All-Mullen Team: Best Mississippi State Outside WR of Dan Mullen Era
Dan Mullen has raised the talent level of Mississippi State dramatically since taking over in 2009. Who is the best outside WR to play for him in Starkville?
Selecting the best players at each key position during Dan Mullen’s tenure at Mississippi State isn’t easy, but in some cases there’s just no question.
At outside wide receiver the choices were many, but one name stood out among all the other players who came through Mullen’s program.
This is our choice for the best outside wide receiver to ever strap up for Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Outside Wide Receiver
De’Runnya Wilson (2013-2015)
De’Runnya Wilson was a two-sport superstar during his high school career at Wenonah, Alabama. Wilson’s first love was basketball. The 6’5, 215-pound monster wideout was one of the best hoops players in the state of Alabama. Wilson was a dominant power forward for a team that played in three consecutive state championships. He averaged a double-double en route to a state title his senior season. He even spent a season on Mississippi State’s hoops roster.
More from Maroon and White Nation
- Meeting the Opponent: Week 4 – South Carolina Gamecocks
- Mississippi State football vs LSU: The good, bad, and ugly
- M&WN Staff – Week 3 SEC Picks and Best Bets
- Mississippi State football film study: Why did MSU’s defense fail vs. LSU?
- The Wednesday Wrap: Maybe Mississippi State Football Coach Zach Arnett shouldn’t do it his way
The football field is where Wilson truly flashed superstar potential, though. Bear didn’t play his sophomore or junior season but returned to the field for his last year of high school. That was a smart decision.
Wilson caught 31 passes for 682 yards as a senior for the Dragons. Although extremely raw, he flashed the potential of becoming an elite outside target. That sold former tight ends coach Tim Brewster. Many have said that Brewster and former defensive coordinator Geoff Collins stood up on the table to get Wilson offered. That turned out to be a brilliant move.
Bear chose the Bulldogs over home-state Auburn in the 2013 signing class. The raw receiver brought his huge frame and high ceiling to Starkville.
He immediately saw the field for the Bulldogs, seeing action in the opening game against Oklahoma State. He finished his debut season with the Bulldogs with 26 grabs, 351 yards, and three touchdowns, including one on a jump pass from Dak Prescott against Texas A&M. Although raw, Wilson showed what he could become for Mississippi State.
Entering the 2014 season with Dak Prescott as the man behind center, Mississippi State’s go-to guy quickly became De’Runnya Wilson. Dak and Bear quickly built up a connection that would help lead to a 9-0 record and a number one ranking in the national polls for the first time in program history.
Dak and Wilson would often connect on back-shoulder fades that defenders just could not defend. Between Dak’s ball placement and De’Runnya’s frame, defensive backs had a difficult time trying to stop the deadly connection. The pair hooked up 47 times for 680 yards and nine scores. That’s nearly 15 yards per reception for the former hoops star.
He and Dak were a deadly connection on third-downs, leading the nation with five scores. Two of Wilson’s most impactful games in the 2014 season came against top-ten opponents. On the road against LSU in Death Valley at night, Bear brought down four passes for 91 yards and a big touchdown against the Tigers.
Wilson caught four more passes for 72 yards and another touchdown versus Auburn in a top-three matchup. Bear also had a huge Orange Bowl, albeit in a loss, with nine receptions, 109 yards, and two big scores against Georgia Tech. Although State didn’t bring the trophy home, it wasn’t because of their monstrous wideout.
When Mississippi State needed a big play, Dak went to De’Runnya.
Wilson built on his impressive sophomore season with a solid junior campaign in 2015. Bear set career highs with 59 catches, 905 yards, and ten touchdowns. He averaged over 15 yards per reception. Again, when the Bulldogs needed a big play, Wilson was usually the one making it happen.
After his best season at Mississippi State, Wilson decided to make the jump to the NFL. Likely because of a bad 40-time, all 32 teams passed on the 6’5″ wide receiver. He was invited to different camps, but Wilson couldn’t find a professional home. We’ll always be left wondering what would have happened if De’Runnya decided to return for his senior season with Nick Fitzgerald at the helm
Bear finished his Mississippi State career with 132 catches, 1,932 yards, and 22 touchdowns. Wilson was selected to the All-SEC second-team after the 2015 season. He left Starkville as one of the most prolific receivers to ever play for the Maroon and White.
*Stats via hailstate.com and sports-reference.com.
Next. All-Mullen Team Slot WR. dark