The plant is a bit young for us to be certain, but it does appear to be a Black Gum (also called Black Tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica). Spicebush also has a distinctive spicy scent to rubbed/crushed leaves. For any plant you'd want to protect from deer browse (or later, buck antler rubbing on a slender trunk), caging the plant is a good idea, since repellents are less reliable. You can adjust the wire cage diameter as the sapling grows so it doesn't risk interfering with root growth and trunk expansion. Once tall enough to avoid being browsed, all that would need protection is the trunk, until it too is thick enough from age to not be appealing to bucks rubbing antler velvet off in autumn. In the meantime, try to move the mulch aside a bit so the stem is not contacted by the mulch, to help maintain air circulation around the trunk base.

Miri