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Welcome Aboard - Jalen Watts-Jackson

Michigan State lands it second cornerback commitment in the past few days.

OLSM's Jalen Watts-Jackson makes an interception at MSU's camp Sunday.
OLSM's Jalen Watts-Jackson makes an interception at MSU's camp Sunday.
Kim Sokol | Kim's Photos

Cornerback Jalen Watts-Jackson, West Bloomfield, Mich. (Orchard Lake St. Mary's) - 6-foot, 172 pounds

Ratings: Rivals (2 stars), 247sports (unranked), Scout (unranked), ESPN (unranked)

Notable offers: Central Michigan, Western Michigan

Michigan State offered a pair of cornerbacks from Orchard Lake St. Mary's after camp on Sunday and one quickly took the Spartans up on their offer.

2014 prospect Jalen Watts-Jackson came up to MIchigan State for a visit Wednesday and committed before the end of his time in East Lansin -- and almost before it even started.

"I committed before the campus tour, actually," Watts-Jackson said. "I was talking with Coach (Mark) Dantonio and he said he didn't want to force anything on me in a decision, but I said he didn't have to force it and that I wanted to play there."

When the offer came Monday, Watts-Jackson said he knew his decision was made, it was just a matter of time.

"I was thinking on it and I had made my decision, I knew I was going to commit," he said. "It was just where I wanted to go."

He credited the environment at Michigan State for making him want to play there above his other choices.

"The whole family environment is great," he said. "Everyone seems so close and it made me feel like it is where I really wanted to go."

Watts-Jackson, who plans to major in biology, said he believed his strong camp performances secured his offer.

"The coaches said they really liked my ball skills and my jumping ability," he said.

The Spartans also offered 2015 prospect Tyson Smith on Monday after a standout performance at the one-day camp. Watts-Jackson said the two have talked about playing together in college.

"It's something we have talked about," he said. "I'm already starting trying to get him to come to MSU."

Watts-Jackson makes two cornerback commits for the Spartans this week after Dayton Marshall's Vayante Copeland committed Sunday.

Watts-Jackson said he has talked with Copeland already and was added to the Michigan State commits group message on Facebook.

He is the fourth in-state recruit the Spartans have brought in for the 2014 class and the 10th total.

Watch Watts-Jackson's highlights here.

Having seen Watts-Jackson perform at multiple camps now, the thing that sticks with me most about him is his vertical leap.

He can flat out fly when he goes up for the ball. He picked off MSU quarterback commit Chris Durkin on what was not a bad throw during camp Sunday because he made such a strong play on the ball.

The other thing that impresses about Watts-Jackson is how smooth he is in coverage and also his length. He has long arms and good height for a cornerback, and uses that to his advantage.

Reports from Sunday were that he ran a great 40-yard dash ... so good that MSU told people not to mention the time in any article. I do not know the time, but the fact that such a story arose is an indication of his performance.

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2014 commit bios