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Mississippi State

100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 35 Days - No. 35, DT Kalvin Dinkins

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk07/26/25RobbieFaulkOn3
kalvin dinkins2
Mississippi State DT Kalvin Dinkins (Photo by Jared Thomas, Maroon and White Daily)

Year two of the Jeff Lebby era has arrived and the Mississippi State coach is back to work.

After a disappointing first season, the coach and his staff are doing what they can to get things back on track in Starkville. The players on the field will be the difference for State this season if they are to make a return and we’re going to discuss every single one of them over the course of the next few months.

As we do every year, we’re counting down 100 days until State’s first game at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on August 30. Over this period of time, we’ll breakdown every scholarship player on the roster, look back at great moments in MSU history and even talk about legends that have come before the current Bulldogs.

Today, we look at a talented defensive lineman that the Bulldogs need to be healthy in 2025.    

35 Days: No. 35, Jr. DT Kalvin Dinkins  

Dinkins entered the opening game last year in the first quarter and immediately made an impact with two tackles and 1.0 sacks, and then a familiar situation hit.

The third-year nose tackle went down on the field with an apparent lower body injury and was done for the season. It was the second year in a row that Dinkins would go down after just one game.

After redshirting his first season on campus, Dinkins made his debut against Southeastern Louisiana in 2023 and had three tackles in that game. In practice that next week, Dinkins went down with an ankle injury that would end that year prematurely as well.

With the loss of Dinkins along with another injury to Kedrick Bingley-Jones and the dismissal of Eric Taylor, the Bulldogs were down to essentially two scholarship players at nose tackle. It put State at a major disadvantage against the rest of the SEC and affected the entire defense in the process. Having him available and healthy in 2025 would make a major difference for a unit that is attempting to revive the Bulldogs among the SEC’s best at that position.

The talent is most certainly there for Dinkins to be a difference maker for State. The Lake native is 6’2, 320 and one of the strongest players on the entire team. He brings that natural strength to Starkville after being an impressive specimen in high school.

Dinkins came in with the 2022 recruiting class after being virtually overlooked by everyone most of his high school career. Dinkins was a powerlifter and two-time All-State lineman for the Hornets during his time there but it wasn’t until late in his senior season that teams began to take notice.

While the Bulldogs had been on him early, there was no offer until after his junior year. Dinkins initially committed to Southern Miss until Baylor dropped an offer during the summer. The Indiana Hoosiers were the other Power 4 offer that summer, but things died down until State came through in early December. When Florida followed, there was suddenly a recruiting battle for Mike Leach’s staff to win with Baylor, UF and State the teams in the running.

Ultimately, Dinkins wanted to stay home and play for the Bulldogs and Starkville would be the only official visit he would make. On signing day, he put pen to paper for the maroon and white.

Three years later, State’s prized pick up has yet to make a major contribution. This is the year that it needs to get done for Dinkins and a long and healthy season is the hope for all.  

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