Mississippi State football begins in just three days when the Bulldogs face Louisiana at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Today’s spotlighted player is No. 3, Cameron Dantzler.
Dantzler, a native of Hammond, Louisiana, was a consensus three-star athlete by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout.com. He prepped at St. Thomas Aquinas in Louisiana, playing quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. He was considered as the No. 30 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana by Rivals and rated as the No. 2 athlete in Louisiana by Scout.com.
As a senior, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder rushed for 1,901 yards and 26 touchdown. He also passed for 1,381 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the defensive side, he intercepted two passes, one of which he took back for a touchdown. The do-it-all athlete was then named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State team in 2015. Dantzler was also a member of the track team, recording a program-record 23-3 1/4 in the long jump to win a 2015 state championship.
Dantzler first committed to Mississippi State on June 13, 2015, before his senior season. He signed with the Bulldogs on Feb. 3, 2016, over offers from Southern Miss, Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
He redshirted during the 2016 season as a true freshman. Dantzler then played in all 13 games in 2017, serving as a backup cornerback. He finished with 25 total tackles and one interception on the year.
Last year, Dantzler was one of the leaders of one of the best defenses in the nation. He started all 13 games at cornerback and earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press. On the year, he tallied 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and 11 passes defended. He also ranked second in the Southeastern Conference among cornerbacks with a 41.1 passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. He was one of only four cornerbacks in the SEC that did not allow a touchdown.
Heading into the 2019 season, it’s obvious that Dantzler will be a big-time leader and one of the most talented players on the defense. He is a preseason All-American and one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC entering his junior season. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Dantzler has the size and strength to guard bigger receivers but also the speed to work on smaller opponents.