Kaleel Gaines commits to Michigan State: Spartans land 3-Star WR

By Andrew Melnick | Aug 4, 2014

Oct 12, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Michigan State Spartans helmet after a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

The Michigan State Spartans aren’t just turning into one of the best programs in the Big 10, but have been one of the elite programs in the country over the last few seasons. Although they suffered through a 7-6 season in 2012, they have won at least 11 games in three of the last four years, including a 13-1 season in 2013 in which they defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the Big 10 Championship and then defeated the Stanford Cardinal in the Rose Bowl.

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That is helping the Spartans pick up steam on the recruiting trail and on Monday, the Spartans landed their 12th commitment in the class of 2015 when 3-Star wide receiver/defensive back Kaleel Gaines gave his pledge to the Spartans.

“When I visited Michigan State earlier this summer, it just felt like home. They’re a perfect fit for me,” Gaines said via Sean Scherer of 24/7 Sports. “It feels great to be a Spartan and I can’t wait to get back up there this fall.”

Gaines pointed to defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett as one of the biggest reasons he made his decision.

“Coach Barnett and I had a great connection from the start,” Gaines said. “He was just a guy I could talk to about anything. I knew Michigan State was the right school for me when I went there and actually got to see the school and talk with the coaches.”

Getting Gaines is an especially impressive pull because he is from the talent-rich state of Florida. The 6’0, 175-pounder attends Frostproof High School in Frostproof, Florida. He is the country’s 121st-ranked wide receiver prospect, the 136th-best overall prospect in the state of Florida and the 989th-ranked prospect in the class of 2015 according to 24/7 Sports’ composite rankings.

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