Michigan State Football: Grading the Spartans 2019 recruiting class

Michigan State looks to take their program back to an elite level, but will their latest recruiting class help?

One year after finishing ranked No. 16 in the Top 25, Mark Dantonio and the Spartans took a step back in 2018. The team began the season ranked No. 11, but finished unranked after a 7-5 record. The Spartans also fell to Oregon in an ugly Redbox Bowl 7-6. In need of more firepower, Michigan State has a recruiting class ranked in the top 35 for the second consecutive year.

Michigan State’s 2018 class was ranked 28th nationally. This year they come in at 31st according to 247Sports. Early National Signing Day in December saw the Spartans ink all but one member of the class. Three-star receiver Tre’Von Morgan verbally committed on Jan. 1 after the early signing period and appears to be the only new member of the class barring any last-second surprises.

The best of the bunch are four-stars Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett. Dobbs is without a doubt the classes’ biggest gem. He is the top-ranked offensive guard nationally, the No. 51 recruit in the country and second in the state. If Dobbs can make strides early in fall camp, look for him to challenge for a starting job. Barnett is the eighth-best corner nationally, the No. 57 recruit in the country and No. 3 in Michigan behind Dobbs. Barnett will provide much-needed depth for a secondary who returns several starters.

The team’s biggest losses from last season are arguably running back L.J. Scott and receiver Felton Davis III. Fortunately, Dantonio addresses both positions in the class. The team landed three-star backs Anthony Williams Jr. and Brandon Wright. Both will help with depth. Tre Mosley and Jase Bowen are talented three-stars who will bolster this team’s receiving corp.

The only concern for this class might be landing more on offense than defense. Michigan State finished tenth in total defense last season and no doubt Dantonio wants to keep that up. Could there be a surprise signing on Wednesday for that side of the ball? Those questions will be answered then.

Grade: B