Mississippi State football went through the 2025 NFL Draft without having a single player selected, the first time that's happened to the program since 2009. That's not a surprise to anyone given how poor the Bulldogs were last season, and it's especially not a surprise to see no MSU defenders be selected. That said, one member of the State defense is at least getting a shot with an NFL franchise.
Mississippi State Bulldog Stone Blanton signs UDFA deal with San Francisco 49ers
Bulldog linebacker Stone Blanton has signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. As a junior in 2024, Blanton finished second on the team with 125 tackles.
Stone Blanton is headed to the San Francisco 49ers!
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) April 27, 2025
Congratulations, @Stoneblanton7!@49ers | #STATEtoSundays pic.twitter.com/XKj0IKNAU4
The 2024 season was a homecoming for Stone Blanton. The Jackson-native was a 4-star prospect in the Class of 2022. Many considered Mississippi State the favorites to land him, and he was actually committed to the Bulldogs for baseball. But he instead chose to take his talents out of state, signing with South Carolina.
Blanton became a starter for the Gamecocks as a sophomore in 2023, but for his junior year, he entered the portal and landed where he should have been all along: in Starkville. Blanton got off to somewhat of a slow start last fall as part of a struggling defense. But over the back half of the season, his play improved drastically, becoming one of the few bright spots on that side of the ball for MSU.
He recorded double-digit tackles in four of his final five games, including a career-high 18 against Missouri. Blanton was expected to be a foundational piece for the State defense in 2025, but in a surprising move, he chose to declare for the NFL Draft. He did not receive a combine invite, and obviously, went undrafted. But now he's getting an NFL opportunity, and it could be a good one.
The 49ers have the best LB in the NFL in Fred Warner, but after him, there are no proven commodities. They addressed their need at the position in the 3rd round of the draft with Nick Martin out of Oklahoma State. In all likelihood, he's who San Francisco will expect to move into a starting role (barring making a move in free agency). But he is coming off an injury, and even with his addition, there are no standouts beyond Warner in the linebacker room.
If you were looking to find an opportunity to stick as a UDFA LB, San Fran may very well be the spot. Of course realistically, for most UDFA players, their chances of making a roster primarily exist on special teams. That's the phase of the game where Stone Blanton will have to first prove his worth to earn a roster spot.