Football recruiting

Michigan State Football Recruiting: Welcome Aboard - Montae Nicholson

By ChrisVannini Dec 19, 2013, 1:33pm CST

Defensive back Montae Nicholson, Monroeville, PA (Gateway) - 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Ratings: Scout (4 stars), 247sports (4 stars), Rivals (4 stars), ESPN (4 stars)

Notable offers: Oregon, Virginia Tech, Florida State

MSU lost a quarterback commit earlier in the week, but things turned around when the Spartans got a commitment from defensive back Montae Nicholson of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is a place MSU typically doesn't get many players from, but that has changed in the past two years with Damion Terry, Delton Williams and more. Based on that offer list, this is a nice (and often rare) recruiting battle victory against some top programs. Rivals rates Nicholson as the top player in the state, and he's MSU's second participant in the Army All-American Game.

He also plans on running track at MSU.

Nicholson said Michigan State and Florida State were his top two. Not #Pitt.
— Sam Werner (@SWernerPG) December 19, 2013

Mark Dantonio's history with defensive backs and Darqueze Dennard winning the Thorpe Award this year certainly didn't hurt MSU's cause, nor the national media frequently talking about MSU's "No. 1 defense" and Pat Narduzzi (at this point) set to return. Every defensive back believes they can play one-on-one coverage. MSU's defense gives them that opportunity.

Nicholson said MSU's B1G title didn't really impact his decision too much. More about fitting into their system.
— Sam Werner (@SWernerPG) December 19, 2013

Here's what SB Nation's Bud Elliott says about Nicholson.

Most feel Nicholson will play defensive back in college, though he does have some experience at wide receiver and has also returned kicks. At 6'3 and 200 pounds, he possesses the size to be a real threat down the field if he's able to pick up the offense in practice. It'll be interesting to see how Michigan State's coaching staff utilizes his talent down the road.

Nicholson is commit No. 17 for the class of 2014, and the third or fourth defensive back, depending on his final position and Matt Morrissey's position.

Here are Nicholson's highlights.