Mississippi State All Time Team: Cornerbacks
We’ve still got about two and a half weeks until college football kicks off. So as we approach the season, why not consider who would be on the All Time team if we were compiling one. The school put their own together last year as they were celebrating the 100th anniversary of Scott Field. I have not taken a look at it recently, nor do I plan to. I want this list to be completely something on my own.
We already covered the safeties in the defensive backfield. Now we turn our attention to the cornerbacks. Mississippi State has had some really great play at Corner. I considered four players for this list: Johnthan Banks, Walt Harris, Darius Slay, and Fred Smoot. This is an all time team, not the top 5 at the position. Therefore, of these four, only two got to make it on the list.
Johnthan Banks
Cornerback
For my take, Banks has to be on this list. He is the only Bulldog to win the national award for being the best at his position. Banks won the 2012 Jim Thorpe award for best defensive back in college football, and that alone means he needs to be on the All Time team.
Banks was great in coverage, which is proven by his 15 interceptions in four years. But he was a complete player as well. Banks had 139 tackles in his four seasons to go along with 5 forced fumbles.
Walt Harris
Cornerback
I’ll admit, putting only one of the remaining three players on this team was tough. But Walt Harris was given the slight edge over Smoot for me simply because he is still the school record holder for interceptions with 16. And he did it in only three seasons.
Smoot had 10 in two seasons, and was impressive in his own right, and Slay was no slouch either. he picked off five passes his senior season, thanks in large part to Banks being on the opposite side of the field.
So there’s my two cornerbacks for Mississippi State’s All Time team. Let the debate begin. While you’re doing that, I’m going to find a place to hide so Smoot doesn’t come after me for not putting him on the team.