# List of Mississippi State University people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Mississippi State University, located in the American city of Starkville, Mississippi.

## Notable alumni
### Politics and government

* Sharion Aycock, first female federal district court judge in Mississippi
* Donnie Bell, Mississippi state representative
* Andy Berry, Mississippi state senator
* Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee
* Hob Bryan, Mississippi state senator
* C. Scott Bounds, Mississippi state representative
* Andy Boyd, Mississippi state representative
* Nicole Akins Boyd, Mississippi state senator
* Randy Boyd, forester who serves as a Republican in the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 19 in his native Itawamba County
* Jenifer Branning, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
* Videt Carmichael, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
* Kimberly L. Campbell, Mississippi state representative
* Cynthia Cooper, whistleblower, 2002 Time Person of the Year
* Sam Creekmore IV, Mississippi state representative
* Leonard B. Cresswell, major general in the Marine Corps; World War II Navy Cross recipient
* Jess Dickinson, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
* Charles D. Easley, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
* Jeremy England, Mississippi state senator
* Robert Evans, Mississippi state representative
* Josh Harkins, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
* Horace Harned, former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
* Doc Harris, Mississippi state representative
* Bill Hawks, former USDA Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs
* Joey Hood, Mississippi state representative
* Mac Huddleston, former Mississippi state representative
* Todd Jordan, Mayor of Tupelo, Mississippi
* Kabir Karriem, Mississippi state representative
* Mark Keenum, USDA Undersecretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service
* Rhonda Keenum, Assistant to President George W. Bush and director of White House Public Liaison
* Brad Mattox, Mississippi state representative
* Billy McCoy, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives
* Troy H. Middleton, World War II corps commander (lieutenant general) and president of Louisiana State University
* Tom Miles, former Mississippi state representative
* G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, former U.S. Representative and author of the Montgomery G.I. Bill
* Philip Moran, Mississippi state senator
* Bill Pigott, Mississippi state representative
* Brent Powell, Mississippi state representative
* Brandon Presley, former Democratic Public Service Commissioner for Mississippi's northern district
* Brian Rhodes, Mississippi state senator
* Rob Roberson, Mississippi state representative
* Fred Shanks, Mississippi state representative
* Cecil L. Simmons, Speaker pro tempore of the Mississippi House of Representatives
* John C. Stennis, former U.S. Senator; "father of the Modern Navy"
* Jody Steverson, Mississippi state representative
* Benjamin Suber, Mississippi state senator
* Amy Tuck, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor
* Angela Turner-Ford, Mississippi state senator
* William Waller Jr., Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
* Albert H. Wilkening, Adjutant General of Wisconsin
* Bart Williams, Mississippi state senator
* Charles Young Jr., Mississippi state representative
* Charles Younger, Mississippi state senator

### Academia

* James E. Cofer, Fulbright Scholar and former president of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and former president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
* Frances Lucas, vice president and campus executive officer of the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast
* Damir Novosel, Fulbright Scholar, founder and president of Quanta Technology in Raleigh, North Carolina, former vice president of ABB Automation Products, and former president of IEEE Power & Energy Society
* Malcolm Portera, former chancellor of the University of Alabama System
* Priscilla Slade, former president of Texas Southern University

### Business

* Richard Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
* George W. Bryan, senior vice president of Sara Lee Corporation, CEO of Sara Lee Foods, and founder of Old Waverly Golf Club
* Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Haas Outdoors, Inc. (Mossy Oak)
* Martin F. Jue, amateur radio inventor; entrepreneur; founder of MFJ Enterprises
* Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics
* Dalton Pritchard, early color television systems pioneer at RCA Laboratories
* Arthur L. Williams, Jr., insurance magnate, #583 on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires

### Media and arts

* Kevin Benson, meteorologist for WPXI in Pittsburgh
* Turner Catledge, former vice president of The New York Times
* Jerry Clower, comedian
* Bill Evans, meteorologist for WABC-TV, ABC affiliate in New York City
* John Grisham, author of more than two dozen novels, many of which have been made into screenplays
* Matthew F. Jones, novelist
* Gregory Keyes, author
* Donna Ladd, journalist
* Sean McLaughlin, MSNBC Chief Meteorologist
* Lewis Nordan, author
* Audrey Puente, New York City meteorologist; daughter of salsa singer Tito Puente
* Frank K. Spain, founder of Tupelo television station WTVA; broadcasting pioneer
* Joe M. Turner, magician, mentalist, professional speaker
* Brad Watson (born 1955), author

