It was a tough weekend for MSU football recruiting, as the Spartans just missed out on two touted prospects.
Massachusetts defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. visited MSU on Friday, but committed to Michigan the next day. MSU had risen on Hurst's list late, but losing a guy in a position of need — especially to your rival — was a punch in the gut.
The same day, Maryland defensive end Kevin Robbins chose Georgia Tech over MSU. The loss was especially tough because Robbins' father played at MSU. He said Georgia Tech saw him as a linebacker, while MSU wanted him at defensive end.
Things could turn around soon, though.
CB Darius Mosely will make his college decision on June 23.Either Illinois, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Iowa, or Arizona State
— Coach Joggerst (@OFallonFootball) June 5, 2012
Mosely is a three-star prospect from Illinois. Here are some highlights:
James breaks down his top four (24/7) - Wisconsin defensive end Alec James remains one of the top prospects on MSU's board. James listed his top four as Wisconsin, MSU, Notre Dame and Clemson, but said the Spartans and Badgers stand out because they've been recruiting him the longest. Snagging him from the home-state Badgers would be a huge recruiting win for MSU, which hasn't had many so far. Rivals has a video interview with James.
McGrath impressive at camp (Rivals) - Macomb kicker/punter J.J. McGrath continues to impress around the nation, but being a kicker, offers are always hard to come by. McGrath was at LSU last weekend and will be stopping at Alabama and South Carolina soon. He's looking for a school where he can start for several years, and MSU appears to be interested, although they haven't offered. Given the few scholarships available and positions of need, it's understandable why MSU would be hesitant to give one out to a kicker at this point in the process. With Dan Conroy going into his senior year, Kevin Muma into his junior year and Mike Sadler going into his sophomore, McGrath would have a lot of opportunities at MSU, along with some friends.
"Michigan State has said that they will offer a red-shirt kicking position but, also want a punter which is why Coach Tressel is also interested in my punting. … . I love Michigan State. My mother's side of the family went there as well as most of my high school friends and former high school friends (Holt High School). I love the unity of the players, the coaching staff, and I'm actually very close with Sadler, Muma, and Conroy. It's a huge family, and if I can join my buddy Jon Reschke and commit there that would be awesome. We'll see though."
Dream offer for Allen? (24/7) - Detroit defensive back Mycial Allen recently picked up an offer from Iowa, but he is still hoping for an offer from MSU. Allen also has plenty of MAC offers, but said MSU is a school he's always dreamed about. He'll have a chance to make an impression at an MSU camp in June and a Detroit camp later.
"They’ve been high on my list since I first started playing football," Allen said. "Ever since I entered high school I told my coach I wanted to go to MSU and he said, ‘You gotta put in the work.’ I’ve been putting in work and now that opportunity is about to come."
Spartans catch lineman by surprise (24/7) - Four-star Ohio defensive tackle Donovan Munger was surprised when Mark Dantonio recently offered a scholarship. Munger figured MSU would want to see him in camp before an offer. But given that MSU is missing out on some defensive tackles — a position of need — perhaps MSU is being a little less picky with defensive line offers. Munger has around 17 offers and wants to visit MSU this summer.
MSU firmly in the hunt for Nelson (24/7) - Speaking of defensive tackles, unranked Monty Nelson of Florida is another lineman MSU is in on. The Spartans offered in May, and Nelson holds the MSU program in high regard. Despite the lack of a rankings, Nelson holds offers from Wisconsin, Pitt, Louisville and West Virginia, among others.
"I think they have a great coaching staff with coach Dantonio," Nelson said. "[Plantation] coach [Steve] Davis talks to me a lot about him, that the coach there is strictly business. He said he’s strictly business and that’s what you want in a coach."
Spartans after New Jersey standout (24/7) - Unranked New Jersey athlete Reginald Green picked up an MSU offer in early May, and he hopes to visit East Lansing by the end of the month. He has offers from a few East Coast schools, such as Boston College, N.C. State and Pitt. Green was told MSU could see him as a receiver, but could play both sides of the ball.
Building Brookwood pipeline? (24/7) - Two-star Georgia defensive end Shaun McGee received an offer from MSU earlier this week and says he will definitely visit. Redshirt freshman receiver Andre Sims Jr. and 2012 running back Nick Tompkins are from the same high school, so MSU has a strong relationship there. The story lists some other offers as Kentucky, Indiana, East Carolina, among others, but his 24/7 profile lists Alabama as an offer, for what that's worth. It's a little strange.
Jones hearing from Spartans (Scout) - 2014 Chicago offensive lineman Jamarco Jones has received offers from Vanderbilt and Illinois, along with hearing from MSU, Ohio State, Wisconsin and others. He plans on attending MSU's senior day camp.
Top corner to visit Michigan State (24/7) - 2014 Washington D.C. defensive back D'Andre Payne will be visiting a host of Big Ten schools next weekend, including MSU, Michigan and Ohio State. MSU hasn't offered, but met with Payne early in May. He has around 27 offers from plenty of top programs, and MSU is expected to join in when he visits in a couple weeks.