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Mississippi State's Kelly Akharaiyi could be catching passes from NFL MVP

The Bulldog wideout is going to get a chance to prove himself with one of the NFL's best teams and an elite quarterback.
ByAndrew Miller|
Sep 21, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi (1) runs the ball against the Florida Gators during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi (1) runs the ball against the Florida Gators during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images | Matt Bush-Imagn Images

The 2025 NFL Draft was not kind to Mississippi State football. For the first time since 2009, the Bulldogs did not have a single player taken in the draft. That's not exactly surprising given the almost inexplicable lack of talent on the roster for last season's 2-10 debacle, but there were a few players that feasibly could have heard their names called.

That's where undrafted free agent opportunities come in. One of State's top pass-catchers from 2024 is getting that chance, and if he can make the roster, he'll be hauling in passes from the reigning NFL MVP.

Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi signs UDFA deal with Buffalo Bills

Mississippi State wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi has signed an undrafted fee agent deal with the Buffalo Bills. In 2024, he caught 25 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

Kelly Akharaiyi was one of MSU's top transfer portal additions ahead of Jeff Lebby's first season. As a junior at UTEP he compiled 1033 yards and seven TDs as one of the best deep-ball receivers in the country, making him an ideal fit for the Lebby offense. Akharaiyi flashed in the spring, but an injury ahead of the 2024 season slowed his transition to P5 football.

Still, he eventually found his groove and became a reliable target in the offense. His best game came at Georgia when he caught three passes for 72 yards and two scores. If nothing else, he was capable of getting behind the defense downfield, and if you can do that against SEC defenses, you've clearly got some talent.

Kelly Akharaiyi should have a real opportunity to stick with the Bills

Buffalo could be a great landing spot for Kelly Akharaiyi. The Bills need WRs to emerge behind Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, and despite having one of the best big arm QBs in the league in Josh Allen, Buffalo didn't have a consistent vertical passing game. If Akharaiyi can capitalize on this opportunity, he could be the deep ball threat the NFL MVP has been missing.

If there's one position where Mississippi State has struggled to send players to the NFL, it's wide receiver. The Bulldogs haven't had a wideout drafted since Eric Moulds went in the 1st round in 1996, and of the handful of UDFA WRs State has produced since then, none of lasted in the league. We'll see if Akharaiyi can be the one to buck that trend. Landing with a franchise looking to add weapons for an elite QB is ideal.

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