The Mississippi State University (4-6, 2-4) faithful will get one last look at the 2016 senior class this Saturday as they play their final game in Davis-Wade Stadium.

There will be 20 seniors honored before the game against Arkansas (6-4, 2-4). 

Among them are running back Brandon Holloway, wide receiver Fred Ross, safety Kivon Coman, defensive end A.J. Jefferson and linebacker Richie Brown. The class went 30-19 overall and 19-7 at home in Davis-Wade at MSU and beat four top-10 teams. 

Their achievements are not limited to the field. Three of the seniors have already graduated and 14 more expect to receive their diploma this December. 

Brown, who is from Long Beach, Mississippi, said he remembers a lot of moments at MSU, but the most important to him was meeting his wife Erin, who also played sports at MSU. She was a shortstop for MSU softball. Brown talked about his fondest memories while at MSU. He included the 2014 win over Auburn as well as the Texas A&M win this season, but one memory stuck out to him. 

“My fondest is definitely meeting Erin and marrying her, that is the biggest thing, second to nothing else,” Brown said. “The good thing is I met Erin in 2013, so most of it I have spent with her as well and gotten to share those moments together.”

For Jefferson, who is from Summit, Mississippi, it is the fans he will remember. Jefferson, known for his now famous beard, said he just acts like himself and people like him for who he is. He said he feels like he has a relationship with the fan base and reiterated the words of former MSU QB Dak Prescott.

“I think of it as family,” Jefferson said. “I just love the fan base we have here. Win, lose, draw, we still have a bunch of fans who will stay committed to the players, I love them.”

For Holloway, who is from Tampa, Florida, it was the university and the teachers that stuck out to him. Holloway is a human sciences major and wants to work with kids after college. Successful off the field as much as on it, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three straight years. 

“I can say honestly for myself that I have had great relationships with my teachers,” Holloway said. “I guess with my major being a human science major, you have a lot of teachers who care about kids. So I may have approached nicer teachers than everyone else, but I have enjoyed my time here.”

Ross, from Tyler, Texas, will go down statistically as the best wide receiver in MSU history. Ross holds the MSU school record for career catches (185), career yards (2292), most 100-yard receiving games in a career (9) and games in a row with a reception (32). When asked whether graduating or his individual records were a bigger deal, Ross gave the student’s answer not the athlete’s.  

“Graduating,” Ross said. “That is something that is hard to do. That is something that no one can take away from you.”

Coman, from Sheffield, Alabama, talked heavily about how this class will be remembered. Coman talked about the importance of finishing the year and making it to a bowl game so they are not the class that ends MSU’s six year bowl streak. He then gave his expectations on what this class will be remembered for.

“Guys who did not give up,” Coman said. “Guys who just wanted the best for everybody, that held everybody accountable, guys that were willing to work every day.”

Every player has walked a different path at MSU, but the one thing that remained the same when talking to the players was how much MSU meant to them. The university represented something special to each of them. 

Brown, filled with emotion, said he loves this school and the first time he stepped on campus it just felt right to him, that he was at home.

“The environment, the people, the student body, just going around town I felt peaceful here. I felt at home,” Brown said. “I have had a great relationship with a lot of great people around here and if I could go back to signing day I wouldn’t sign with anybody else knowing what I know now, I love Mississippi State, and in my heart, I’ll always be a Bulldog.”

Jefferson said the school represents Mississippi and it made him feel comfortable coming out of high school when he was still trying to figure out what to do in school. 

“The whole transition, the people, the professors made it easy for me, well not the classes, but just as far as helping me trying to help you get you comfortable doing everything and the way they transitioned the freshman,” Jefferson said. “The university just means a lot to me, I feel like this is the school of Mississippi, so I just love being here.”

Holloway talked about what MSU represents to him not just as a football program, but also as a university.

“When I’m thinking about football-wise, I just think about relentless effort,” Holloway said. “When I am just talking about the university, it is just a family. I feel like a lot of people here will take care of you and make sure you are doing okay and it is more like a family atmosphere.”

To Ross, MSU represents hard work.

“I learned to work hard,” Ross said. “I know there are a lot of places in the country that say they work hard, but I truly believe that Mississippi State works the hardest.  It has been a long quick journey but I would say me learning how to work has made me a better man.”

This senior class will play for their season on Saturday. At 4-6 MSU must win out to make a bowl game. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and be broadcasted on ESPNU.