Football 'Crootin Roundup is springing into action

Ah, spring football is back. Despite the snow on the ground and awful temperatures, the Spartans are back at it and breaking into spring football.

This is a great time for not only current players to make a bigger name for themselves and for fans to debate which surprise player is going to have a big impact in the fall, but for recruits to get a better feel for Michigan State.

As recruits visit in the fall, they primarily only see games, so the springtime provides a unique opportunity to see the staff in action and for players to sit in on position meetings and drills.

The Spartans already have hosted some good prospects in the first week (a couple are mentioned below), while that list will only grow as the spring season progresses.

Hosey visits Spartans (Scout) - The Cass Tech pipeline has been broken into by MSU and the staff is eying a group of 2015 players, as well as running back/linebacker Gary Hosey for 2014. He doesn't have an offer yet from MSU, but could earn one in the future.

Johnson previews Michigan and Michigan State visits (247) - Florissant (Mo.) Hazelwood Central offensive lineman Roderick Johnson is making his way to the mitten this weekend. He has offers from plenty of big-name schools, and MSU is among those to offer the 6-7, 310-pound prospect. He says he has been in touch with a couple of MSU's 2013 commits.

Hubbard goes in-depth on recruiting (Rivals) - Cincinnati Moeller has been good to MSU under Mark Dantonio, and the prospects keep coming. The latest is 6-foot-6, 225-pound athlete Sam Hubbard, who played safety last season. Hubbard is a Notre Dame commit for lacrosse, but the football offers have been pouring in and have the junior looking at his options. He has an MSU offer.

Florida athlete T.J. Harrell high on Michigan State (247) - Tampa Catholic's Harrell has been talking highly of MSU since he got an offer, and that hasn't stopped. Harrell is the cousin of former Spartan Jeremy Ware and will be making a visit to East Lansing this summer. Anytime a recruit says, "the Michigan State staff is the bomb," it is a good thing.

Spartan target making the rounds (Rivals) - Lima Catholic Central safety Darius West is attracting plenty of attention from schools across the Midwest. He is a player the staff noticed as they recruited current MSU quarterback Tyler O'Connor -- from the same high school. MSU is ready to pull the trigger and offer West once he gets on campus in East Lansing.

Durkin looking forward to MSU visit (Rivals) - One of the quarterbacks on Michigan State's board for 2014 is Youngstown Ursuline's Chris Durkin. He has a visit scheduled to East Lansing next weekend. It was rumored his top two were MSU and Northwestern, but the Wildcats recently added a 2014 quarterback and are no longer interested in Durkin.

Q & A

What is the OL recruiting status? - @Baylan295

Michigan State is looking to pull 4-5 offensive lineman in the 2014 class and has offered 14 to date. No commitments yet. As mentioned above, Roderick Johnson is on campus today (Friday). Chicago De La Salle OT Jamarco Jones is visiting for the spring game and a practice. Hinsdale Central center Brian Allen is high on the Spartans by all reports. All that to say, MSU is in good position with some recruits and is putting in work on their targets.

Do you think Michael O'Connor moving his visit up to Monday is a sign he's ready to commit? - @MaxLogan

Well, O'Connor is coming up all the way from Florida. He has been high on MSU since they offered last summer. He moved what was expected to be an April visit up to Monday -- ahead of Chris Durkin's visit next weekend (as talked about above). So, yes, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities. O'Connor moving up his visit certainly sets the commit watch to red. (UPDATE: I talked with Michael, and he said he moved his trip up to now because it fit before he goes home to Canada for spring break. He also will visit Notre Dame, Penn State and Rutgers on the trip.)

Where to we sit with Darien Watkins? He seems to like NW and Wisky is back on the map. Any visits soon to EL? - @Collin_Stauder

MSU sits well, but maybe not as well as a week ago. Wisconsin burst back into his recruitment with what sounds like a pitch of "we literally have no talent at wide receiver, you can start immediately." He still intends to visit East Lansing a couple more times, but the Spartans are pretty deep at wide receiver and Watkins might now be more aware of this. If early playing time is huge to him, MSU might not be in the driver's seat anymore.

New Offers (3/15/13-3/21/13)

Athlete Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop Moeller)

Linebacker Taiwan Deal, Hyattsville, Md. (DeMatha Catholic)

Defensive back Deandre Scott, Philadelphia, Pa. (Imhotep Institute Charter)

Safety Allen Artis, Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler)

Wide receiver Monte Harrison, Lees Summit, Mo. (Lee's Summit West)

Offensive tackle Alex Dalton, Troy, Ohio (Troy)

Offensive guard Jon Baker, Millis, Mass. (Millis)