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De’Runnya Wilson and Beniquez Brown go undrafted

By Josh Barnhill

Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver De
Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver De /
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Two juniors, De’Runnya Wilson and Beniquez Brown, left Mississippi State early and did not get drafted into the NFL. 

Early entrants into the NFL Draft to go undrafted is becoming an epidemic (30 of 107 this year), and now MSU has a pair of their own in that situation. WR De’Runnya Wilson, shockingly, did not get picked. LB Beni Brown was a high level player in the SEC, but he was borderline on whether he would or not.

Wilson’s failure to get drafted really hurts. It hurts him because he could’ve gone back to State and refined his skills so that he would be drafted in 2017. His numbers kept going up every year in receptions, yards per catch, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Brown’s isn’t quite as bad. He did reshirt the 2012 season, so he was in Starkville for four years. He was also a mentally sharp player who was notorious for him film study. Ultimately, he’s only as fast as he’s ever going to be and there wasn’t too much improving he was going to do on the field so why not take a shot now.

You have to wonder if the NFL needs to start implementing some type of rule where players can withdraw their names after meeting with scouts, or the combine. Yes, they do get feedback on where it’s anticipated they’ll get drafted, but things change in the long wait from January to April/May.

Wilson’s NFL combine absolutely killed him. He didn’t jump high and then ran a 4.85 forty yard dash. He was already raw for a NFL wideout, now he looks like an ordinary athlete too. We all saw he was anything but ordinary at State, and one more year would’ve helped his résumé.

Next: Dak Prescott drafted in the 4th round

What hurts even more is the fact that MSU could’ve really used him. With the dismissal of Fred Brown, only Fred Ross remains from the starting group of wide receivers that combined for over 2,300 yards and 18 TDs.

Both Brown signed with the Packers and Wilson with the Patriots, but both have an uphill climb as an undrafted free agent. Best of luck to them both.

Here is the list of Bulldogs who have signed undrafted free agent contracts:

  • Ryan Brown – Cincinnati Bengals
  • Justin Malone – Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Taveze Calhoun – Chicago Bears
  • Beniquez Brown – Green Bay Packers
  • De’Runnya Wilson – New England Patriots
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