Where draft-eligible Bulldogs rank among other prospects

The NFL Combine begins in 10 days. Mississippi State will have four representatives in Indianapolis displaying their skills for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.

Even without the combine, those interested in the draft have plenty to decipher including gametape from the regular season, bowl games and college all-star games.

In digesting through that data, the Bleacher Report's draft expert Matt Miller has ranked the top 300 prospects in this year's draft.

Former Bulldogs can be found as high as 15th and as low as 295th. In all, five former players were ranked in the top 295. The NFL's 32 teams made 256 picks last year.

The first Bulldog expected off the board this year is linebacker Benardrick McKinney. The junior ranked as the 15th overall best player in the draft, according to Miller. McKinney was also ranked as the best inside linebacker in this year's draft.

No other Bulldog ranked within the top 50. Unless something shocking occurs, McKinney should be MSU's first first-round selection since Fletcher Cox went 12th overall to Philadelphia.

Preston Smith was the second-highest ranked Bulldog at No. 65. He also ranked as the 12th best defensive end in this year's draft. The rankings placed him toward the end of the second round or early in the third round. There had been some discussion on whether Smith could jump into the first round. He still has time to improve his stock at the Combine and MSU's Pro Day on March 4.

Josh Robinson was the next Mississippi State player on Miller's list. The running back was ranked 153rd overall. He ranked 12th best among running backs. It's a position not highly valued in the NFL. Robinson and Smith are both rated as the 12th best player at their position, yet separated by nearly 100 spots. Robinson should hear his named called in the fifth or sixth round.

The final three Bulldogs ranked in the final third of Miller's 300. Justin Cox was placed at No. 264. Ben Beckwith wasn't far behind at 266. Kaleb Eulls rounded out the former MSU players at No. 295.

Cox, listed as the ninth-best free safety in the draft, is projected by some to go as high as the sixth round. Beckwith, the 15th best guard according to Miller, could go in the sixth or seventh rounds.

Eulls, rated as the 23rd best defensive tackle, is on the fringe of the seventh round. He may end up signing as an undrafted free agent.

Mississippi State had a handful of players sign as undrafted free agents after the 2014 draft, including Deontae Skinner, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in his first season in the league.