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Mississippi State Football: Compiling the All-Time Bulldogs Team

By Justin Strawn

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 08: Mississippi State Bulldogs fans shake their cowbells in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game against Auburn Tigers on September 8, 2012 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 08: Mississippi State Bulldogs fans shake their cowbells in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game against Auburn Tigers on September 8, 2012 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 20: Johnthan Banks #13 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs is helped off the field following an injury during a game against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Radiers on October 20, 2012 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State would win the game 45-3. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 20: Johnthan Banks #13 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs is helped off the field following an injury during a game against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Radiers on October 20, 2012 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State would win the game 45-3. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

1st Team: Johnthan Banks

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.

2nd Team: Fred Smoot

It pains me to put Smoot on the second team, but he didn’t have the same length of time to put up the same types of numbers as the player who gets the first team nod on the opposite side.

Smoot was still great. Fred Smoot had 10 interceptions in two seasons at Mississippi State. He also didn’t shy away from hits. he modeled much of what he did after Deion Sanders, except when it came to hitting the opposing receiver. Smoot loved to bring a heavy stcik when making a tackle.

mississippi state football
Darius Slay #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

1st Team: Walt Harris

Walt Harris played at Mississippi State from 1992-95. He broke the record for all-time interceptions with 16, which stood for 17 years until he was tied.

Harris was a lock-down cornerback who played on some decent Jackie Sherrill teams. He ultimately was drafted in the 1st round of the NFL draft and played 15 years of pro football.

He was a three-time all-SEC selection and named an All-American in 1995.

2nd Team: Darius Slay

Darius Slay might be the most unheralded great player to ever put on Maroon and White. He had a stellar two years in his time at Starkville.

When Slay lined up on the opposite side of Johnthan Banks, teams tried to pick on Slay because Banks was such a heralded player while in college. Slay took full advantage of it his senior season and intercepted six passes. He was a JUCO transfer, and took advantage of his two years in the SEC. His production at cornerback led the Detroit Lions to select him in the second round, ahead of the Jim Thorpe Award winner Johnthan Banks.

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