Kansas City GM Brett Veach dips back into the SEC pool and grabs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. from Mississippi State with the 63rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
In three seasons at MSST, Gay totaled 99 combined tackles (46 solo), six sacks, and 3 interceptions that he returned for a combined 101 yards and a pick-6.
Gay dealt with some off-field issues in 2019, his junior season, being suspended 8 games by the NCAA for academic violations. Nine other Mississippi State players were also suspended.
Gay was also involved in a physical altercation with MSST quarterback Garrett Shrader in practice before the Music City Bowl according to reports.
While under Head Coach Andy Reid, Kansas City has become notorious for being a place that provides second chances to troubled players who need guidance and leadership to help them turn their lives around.
The family atmosphere inside the Chiefs locker room and having teamates with similar troubled pasts such as Tyreek Hill to help rally around him, could be the perfect fit to help Gay become the best player and person he can be on and off the field.
From a football standpoint, Gay is an explosive talent with exceptional speed and athleticism to make him the run-stuffer the Chiefs are looking for in order to replace Reggie Ragland, who left via free agency.
At 6-feet-1-inch and 243-pounds, Gay is a sideline to sideline player with the level of quickness the will ‘be noticed in a hurry’ according to NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Gay joins a thin group of linebackers in Kansas City that includes Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, Ben Niemann, Dorian O’Daniel, Darius Harris, and Emmanuel Smith.
