Spartan Pupdate is impressed with Pat Narduzzi

Michigan State has targeted New Jersey hard this recruiting cycle, especially defensive linemen from The Garden State.

One of the latest prospects to receive and MSU is Montclair defensive end Darius Slade, who already was interested in MSU before the offer came.

"I had been talking to my coach about schools I was interested in and Michigan State was one," Slade told me. "My head coach told me to give Pat Narduzzi a call and when I did get a hold of him, he said MSU officially had offered me.

"I also have been staying in touch with Ron Burton on Facebook. I was very excited. MSU is a great school academically and sports-wise."

Slade was visited by both MSU coaches at separate times during the spring, and left a lasting impression with the 6-foot-5, 238-pound speed rusher.

"They both are great coaches and the first impression is everything," he said. "With those guys, those impressions were great."

The meeting with Narduzzi, however, stuck out a little bit above the rest with Slade.

"Coach Narduzzi didn't focus on how good I am now, but he told me how great of a player I can be and told me the things he could come me up to at MSU," Slade said. "He came in to school and was just talking it up about the defense.

"Our coach would draw up an offensive formation and Narduzzi got up and drew the defense he would use to attack it. He is very knowledgeable, energetic and impressive."

Slade currently holds nine offers and has visited a few of the schools that have offered, including Rutgers, Temple, UConn and Pitt.

He said he "definitely will be taking a visit (to East Lansing) soon" as well as West Virginia.

-- Fort Wayne Bishop Luers produced five-star linebacker Jaylon Smith last year and one of the next big talents from the reigning four-time Indiana state champ is 2016 wide receiver Austin Mack.

Mack, who was named the MVP at the Michigan Elite 7 on 7 a couple weeks ago, has seen the attention from colleges pick up lately.

"Lots of attention has started to come from the past couple tournaments," he said. "Jaylon (Smith) has really helped me and said to just stay focused and humble and look to God for everything."

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver has received letters from Cincinnati and Florida State, but the most early attention is coming from Toledo.

"After the Toledo tournament (last weekend), the Toledo coaches said they were really happy with my performance and my coach said they might offer soon," Mack said.

Mack played both sides of the ball as a freshman on the freshman team, racking up 15 tackles and 10 interceptions as a safety. On offense, he caught 25 touchdowns, while returning six kicks and four punts for scores.

The talented freshman was called up to varsity for a sectional playoff game, in which he started at nickelback and on special teams. This year, Mack is primed to start at both safety and at wide receiver on varsity.

He and fellow 2016 Bishop Luers recruit, quarterback Noah Wezensky, will look to be a potent combination in the coming years.

"Me and Noah are going to be a big threat," Mack said. "Our chemistry is really good. We have been practicing and practicing this offseason. We are hoping we can break records."

When it comes to colleges, Mack has a few in mind early in the process.

"I am hoping to go to Michigan State, Michigan and Tennessee," he said. "Those are some of my favorite schools. Right now, I am just trying to get my name out there and and get on prospect lists and get looks and offers."

As for what he knows about Michigan State, Mack has a little knowledge, but wants to learn more.

"I know a couple of people that go there," Mack said. "TyQuan Hammock is from Bishop Luers and his sister goes to my school. One of my favorite running backs, Le'Veon Bell, went to MSU.

"I love watching them play and I want to learn more about them."

-- Last year, Michigan State picked up a player from Warren (Ohio) Harding in safety Jalyn Powell and the Spartans are looking back at Harding for a 2015 prospect.

Center James Daniels already holds an offer from Michigan State, but he didn't know it for a while.

"My coach called me in and asked me if I knew I had it and I didn't know," Daniels told me. "I was pretty surprised. It really just happened and I wasn't expecting it."

Daniels, who was playing center for the first time last season, didn't allow a sack the entire season.

"It went pretty well," he said. "The hardest part was getting the shotgun snaps down and back quickly."

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound lineman visited MSU for the spring game in 2012, with his brother, LeShun Daniels (a 2013 Iowa signee).

"I know MSU has a nice fan base and I have seen the schedule for the coming years -- it's nice," Daniels said.

Daniels also holds offers from Penn State, Iowa, Indiana, Akron and Bowling Green.

New Offers (5/31/13-6/6/13)

2014

Defensive tackle Jamiyus Pittman, Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)

Safety M.J. Stewart, Arlington, Va. (Yorktown)

Offensive tackle Raul Martinez, Pasadena, Calif. (Pasadena Junior College)

Offensive tackle David Hedelin, San Francisco, Calif. (City College of San Francisco)

Tight end Davion Riley, Lake Wales, Fla (Lake Wales Senior)

2015

Wide receiver Tavares Martin, Lake Worth, Fla. (John I. Leonard)

Running back Rodney Anderson, Katy, Texas (Katy)

Wide receiver George Campbell, Tarpon Springs, Fla. (East Lake)

2016

Wide receiver Sam Bruce, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (University School)