Take a look at the top remaining National Signing Day targets for Michigan State football recruiting.
Michigan State football took a major step back as a program in 2016. After five 11-win seasons in six years, the Spartans went just 3-9 just one year after making the College Football Playoff and losing to Alabama, 38-0.
There’s an overwhelming feeling around the Big Ten that Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan are trending up while the Spartans are headed in the opposite direction. However, one poor season does not mean the end for Michigan State. Surprisingly, there have been no de-commitments from any 2017 pledges and that speaks volumes to Mark Dantonio’s personality.
Not many head coaches can retain all recruits after a 3-9 season, but Dantonio has done just that and has even added a four-star and a few three-stars via the flip since the conclusion of the regular season.
The Spartans are already looking to bounce back in a big way next year and they have the talent to do so. Let’s take a look at who they might just add to the roster by National Signing Day.
5. Lionel Cummings, 3-star OLB (Bartow, Fla.)
A relatively new name added to the recruiting list in the past few days, Lionel Cummings from Bartow, Fla., received an offer from Michigan State and immediately planned a trip to East Lansing for a visit.
The coaching staff visited and offered Cummings on Jan. 19, Mark Dantonio came in and checked on him five days later to talk to him and schedule an official visit and he did so for Jan. 27, the final weekend before National Signing Day.
Linebacker is a serious positional need for Michigan State and they only have three guys committed at the position for 2017 and two of them are switching positions from high school. Antjuan Simmons is the only true linebacker while Darien Clemons played running back and Connor Heyward was listed as an athlete.
It’s safe to say that Michigan State was the type of offer he was waiting for as he had two major suitors vying for his commitment in Temple and Central Florida. He isn’t the highest-rated prospect but looks to be a diamond in the rough.
Cummings is listed as the No. 1,104 prospect and No. 82 outside linebacker in the country.