By Robert Wilson
Jackson Academy’s Deuce Jenkins is following his father – Justin Jenkins who was an All-Southeastern Conference wide receiver at Mississippi State in 2003 – to Starkville to play college sports.
But Deuce will be playing baseball not football in Starkville.
The younger Jenkins announced on social media Saturday that he has verbally committed to the Bulldogs.
Jenkins – who is rated No. 29 in the country and the highest rated Mississippian in the Class of 2027 by Baseball America – chose MSU over Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
“The reason I chose Mississippi State was because It was all God’s plan,” Duece Jenkins told Mississippi Scoreboard Saturday night. “He guided me every step on the journey and early on in this process Mississippi State was stuck on my heart, for many reasons. I took other visits and was recruited by some great programs. But State represents the total package for me.
“Of course the family lineage legacy played a role. My parents attending State as well as my uncle (mom’s younger brother) and my aunt (dad’s youngest sister) makes me feel like I’m at home. I want to be able to play in front of my family and friends and have them able to support me front row and center of my next chapter in baseball. I wouldn’t be here without my parents’ sacrifices and my family’s constant support. My family’s been my foundation. This commitment is as much theirs as it is mine
“Then when I met (MSU) Coach (Brian) O’Connor, his staff and the team. it was an instant bond. They are each so genuine and down to earth. Their belief in hard work, accountability, development and competing the right way is what really drew me in. They make me feel like family and they each welcomed me with open arms. It’s like I fit right in. They are building something strong and they’re laying the groundwork for a powerful foundation for the future and I 100% want to be a part of that.”
Jenkins, an outfielder-pitcher, hit. 298 with 34 runs, 26 runs batted in, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 19 stolen bases and had a 3-1 pitching record with a 1.77 earned run average in 23 2/3 innings and helped JA to a 21-15 record and the MAIS Class 6A state semifinals finish last year as a sophomore. Jenkins tied for third in home runs, and was fifth in stolen bases and eighth in RBIs among MAIS Class 6A players. The Raiders ended Jackson Prep’s seven year state championship run and defeated Prep in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 when JA last won a state title.
Jenkins played for first-year JA coach Corey Dickerson, a Brookhaven Academy and Meridian Community College alumnus who played outfielder in the major leagues for 11 seasons, played in the all-star game and won a Gold Glove.
The older Jenkins, a star athlete at Pearl High, caught 139 passes for 1,974 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four-year MSU career. He caught 62 passes for 880 yards and nine TDs as a senior in 2003. Jenkins set a then career school receiving TDs record with 17 and had the then third best school marks in several receiving categories.
“Words can’t express how proud of you we are,” Justin Jenkins said on Facebook about Deuce. “We’ve watched you grow into this young man who puts God first, puts in the work and allows his failures to fuel his growth as a person. The countless hours you’ve put in, the extra reps, the 3 a.m. training sessions, and understanding that you may not have the life of a traditional teen. No parties, no extra curricular activities and no meeting at hangout spots. We understand that it was tough decisions like that that help you become the young man you are today. It’s been a joy to watch you handle your recruitment on your terms, not ours. The way you acknowledge your sister, as she has had to take a backseat to her dreams, all while supporting yours (Deuce’s sister Jade is a freshman softball player at Northwest Rankin). It’s a special to see the love that you have had for her and the example you have set. We thank God every day for the both of you. Thank you for allowing us to tag along on this journey, and we look forward to what the future holds.”
