2027 baseball star Deuce Jenkins continuing family legacy at Mississippi State

A Mississippi State legacy is staying home.

Jackson Academy’s 2027 star outfielder Deuce Jenkins announced via social media on Friday that he will be playing his college baseball at State. He is set to follow in the footsteps of his father, Justin Jenkins, who played football for the Bulldogs back in the early 2000’s.

“After a long time, my parents and I just decided that this was all part of God’s plan. He really guided me every step of the journey,” Jenkins told Maroon and White Daily. “Early on in the process of being recruited by Mississippi State, they stood out the most. I took other visits and was recruited by great programs, but State represents the total package for me.”

Diamond Dawgs beat out big names in the SEC for Jenkins

Jenkins chose the Bulldogs over Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama, LSU and Texas with the Volunteers the only visit after his trip to Starkville last month. Jenkins visited for the Arizona State football game weekend and left extremely impressed.

Jenkins got the full court press from Bulldog staffers and spent most of his time talking to Kevin McMullan and Matt Kirby, but Brian O’Connor was heavily involved as well. It was a total team effort to get one of the state’s best players committed.

“I’ve been to campus a bunch of times before. The weekend before my visit, I just wanted to get the feel of everything and went for a camp just to meet the coaches in person and they were really nice. They put me to work to the point I was down and tired and I loved it,” Jenkins said. “I had that relationship with coach O’Connor, coach Kirby and coach Mac and we had an instant bond. They were genuine and down to work and their belief in hard work like accountability and the development standpoint really stood out. They make me feel like family and welcome me with open arms.”

Jenkins, a former Northwest Rankin player, transferred to Jackson Academy and made his impact with the Raiders as a sophomore. In 36 games, Jenkins batted .298 with 31 hits, 34 runs scored, 26 RBI, five doubles, five home runs and a triple.

Since that time, the 6’1, 210 athlete has performed at an extremely high level on the summer circuit and this fall and he had a chance to compete with some of the best players in the country. In turn, some of the top schools nationally came his way.

It was for good reason. On top of the fact that Jenkins has immense talent, his competitive nature is what really stood out to staffs around the country, especially at State.

“They really like that I hustle,” Jenkins said. “I’m fast and I can hit for contact and power. I talk a lot when I’m on the field and they love my effort. They really like how I am as a person and I’m a hype man.”

Jenkins part of strong start to ’27

Jenkins is the sixth member of the class of ’27 for O’Connor and now the fifth of those that is ranked inside the top 100. He joins Lamar School’s Sullivan Reed and Petal’s Fischer Howell in the state of Mississippi as well as California catcher Carson Kinnick, North Carolina LHP Connor Salerno and IMG Academy’s Kyler Meccage.

Jenkins has a relationship with most of the players in the class and is excited to play with them on the next level.

“I really have a great relationship with these boys. Some of them I played summer ball with and some I grew up playing against,” Jenkins said. “I’m really grateful that we’re building this team and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

Most importantly, Jenkins is excited to continue the family legacy of being a Bulldog.

While his dad starred on the football field for State, his mother is also a Bulldog alum and his entire family has bled Maroon and White. Now, he gets a chance to pave his own way and do it on one of the biggest stages at Dudy Noble Field.

“It’s really cool. Almost my whole family has been Mississippi State fans forever and I’m carrying that on but I’m also making my own legacy and my own footprint for myself down the road,” Jenkins said. “It’s really cool to go to my parents’ Alma Mater.”