Clarksdale Offensive Lineman Joins Teammate at MSU

A dream came true for three future Bulldogs on Sunday as Mississippi State added new members to its 2014 signing class. Clarksdale offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins popped up on the radar for MSU fans last week when news got out that he would be joining teammate J.T. Gray on a visit. After a weekend of fun in Starkville, Jenkins earned an offer at the end of his visit and committed on the spot.

"Sunday when I talked to coach Mullen, he sat us down and he told me I had an offer," Jenkins said. "He was telling me that all of his players graduated with a degree and that's something that was really important to me. I'm just excited for this opportunity because before the weekend he told me if they had an offer they'd give it to me. I was hoping for the best."

Getting the offer with his teammate Gray was something even more special for the under-the-radar blocker. Jenkins and Gray now have the opportunity to play with each other on the field for four more years.

"It's good to be playing with J.T. some more," Jenkins said. "We've been playing with each other since pee wee. We motivate each other to be the best that we can be and now we get to do that in college."

With the two teammates coming on campus this weekend, a lot of people saw the writing on the wall for their college fate. The weekend was an opportunity to seal that fate even more and build relationships with players and coaches.

"It was a fun visit," Jenkins said of his trip to Starkville. "My host was (redshirt freshman offensive lineman) Kent Flowers. He really made me feel like I was family and I deserve to be there. He told me that the coaches liked me a lot and to prepare to work. Coach Hevesy will be hard on us, but he does it because he cares."

"From the coaches to the president down to the players, they all made us feel great. I love it up there."

Down to business, Jenkins was most excited about one thing. As every good lineman will say, the food is the easiest way to the heart.

"The eating was the best part of the trip," Jenkins said in all seriousness. "We ate three or four times a day. Our host said they will feed us good up there so that's pretty exciting. We ate at the Veranda, the Japanese food place and at Coach Mullen's house."

While Jenkins does love his food, he is going to maintain his weight and get where the coaches want him. The big-framed lineman weighed in at 283 this weekend and the coaches have told him they want him at 295 or 300.

Now that it's all said and done, Jenkins is just like every other recruit in the class. Rated just a two star, Jenkins has a chip on his shoulder to be great. The MSU coaches are confident that they picked a winner.

"It means a lot to me to live out my dream," Jenkins said. Now I have a chip on my shoulders. I'm going to come in and show coaches I can be the best."

Jenkins projects to play tackle by the coaches but he is versatile enough to move around on the offensive line if needed. He is the 21st member of MSU's 2014 signing class and the Bulldogs' fourth offensive lineman.