Mississippi State Players in the NFL: AFC West
Nov 30, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Denico Autry (96) against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome. The Rams defeated the Raiders 52-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Denico Autry
Oakland Raiders
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Denico Autry was a highly rated JUCO transfer when he came to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs were counting on him to replace get an outside pass rusher after Pernell McPhee graduated and went to the NFL.
It didn’t happen immediately.
Autry struggled much of his junior season in 2012. He finally started to accumulate some sacks at the end of the year. His numbers weren’t really any better in 2013 for his senior season, but his presence was felt more as he was getting more pressure on the signal caller for the opposing team.
Autry would not be drafted in the 2014 Draft, but he did sign as an undrafted free agent. Autry didn’t make the roster that year, but he was on the practice squad for the Raiders where he caught the eye of the coaching staff. Denico Autry was elevated to the 53 man roster six games into the season and had a few plays where he showed the potential he once did as a top rated JUCO prospect.
How high Autry’s ceiling is in the NFL is still too early to tell. He hasn’t played much, but if you were in Denico Autry’s shoes as an undrafted free agent, you have to know you’ve made it a lot further than most people expected you to.
Next: Gabe Jackson