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Mississippi State

Trio of Bulldogs earn accolades from Pro Football Focus after Arizona State win

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk09/08/25RobbieFaulkOn3
albert reese8
Photo by Jared Thomas, Maroon and White Daily

For a second-straight week, Mississippi State’s play on the field is being recognized by Pro Football Focus.

Following a thrilling 24-20 win over No. 12 Arizona State, three players were honored by the publication for their work on the field. WR Brenen Thompson had the highest honor as he was named the National Offensive Player of the Week following a career night on the field.

Thompson had six catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns setting new career highs across the board and notching the first 100-yard performance of his career. Thompson capped his monster performance with a 58-yard touchdown in the final 30 seconds to propel the Bulldogs to the win after ASU had taken the lead for the first time in the game.

“Brenen Thompson was the star of Saturday night, hauling in two long touchdown passes of 47-plus yards from Blake Shapen — including the game-winner with just 30 seconds left — to lift Mississippi State past Arizona State. It marked the Bulldogs’ first home win over a ranked non-conference opponent since 1991, a massive moment for a program coming off a 2-10 season,” PFF stated.

“Thompson, billed as one of the fastest players in college football with sub-4.4 speed, looked every bit the part as no Sun Devil defender could stay with him. He finished the night with six catches for 133 yards, cementing himself as a true breakout weapon in the Bulldogs’ offense.

The former Oklahoma receiver was also named a member of the National Team of the Week along with senior right tackle Albert Reese. For Reese, he graded out the highest of any player on the offense this week as he played every snap at right tackle. Against USM, Reese started the game at left tackle before making the move to the other side of the line and he’s been State’s highest graded lineman through two weeks.

The duo also made the SEC Team of the Week and were joined by junior DL Kalvin Dinkins. The junior wasn’t able to make it beyond one game in each of his last two seasons, but has remained healthy so far through the first two games and momentum is building for him.

Against the Sun Devils, Dinkins had the best game of his career with six tackles and 1.0 TFL. He had just seven career tackles in three games coming into Saturday’s contest and is emerging as the Bulldogs’ go-to defensive tackle.

The Bulldogs had four players make the SEC Team of the Week after a 34-17 win over Southern Miss in week one as DL Will Whitson, S Brylan Lanier, CB Kelley Jones and LB Isaac Smith made the list. Whitson also was named to the National Players of the Week list.

State (2-0) will try to make it three weeks in a row with accolades when the team returns back to Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. for a matchup with instate foe Alcorn State.

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