The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled its 2027 class.
Officials announced the eight-member class in Jackson on Thursday. This year’s group spans decades of excellence in athletics, from an Olympic gold medalist, professional baseball veterans, college football standouts, and leaders in women’s basketball. The list includes:
- John Bond — A four-year quarterback at Mississippi State, Bond helped lead the Bulldogs to their historic 6-3 victory over No. 1 Alabama in 1980 and two bowl appearances. He finished his college career with 6,901 yards of total offense, including 2,280 rushing yards, and is the only Mississippi State quarterback to defeat LSU four times.
- Dave Clark — A Shannon native and Jackson State standout, Clark was the 11th overall pick in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft. He played 13 major league seasons before building a long coaching and managerial career. He guided minor league teams to championships in Hickory and Corpus Christi and currently serves as the Houston Astros’ first-base coach.
- Rod Davis — The Gulfport native earned the 2002 Conerly Trophy and 2003 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors at Southern Miss. A three-time first-team All-Conference USA linebacker, Davis recorded 526 career tackles and helped the Golden Eagles win the 2003 conference championship. His professional career included the NFL, Canadian Football League, and an ArenaBowl championship with Philadelphia.
- Bianca Knight — The Pearl native won an Olympic gold medal as part of the United States’ world-record-setting 4×100-meter relay team at the 2012 London Games. A 2011 world champion in the same event, Knight also won the 2008 NCAA indoor 200-meter championship at Texas. She captured 23 state championships, including relays, at Ridgeland High School.
- Kris Mangum — An All-SEC and All-American tight end at Ole Miss, Mangum played 10 NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The Magee native appeared in 126 games, recording 151 receptions for 1,424 yards and nine touchdowns, and helped Carolina reach Super Bowl XXXVIII. He was inducted into the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Seth Smith — A Jackson native and two-sport athlete at Ole Miss, Smith earned SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC honors in baseball while also serving as a backup quarterback to Eli Manning. He played 11 major league seasons with five clubs, hitting 126 home runs, and helped the Colorado Rockies reach the 2007 World Series.
- LaToya Thomas — The Greenville native was a four-time Kodak All-American and two-time Associated Press SEC Player of the Year at Mississippi State, finishing her college career with 2,981 points. Selected first overall by the Cleveland Rockers in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Thomas went on to play professionally in the United States and overseas. Mississippi State honored her No. 32 jersey in 2022.
- Shirley Gibbs Walker — The Bude native led Alcorn State’s women’s basketball program for 30 seasons, compiling 493 victories, 12 SWAC regular-season championships and six conference tournament titles. Walker guided Alcorn to its first three NCAA tournament appearances. The basketball court at Alcorn’s Davey L. Whitney Complex was named in her honor in 2015.
“Each of these honorees has elevated Mississippi athletics on a national and even international stage,” Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Andrea Patterson said. “Their impact extends beyond their wins and records. They represent the perseverance, leadership, and integrity that define Mississippi sports.”
The Class of 2027 will be formally enshrined during Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, July 30–31, 2027.
