Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE — De'Runnya Wilson has played his final game at Mississippi State, according multiple posts on the wide receiver's Instagram account on Friday.

Wilson, a junior, had one year of eligibility remaining. He is the third Bulldog to declare early in the last two seasons. Running back Josh Robinson and linebacker Benardrick McKinney entered the NFL draft last year as juniors. Both were drafted.

Wilson didn't answer multiple requests for comment.

CBS Sports projects Wilson as the 10th best wide receiver in the 2016 NFL Draft. He's slotted as a second or third-round pick. CBS's Rob Rang lists Wilson's strength as his size, explosion off the line and soft hands. Wilson's weaknesses, according to Rang, include a lack of high-end speed and inability to create after the catch.

Much of Wilson's projections are based on raw talent. The Birmingham native didn't play football his sophomore an junior years of high school. Wilson arrived at Mississippi State a two-sport athlete in football and basketball. As a freshman he played in seven games for Rick Ray's basketball team. He averaged. 0.9 points per game and and 1.6 rebounds. He blossomed on the gridiron when his focused turned solely to football.

MSU's De'Runnya Wilson overcomes first-year struggles

Wilson ended his career with five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Belk Bowl. He finished the year with 918 yards and 10 scores. The 10 touchdowns are the second most in a single season at Mississippi State. He caught 60 passes this season, eighth best in school history. The 918 yards rank seventh best in a season.

He joined Fred Ross as the only wideouts to post top 10 single season school records in receptions and yards in the same season.

If Wilson had returned for 2016, he likely would have held every career receiver record in school history. At worst, he would have battled Ross for those numbers.

Wilson caught 22 career touchdowns, which is second behind Chad Bumphis' 24. He gained 1,953 yards in three seasons at Mississippi State, which ranks sixth all-time. The 6-foot-5 wideout would have needed 318 yards to pass Bumphis as the program's all-time leading receiver. Thirty more receptions would have given Wilson the most in program history.

De'Runnya Wilson in no rush to leave MSU for the NFL

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.