Bulldogs on the Big Stage: Former State Greats Suiting up for NFL Wild Card Round

Which Bulldog legends will suit up for their teams in the Wild Card round this weekend?

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The NFL regular season came to a close this week, and with it, the 2023-24 playoff picture has rounded into form.

While no former Mississippi State Bulldogs have the luxury of a first-round bye with the Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers, several will suit up for their teams in the first round of the playoffs this weekend. 

Here is a rundown of where each former Mississippi State will be playing during wild-card weekend. 

Saturday's Games

Browns at Texans, 3:30 p.m. CST

In the matchup between the fifth-seeded Browns and the fourth-seeded Texans, former Bulldog Martin Emerson, Jr. will suit up for Cleveland. 

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Selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Emerson has seen time in 33 games since joining the franchise. He has over 100 tackles, and nearly 30 pass deflections to go along with four interceptions. 

In just two seasons, Emerson has made himself a valuable member of a tough Browns secondary. 

Dolphins at Chiefs, 7 p.m.

The Chiefs will feature two former Bulldogs in the first-round matchup against the Miami Dolphins. 

Linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. and defensive tackle Chris Jones are cornerstones of the Chiefs' defense, and will certainly play a huge factor in the outcome of this weekend's game. 

Gay, who was drafted in the second round in 2020, has been a consistent producer for the Kansas City defense since his arrival. He has over 200 tackles, five sacks and nineteen pass deflections in four seasons, and played a major role on last year's Super Bowl winning team. 

Jones, much like Gay, has been a crucial piece of the Chiefs defense since joining the team. Picked in the second round of the 2016 draft, Jones has been a second-team All-Pro selection three times, and is a five-time Pro Bowler. 

Sunday's Games

Packers at Cowboys, 3:30 p.m.

Bulldogs legend Dak Prescott is at the helm of the Dallas offense, and has put together one of his best seasons since entering the league. He's led the Cowboys to a 12-5 record while throwing for over 4,500 yards through the air and completing over 65 percent of his passes. He leads the league in touchdown passes, and was named to his third Pro Bowl this season. 

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Tyrus Wheat, who most recently suited up for the Bulldogs in 2022, signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent this season and after being waived and signed back to the practice squad, rejoined the active roster in Week 6.

Opposite the Cowboys, the Packers will also feature two former Bulldogs in Elgton Jenkins and Preston Smith. 

Jenkins, who was drafted by Green Bay in 2019, has seen time all across the Packers offensive line, but has most recently suited up at left guard. He's a two-time Pro Bowler, and was a member of the PFWAA All-Rookie team in 2019. 

Smith, a more seasoned veteran of the league, was drafted in 2015 by Washington, but signed with the Packers as a free agent in 2018. Since entering the league, Smith has recorded 411 tackles, 69 TFL's and has been a thorn in the side of opposing offenses. 

Monday's Game

Eagles at Buccaneers, 7 p.m.

Only the Eagles will feature any former Mississippi State players on Monday night as they take on the Buccaneers

Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay, despite not playing in the final regular season game of the year, will suit up for the Philadelphia defense against Tampa Bay. 

Cox, a 12-year veteran of the NFL, has been one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the league for most of his career. He's won a Super Bowl, been to six Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro in 2018. 

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Slay, who was drafted in 2013 by the Lions, has consistently been one of the NFL's top corners since entering the league. He was a named an All-Pro in 2017 and has been to five Pro Bowls. 

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