waynesboro, signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders. Former Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly is getting another chance with the Indianapolis Colts. 

SEC dominates 

It should come as no surprise that the SEC dominated with nine first round picks and totaled 64 selections in the 2019 NFL Draft. It was the 13th consecutive year that the SEC has led the way with the most picks. The Big Ten followed with 40 selections, and the PAC-12 was next with 33. Alabama led the way with 10 selections followed by Ohio State with nine picks.

Get out the broom 

Ole Miss, MSU and USM all swept their conference opponents this past weekend. The Rebels (13-8, 30-15) won three close ones from Texas A&M last weekend. This week Ole Miss has a tough assignment as they go to Southern Miss on Wednesday before heading to LSU. State (13-8, 36-9) swept No. 8 Georgia this past weekend. State will head to College Station to take on Texas A&M beginning on Thursday. USM climbed into first place in C-USA play as the Eagles swept Middle Tennessee this past weekend. The Golden Eagles (17-4, 29-13) face second place Florida Atlantic (15-6) this weekend in Hattiesburg. 

Contact Dale at ddmckee18@yahoo.com