### Athletics

* Jim Ashmore, former NBA player
* Denico Autry, DE, Oakland Raiders
* Vick Ballard, NFL running back, Indianapolis Colts
* Johnthan Banks, cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Korey Banks, CFL DB BC Lions
* Kevin Bouie, NFL player
* Timmy Bowers, professional basketball player, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
* Jimmy Bragan, former MLB coach with Cincinnati, Montreal, and Milwaukee 1967–1977
* Jeff Brantley, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher; commentator for the Cincinnati Reds
* Rickey Brown, C for Golden State, Atlanta Hawks
* Titus Brown, NFL defensive end, Cleveland Browns
* Shawn Byrdsong, football player
* Van Chancellor, former head coach of women's basketball at Louisiana State University, at the University of Mississippi, and of the Houston Comets of the WNBA
* Ed Chapman, P for the Washington Senators in 1933
* Bubba Church, pitcher for the Phillies, Reds, and Cubs from 1950 to 1955
* Will Clark, former first baseman for San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers
* John Cohen, Mississippi State University Head Coach
* Keo Coleman, former NFL linebacker
* Michael Connell, PGA golfer 2001–2006
* Johnie Cooks, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XXV Champion
* Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League
* Hughie Critz, second baseman for Cincinnati Reds (1920s) and the New York Giants (1930s)
* Quinton Culberson, NFL linebacker, St. Louis Rams
* Erick Dampier, former NBA player
* Charlie Davidson, football player
* Art Davis, NFL player, college football coach
* Brandon Davis, professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC
* Harper Davis, NFL player, college football head coach
* Anthony Dixon, NFL running back, San Francisco 49ers
* Kevin Dockery, NFL Super Bowl XLII Champion
* Dominic Douglas, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
* Frank Dowsing, first black football player at MSU
* Eric Dubose, P for Baltimore and Cleveland from 2002 to 2006
* Sammy Ellis, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7 seasons
* Bobby Etheridge, former MLB player
* Rags Faircloth, P for Phillies in 1919
* Dave "Boo" Ferriss, former Major League Baseball player
* Ronald Fields, NFL DT, Denver Broncos
* Joe Fortunato, five-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears
* Steve Freeman, former Buffalo Bills defensive back for 13 seasons; NFL game official
* Willie Gay, NFL linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
* Chuck Gelatka, NFL player
* Matt Ginter, pitcher for the Houston Astros
* De'Mon Glanton, football player
* Tom Goode, former NFL center and Super Bowl veteran
* Alex Grammas, former Major League infielder
* Hoyle Granger, former NFL running back
* Paul Gregory, pitcher in Major League Baseball, played 1932–1933 for the Chicago White Sox
* Justin Griffith, NFL running back, Oakland Raiders
* Michael Haddix, former NFL running back
* Mario Haggan, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
* Tang Hamilton, Miami Heat
* Walt Harris, NFL cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
* Bunny Hearn, former MLB player; college coach
* Ron Hill, vice president of the NFL
* John Hilliard, NFL player
* Jim Howarth, Major League Baseball outfielder; played all or part of four seasons in the majors, 1971–1974, for the San Francisco Giants
* Bailey Howell, NBA Hall of Famer
* Kent Hull, former NFL C, Buffalo Bills
* Kirby Jackson, NFL DB Buffalo Bills
* Rickea Jackson, WNBA small forward, Los Angeles Sparks
* Justin Jenkins, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
* Morley Jennings, former head football coach of the Baylor Bears; former Athletic Director of the Texas Tech Red Raiders
* Alan Johnson, Colorado Rockies
* Chris Jones, NFL defensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
* Chris Jones, American player of Canadian football
* Dontae' Jones, Celtics
* James Jones, NFL running back, Dallas Cowboys
* Todd Jordan, football player
* Tommy Kelly, NFL defensive end, Oakland Raiders
* Tyrone Keys, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XX Champion
* Jon Knott, former Major League Baseball outfielder with the Padres and Orioles
* Jack Lazorko, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and California Angels
* Donald Lee, NFL tight end, Green Bay Packers; Super Bowl XLV Champion
* D. D. Lewis, former All-Star linebacker Dallas Cowboys; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
* Carlton Loewer, retired Major League Baseball player
