STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football wide receiver Brenen Thompson was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round at pick No. 105 of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25.

Thompson is the first MSU wide receiver drafted since Eric Moulds in 1996. He’s also the first MSU draft pick under coach Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs had no players drafted in 2025.

Thompson transferred from Oklahoma for one breakout season at Mississippi State where he led the SEC in receiving yards. He was regarded as one of the fastest players in college football and ran the best 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Here’s what to know about Thompson’s NFL draft profile.

What Brenen Thompson brings to Los Angeles Chargers in 2026 NFL Draft

Speed is Thompson’s standout trait. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds, tied for the fifth fastest in combine history.

Thompson finally turned that speed into production at Mississippi State, where he had 57 receptions for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns.

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Brenen Thompson highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Mississippi State

Thompson had a breakout game in Week 2 against Arizona State when he caught the game-winning 58-yard touchdown in the upset win. He had six receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Thompson leveraged his speed to be an elite deep threat at MSU. In 2025, he had five catches of 50-plus yards and 10 catches of 40-plus yards. He excelled at tracking the ball, especially on deep passes.

A weakness of Thompson is his size at 5-foot-9, 164 pounds that could limit him on contested catches and as a blocker.

The Spearman, Texas, native also only had one very productive season in college. Before Mississippi State, Thompson never had more than 19 receptions or 241 yards in a season. Despite his speed, Thompson only returned one punt and no kickoffs in his college career.

Brenen Thompson stats

Thompson started all 13 games at Mississippi State in 2025, recording 57 receptions for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Chargers pick Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson in NFL draft