Welcome Aboard - Chris Frey Jr

Outside linebacker Chris Frey Jr., Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington) - 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

Ratings: 247sports (3 stars), Rivals (3 stars), Scout (3 stars), ESPN (unranked)

Notable offers: Purdue, Kentucky, Syracuse, Boston College

As Michigan State is facing the graduation of four linebackers after 2013, the Spartans are looking to keep loading up in the front seven in the class of 2014.

On Wednesday, Upper Arlington (Ohio) linebacker Chris Frey Jr. joined Cass Tech's Deon Drake and Traverse City St. Francis' Byron Bullough when he committed to Michigan State over about a dozen other offers.

I'm officially a Michigan State Spartan! #spartannation

— Chris Frey Jr (@Cfrey07) May 15, 2013

Frey received an offer from Michigan State last Wednesday and promptly made a visit to East Lansing on Monday, when rumored floated around that Frey would commit while on campus.

Frey received on offer from Kentucky on his way to MSU, which slowed down the decision, but ultimately, MSU won out.

Frey also visited Michigan State for camp last summer and was in attendance when Michigan State played Notre Dame at Spartan Stadium.

He is the second commitment this week, joining Rochester Adams tight end Matt Sokol, who committed Monday.

What jumps out at you about Frey is, he is just an athletic kid. In the first two minutes of his highlight tape he does all of the following: runs the ball, catches the ball, returns kicks, blocks a kick, makes an interception in coverage and sacks the quarterback -- and he looks natural doing all of the above.

He shows the speed and quickness to makes plays across the field.

As a linebacker, Frey flashes from a variety of spots, but what he shows the most is that he is a throwback-type linebacker. He is physical, aggressive and quick to the ball and plays nasty. (As annoying as comparisons can be, Frey reminds me of current Spartan linebacker Kyler Elsworth.)

His college future lies as an outside linebacker, most certainly, and he spends time there in his highlight tapes.

He also shows the ability to line up as a sort of safety/center fielder in the defense -- something that Cincinnati Moeller did with MSU signee Shane Jones and Brother Rice with Jon Reschke. It is a common use of your best linebacker in high school because he can cover sideline to sideline and has good football instincts.

In addition, Frey shows that he can move out and cover a slot receiver and shows solid ability to read the pass and make a play on the ball when it is thrown his way.

Frey is the seventh verbal commit for the Spartans in 2014 and the second from Ohio, joining Youngstown Ursuline quarterback Chris Durkin.

--

2014 commits bios