DAY 45: Barrin Simpson, "The Minister of Defense"
Barrin Simpson might be my favorite Mississippi State football player ever. However difficult it might be for me to pick a favorite Bulldog of all-time, if I had to narrow it down to three or five players, Barrin Simpson would make the cut each time. Maybe it's because we're both from Starkville and I remember watching him help the Yellow Jackets to two straight state championships in 1994 and 1995. I'm sure that cemented his place among my favorites early on. Maybe it was because he was considered undersized for a middle linebacker in the SEC. That probably helped too. I think what I enjoyed most was his relentless motor. #45 was always near the football, always making plays.
Barrin was named All-SEC twice and First-Team All-American after his senior season in 1999. He was the heart of what I consider the greatest MSU defense in school history ('99). Barrin was not drafted in the 2000 NFL Draft, but has had a great career in the Canadian Football League. Check out this video about his football career and life outside of football.