STARKVILLE — Mississippi State sophomore Benardrick McKinney confirmed Wednesday what Dan Mullen expected.
McKinney, the Bulldogs’ starting middle linebacker, announced he will bypass the NFL draft in April and return to Starkville for his junior season.
“I wanted to stay another year to better myself as a man, better myself as an athlete, and get closer to my degree,” McKinney said in a video interview with Hailstate.com.
Mullen texted the The Dispatch on New Year’s Day he was disregarding any online reports McKinney would enter the NFL draft. A day after MSU beat Rice 44-7 in the Liberty Bowl, several online reports suggested the third-year sophomore would leave MSU. However, McKinney attended MSU’s first team meeting Jan. 10 at the Seal Family Football Complex, which gave the indication he would return for his junior season.
Wednesday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft.
On Dec. 29, McKinney declined to talk to The Dispatch about his plans for the NFL draft.
“The NFL is a dream of mine, and that sounds good in all, but I really think I need to improve as a football player,” McKinney said during Liberty Bowl media availability.
McKinney, MSU’s leading tackler in 2013, was eligible to turn professional because he redshirted his first year, which made him three years removed from his high school graduation. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is the only prominent Southeastern Conference redshirt sophomore to declare for the NFL draft.
It is unclear whether McKinney filed evaluation paperwork with the NFL draft advisory committee to gauge his stock in the process. Players can submit paperwork to the committee for it to evaluate where they might be taken in the draft.
MSU wide receiver Jameon Lewis and defensive end Preston Smith also announced Wednesday they will return to MSU for the 2014 season.
McKinney led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks after being selected to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference third team by the league coaches.
McKinney’s return should give MSU eight returning starters on defense. The Bulldogs are projected to lose linebacker Deonte Skinner, defensive lineman Kaleb Eulls,and safety Nickoe Whitley to graduation.
“We got everybody coming back on defense and with more experience we should be a much better defense in 2014,” McKinney said.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
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