100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 44 Days – No. 44, Jr. LB Branden Jennings
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we look at a transfer linebacker who can finish his career strong in Starkville.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 44 Days – No. 44, Jr. LB Branden Jennings
It’s been a wild and crazy journey for Jennings over the years, but he has a chance to end it on a strong note in Starkville.
A member of four different FBS schools during his career while spending another season in the junior college ranks, Jennings is searching for stability in his final two campaigns.
Talent has never been a huge question for Jennings. The son of former Florida State National Championship linebacker Bradley Jennings, he was a consensus four-star when he came out of Sandalwood (Fla.) in Jacksonville and he turned down offers at Michigan, Florida State and Miami to play football for Maryland in 2021.
As the No. 7 linebacker in the country, Jennings racked up 127 tackles his final year with 19.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks and a forced and recovered fumble to finish the year an All-State defender. That production translated fairly well to his true freshman year at Maryland as he finished with 23 tackles, 1.0 TFL and a forced fumble as he earned midseason true freshman All-American honors by On3.
Jennings hit the transfer portal after that strong freshman season and landed at Kansas State but things didn’t work out with the Wildcats. He transferred again that season and would end up at UCF while using a redshirt season and a change in coaching staffs led to him hitting the portal again.
It might not have been in his cards, but Jennings would end up in the state of Mississippi playing for Hinds Community College last season. He would make a mark as one of the best linebackers in JUCO ball last year as he made 58 tackles and had 6.5 TFL with 1.0 sack and a touchdown.
The first-team All-MACCC member landed offers from Arkansas and MSU among others, but he would commit to the Bulldogs last staff. That commitment stuck with the changing of the guard and now Jennings will be roaming the Coleman Hutzler-led defense this season.
Jennings experience in the Power 4 should have him competing at one of the LB spots this year and he already got a head start when he enrolled early this spring.
