2024 juco linebacker Branden Jennings talks Mississippi State decision

Mississippi State continued its trend of adding juco transfers to the Class of 2024 on Thursday afternoon with the addition of 2024 linebacker Branden Jennings of Hinds Community College.

Jennings collected a Mississippi State offer last week and then announced his college intentions Thursday. With his decision, Jennings becomes the 17th commitment for the Bulldogs’ Class of 2024 and the third juco commit, joining safety Tyler Woodard and defensive lineman Ashun Shepphard of East Mississippi Community College.

“I talked to Coach (Matt) Brock about it yesterday (Wednesday),” said Jennings. “I talked to Coach Rod Gibson, too, and really, I’ve been talking to the whole staff all week and my coaching staff about what I wanted to do. It was everything about Mississippi State. It was about the opportunity and just the position I will be in there.”

Entering this week’s action, Jennings leads Hinds with 47 tackles (31 solos) and has 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery. On track to graduate in December, Jennings also held offers from Purdue, Marshall, UTSA and Houston among others.

“It means everything to me to be back on the big stage,” Jennings noted. “It is big for my family, too. It will be good to get back to playing linebacker at that stage. I can play all three of their linebacker spots and I talked to Coach Brock about that. Coach Brock has mentioned inside linebacker but he said when I get there, they will see how I can rush the passer and go from there.”

Regarding his return to the ‘big stage’ and Power 5 football, Jennings has been well-traveled in the Division 1 football ranks. The 6-foot-3.5 and 225-pound Jennings began his college career in the Big 10 before having two brief stops at other Division 1 programs.

“I had a good season at Maryland and I was freshman All-American,” recalled Jennings. “Then I went to Kansas State that following spring and it really wasn’t a good fit since I consider myself an old-school linebacker and a physical linebacker. Kansas State was running a different scheme so I decided to go to Central Florida. I redshirted there and then all of the coaches left. So I ended up at Hinds.”
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With Mississippi State, Jennings knows one current Bulldog on the roster. He also has several Bulldog connections on the staff at Hinds Community College, as well.

“They recruited me in high school but it was a different staff,” noted Jennings. “I know Nic Mitchell who is playing there and I played with him. A lot of my coaches at Hinds know their program well, too. My head coach (Larry Williams) played there and my defensive coordinator coached there. And our receivers coach (Omarr Conner) played there, too. So they have a good relationship with Mississippi State.”

Next weekend, Jennings will get a better look at Mississippi State’s program with a game-day visit at Davis Wade Stadium. With his decision made, he looks forward to seeing that atmosphere and making a return visit in December.

“I am ready to see the atmosphere there next weekend,” mentioned Jennings, a Florida native. “I know it is a really big game against Kentucky and I am ready to see the fans. It will feel great being there and knowing that is where I will be next year. Then I will go back in December for my official visit.”