STARKVILLE — A.J. Brown is one of the hottest commodities in the state of Mississippi.
The Starkville High School senior is the state’s fifth-best player in the 2016 recruiting class and the 14th-best wide receiver in the country, according to 247Sports.
With all the attention he is receiving from football, Brown doesn’t want his second love — baseball — to fall to the wayside. He wants to play both sports at the next level.
“I’m kind of looking at it from football and baseball,” Brown said of his recruiting process. “Baseball plays a part.”
Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama are three of the 11 offers Brown has received. He likely will receive more as he plays his final football season with the Yellow Jackets this fall. He has discussed the possibility of playing football and baseball with the schools that are interested in him. He has found mixed reactions from the football coaches that are contacting him.
“Some schools want me to do it and some schools don’t,” Brown said. “They say it’s a lot of hard work. As a freshman, you’re putting a lot on yourself. I think I can do it.”
As a junior, Brown had 60 receptions for 1,125 yards and a team-high 17 touchdowns for the football team, which finished 13-1 and lost in the third round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs. On the diamond, Brown hit .344 with seven doubles, a team-high two triples, two home runs, and 16 RBIs. He led the team with 30 runs scored and was 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts. The center fielder will be just the second player to play in the Under Armour All-American football and baseball games.
Although college will be more demanding on his time, Brown understands what it’s like to balance playing two sports. He will focus on football in the fall, but knows he can’t stop playing baseball.
“It’s kind of hard in high school playing both sports,” he said. “It’s football season, but I still have to work out with baseball because I don’t want to lose it. It’s going to be hard at the next level.”
Brown showcased his football abilities at several camps and showcases in the spring and summer. Many coaches and people who follow recruiting noticed.
“A.J. Brown is one of the real risers of this spring and summer camp circuit,” 247Sports director of scouting Barton Simmons said. “He was really productive as a junior during the season, but when he’s been side by side with the other elite receivers in the 2016 class nationally, he’s been one of the very best. He’s not a burner, but he’s extremely strong and physical attacking the football.”
A member of The Clarion Ledger’s Dandy Dozen, Brown is 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. Simmons thinks Brown’s stock can continue to rise this fall and he could be one of the best wide receivers in the country.
“The thing that really sets Brown apart, though, is his competitive mentality,” Simmons said. “He takes every rep with a chip on his shoulder and battles.”
Brown hasn’t scheduled any official visits for the fall, but he plans on taking all five allotted to him.
“I really can’t answer that question because I don’t know,” Brown said when asked where he will play next fall.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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