Mississippi State All Time Team: Offensive Linemen
Aug 28, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders guard Gabe Jackson (66) against the Seattle Seahawks at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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.
I’ve told you who I think belongs on the defensive side of the ball. Now I tell you who deserves to be on the offensive line clearing the way for the running backs, and protecting the quarterback when he drops back to pass. The offensive line may be the most important unit on the field. So here is who I would put on my All Time Team for Mississippi State.
To start off our section on the offensive line, we start on the inside and work our way out.
Kent Hull
Center
Kent Hull was a legend at Mississippi State. He was such a great offensive lineman, when the state of Mississippi decided to start honoring the best lineman in the state, the award was named after him. Hull started his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL before joining the Buffalo Bills in 1986 and was an immediate starter. Hull would have a long and productive career that included four consecutive appearances in the Super Bowl from 1990 until 1993.
Sadly, Hull passed away at the very young age of 50 in 2011. He died from a gastrointestinal bleed that stemmed from chronic liver disease.
Gabe Jackson
Guard
Gabe Jackson has often been described in two words: Road Grater. Jackson contemplated an early leap to the NFL after the 2012 season. He likely would have been drafted, but it would have been in the late rounds. Jackson used the 2013 season to improve and watched his draft stock go up as well. He was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft in 2014 by the Oakland Raiders. Jackson was a starter for the Raiders during his rookie season, and many who cover the NFL consider him to be one of the best young offensive linemen in the league.
Randy Thomas
Guard
Thomas only played for two seasons at Mississippi State, but he made quite an impression in those two years. He was named 1st team All SEC in 1998. Thomas was drafted by the New York Jets in 1999 in the second round of the draft. He played a total of 11 seasons with the Jets and Washington Redskins.
Derek Sherrod
Tackle
Sherrod was a key component to the resurgence by Mississippi State after Dan Mullen was hired to lead the football program. In 2009, Mullen implemented a run heavy scheme which saw Anthony Dixon become arguably the best running back in the conference that same year. In 2010, behind the running of Vick Ballard and Chris Relf, the Bulldogs surged back to a 9-4 record which was capped off with wins in the Egg Bowl and Gator Bowl. Sherrod was then drafted in the first round of the 2011 Draft by the Green Bay Packers. His professional career has been marred by injuries, but he is trying to jump start it with Kansas City Chiefs in 2015.
Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack
Tackle
Pork Chop had to be on this team. Why? BECAUSE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE A PLAYER OFF NAMED PORK CHOP?!?!
Seriously, Pork Chop Womack was one of the best to ever play along the line for Mississippi State. And he might have been a guard, I honestly don’t remember, but I want him on my team. So I’m putting him at Tackle for the purpose of this post. Womack went on to play in the NFL after his time as a Bulldog. He played for the Seahawks who drafted him from 2001 until 2008. He then played two years for the Cleveland Browns. Womack probably would have had a much more illustrious career at the pro level, but he was constantly fighting off injuries.
Those are the five offensive linemen I’d put on my All Time team. Feel free to tell me why I am wrong.