2026 running back Jaeden Hill breaks down Mississippi State decision
Growing up as a Mississippi State fan, Tupelo High School’s Jaeden Hill wasn’t faced with a difficult decision on the recruiting scene. On Monday, the 2026 running back and On3 three-star prospect followed through with his dream to play for the Bulldogs and committed to head coach Jeff Lebby and State’s program.
Hill becomes the second 2026 commitment for Lebby and his staff, joining Airline (La.) High School receiver Kenny Darby. Hill is rated as the nation’s No. 69 running back and the state’s No. 17 prospect by On3 rankings.
Hill also has family connections to State, which helped lead to his love of the Bulldogs at an early age. His grandfather is a former Mississippi State defensive lineman.
“Demetrius Hill is my grandfather,” mentioned Hill. “So I grew up a Mississippi State fan. I like the culture of Mississippi State. I just like everything about it.”
Which includes Lebby. This spring and summer through visits to campus, Hill bonded quickly with Lebby and felt like a priority to Mississippi State from Day 1.
“It’s been cool with Coach Lebby and we’ve got a good relationship now,” noted Hill. “Coach Lebby has been letting me know that right now I am, for sure, their top prospect in the 2026 class and that he wants me there. He was impressed with my results at their camp, too.”
Not just with Monday’s decision, Hill has experienced a quick start on the recruiting trail. This offseason he has collected several SEC and Power 5 offers from coast to coast. But at the end of the day, Hill said Mississippi State checked all of the boxes on his list.
“It’s been good,” Hill remarked on recruiting. “It’s been very good and I didn’t expect it this early at all. I also have offers from Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oregon, Southern Cal, Auburn, Florida, Stanford, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Memphis and Louisville.
“When I looked at these schools, I looked to see who is going to help me get better as a player and as a person. I also wanted to see who will help me get to the league (NFL) so I feel good about my decision.”
Hill also got a sooner-than-normal start to high school football and has steadily adjusted to that situation over the past two years. Hill got his first taste of varsity football late in his 9th grade season and last year as a sophomore, he rushed for 891 yards and a team-best 18 touchdowns.
And getting that experience as a freshman helped make Hill more at ease last season.
“I got moved up to varsity in the 9th grade when we reached the playoffs,” Hill recalled. “It was a good experience and it made me more comfortable going into my 10th grade season because I had already done it. So it wasn’t too much pressure on me last year.”
Despite his early success, Hill has maintained his work ethic and drive to strive for more this coming season. He focused on one area of his game this offseason and was able to work on that aspect at several Power 5 camps this month.
“This offseason I have been working mainly on my explosiveness,” added the 6-foot and 220-pound Hill. “I’ve been to a lot of camps, too, and faced good competition. I’ve been to Mississippi State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee this summer for camps. Overall, I think it will help me this season and help me produce more for our team.”
