Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks (Contributed Photo)MISSISSIPPI STATECamp start: ThursdayOpener: Jackson State in Starkville (Sept. 1 on Fox Sports Net at 7 p.m.)Fun fact: Coach Dan Mullen is 5-0 in “bowl games,” having gone 3-0 against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, 1-0 against Michigan in the Gator Bowl and 1-0 against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.Tuesday’s preview: Missouri
LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu is among the most recognized players in the Southeastern Conference, with his “Honey Badger” nickname and his dazzling talents that enabled him to be a Heisman Trophy finalist last December.
But is he the best cornerback in the SEC?
That question is being debated this summer because of Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks, who plays for a program that rarely receives national media hype and rarely matches LSU’s success. Banks doesn’t delve into the comparison but knows being linked with Mathieu is a compliment in itself.
“I’m just going to go out there and be Johnthan Banks,” the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder said at SEC media days. “I’m going to do what Johnthan Banks does and keep getting better and make my team the best Mississippi State can be. I think Tyrann Mathieu is a good football player and does a lot of great stuff for his team.