Michigan State Football Recruiting: The Student Behind "Spartan Designs"

[Editor's Note: Spartan Designs has requested to not have his name disclosed at this time.]

It all started with an encounter with Michigan State 2016 quarterback commit, