Earlier today, Indian Hill High School (OH) outfielder Devlan Daniel committed to Mississippi State baseball. A multi-sport athlete, Daniel was getting looks from both baseball and football recruiters. After some careful deliberation and talks with family, Daniel has announced his decision to play baseball for Coach Brian O’Connor and the Diamond Dawgs.

The recruiting process is something that every prep prospect hopes for. Daniel is happy with how the process went, but shares that it can be a stressful undertaking. There are a lot of factors to consider.

“I was really just trying to kind of enjoy it, because not a lot of people get to do it,” Daniel shared. “Each visit was super cool and a good experience. A lot of it is good stuff, so you have to sort through everything. You have to see what the differences are between the schools and I wanted to see what really stood out to me.”

Daniel took in a handful of visits before narrowing the field. Cincinnati, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ohio State and West Virginia all had the chance to host him on campus. In the end, the Diamond Dawgs had what the talented outfielder was looking for.

“Mississippi State was my first call and my first text back on August 1st,” Daniel shared. “I could just tell the level of interest that they had in me. Just getting to know them has been great. They are just genuine. They are some of the most genuine people that I’ve met. 

“Coach O’Connor wrote me a whole three-page letter and mailed it out to me. You don’t find that with many other schools. Coach Mack (Kevin McMullan) came up and joined my family for dinner last weekend. You don’t really get that at many other places.”

The switch-hitting outfielder is considered by many to be the top college baseball prospect in the state of Ohio for the 2027 class. Perfect Game rates him as a 9.5 on a 10-point scale.

Daniel has been clocked in the 60-yard dash at 6.53 seconds and has recorded exit velos approaching 105 miles per hour. Many talk about the five-tool player. Devlan may develop into that on the college level. He has the physical attributes to make a serious run at pro ball after high school and/or college.

It was clear that he was a priority to the Mississippi State coaching staff. Throughout his decision making process, the Diamond Dawgs provided him with updates on what was taking place with their recruiting efforts.

“Every time they were bringing a kid in outfield wise, they let me know,” Daniel explained. “Every time a kid committed, they let me know. They were really honest and transparent. That’s what I really liked about them.”

Last summer, Daniel played his travel ball with the Marucci Blackhawks national team. He is expected to be invited to every national showcase this coming summer in advance of his senior season.

On the football side of things, Daniel has fielded offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Liberty, Miami, Miami of Ohio, Northwestern and Toledo among others. In the end, he has elected to opt for baseball and Mississippi State. 

While facilities, player amenities and campus tours are important, the biggest factor in Daniel’s decision was people. The Mississippi State simply made him feel the most welcome when he had the chance to interact with them.

“I really just enjoyed the coaching staff,” Daniel said. “One of the best things that I saw at Mississippi State was the people. I went to the football game against Arizona State. That atmosphere was unlike anything else that I have been around. You could tell from all of the interactions just how genuine all the people are there. It’s different than every where else I went. That all sticks out to me a lot.”

The Diamond Dawgs are building a very strong class that includes some highly rated instate standouts to go along with some of the top players outside of the Magnolia State. State has always prided itself on being a national recruiter and the new staff in Starkville is continuing that tradition. Landing the top player from the state of Ohio for the 2027 class is a big deal for all involved.

“I didn’t really expect it to be this early,” Daniel said of his commitment. “I am happy it is though. I can just settle down. I can take a breather. It’s over. I’m good. Let’s get to work sooner that way when I get there, it’s not an issue. Now, I know I am going to have to work two times harder, but a little bit of stress has been taken off my shoulders.”