* Lance Long, NFL wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
* Jim Lyle, pitcher for the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in 1925
* Paul Maholm, LHP Atlanta Braves; formerly with Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs
* Jeff Malone, two-time All-Star as a player; coached three teams in NBA D-League
* Chris Maloney, Memphis Redbirds Manager (St. Louis Cardinals AAA)
* James H. "Babe" McCarthy, college and professional basketball coach
* Fred McCrary, NFL running back
* Alvin McKinley, NFL defensive end, Denver Broncos
* Bo McKinnis, sports agent
* Pernell McPhee, linebacker, Chicago Bears; formerly with Baltimore Ravens
* Brandon McRae, NFL wide receiver, St. Louis Rams
* Brandon Medders, MLB player
* John Miller, NFL linebacker, Green Bay Packers
* Leland Mitchell, New Orleans Buccaneers of the ABA
* Monroe Mitchell, Washington Senators
* Willie Mitchell, Cleveland Naps/Indians and Detroit Tigers
* Henry Monroe, NFL DB Green Bay Packers
* Mitch Moreland, first baseman, Boston Red Sox
* Eric Moulds, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
* Arnett Moultrie, Philadelphia 76ers
* Buddy Myer, Major League Baseball, two-time All-Star second baseman
* Bob Myrick, LHP for the New York Mets
* Tom Neville, former NFL offensive tackle, 14 seasons
* Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Jerious Norwood, NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons
* Romero Osby (born 1990), American basketball player for Maccabi Kiryat Gat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Walter Packer, NFL player
* Rafael Palmeiro, former Major League Baseball player
* Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies; All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
* Jackie Parker, former All-Star quarterback CFL; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
* Wiley Peck, Spurs, Mavericks
* Adam Piatt, played for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
* Jay Powell, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, 11 seasons; World Series veteran
* Dak Prescott, NFL quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
* Gary Rath, Dodgers, Twins
* Fred Reid, CFL running back, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
* Lawrence Roberts, Memphis Grizzlies
* Ray Roberts, played for the Philadelphia Athletics
* DelJuan Robinson, NFL defensive tackle, Houston Texans
* Jon Shave, former player for the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins
* Buck Showalter, former baseball manager
* Renardo Sidney, former NBA player
* Jeffery Simmons, NFL defensive tackle, Tennessee Titans
* Barrin Simpson, NFL linebacker
* Deontae Skinner, NFL player
* Darius Slay, cornerback for the Detroit Lions
* Don Smith, quarterback/running back for Buccaneers, Bills, and Dolphins
* Truett Smith, football player
* Fred Smoot, former NFL cornerback
* Homer Spragins, former MLB player
* David Stewart, NFL OT Tennessee Titans
* Scott Stricklin, former athletic director for Mississippi State Bulldogs, athletic director for Florida Gators
* Walter Suggs, former All-Star lineman for Houston Oilers
* Montez Sweat, NFL linebacker, Washington Redskins
* Craig Tatum, former MLB player
* Ken Tatum, former MLB player
* Bobby Thigpen, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
* Del Unser, former Major League Baseball outfielder
* Jarvis Varnado, Miami Heat
* Victoria Vivians, WNBA Guard Indiana Fever
* Fred Walters, catcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1945
* Kendell Watkins, NFL tight end, Dallas Cowboys
* Quinndary Weatherspoon, NBA shooting guard, Golden State Warriors
* Jimmy Webb, former NFL defensive lineman, 7 seasons
* Jordan Westburg, MLB All-Star infielder, Baltimore Orioles
* Floyd Womack, NFL OT, Seattle Seahawks
* Sid Womack, former MLB player
* Marc Woodard, NFL linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
* Ellis Wyms, NFL LT, Super Bowl Champion with the Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders
* Chris Young, pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball
* Pete Young, former MLB player
* Derrick Zimmerman, New Jersey Nets

### Other

* Machine Gun Kelly, notorious criminal; studied agriculture at MSU for two years
* Jaelyn Young and Muhammad "Moe" Dakhlalla, pleaded guilty to offenses related to their attempts to join ISIS in Syria

## Notable faculty

* Roger Lee King, engineer and Fellow at the IEEE
* Anthony Sean Neal, author and philosophy professor at MSU
* Horace M. Trent, noted physicist who taught at MSU in the 1930s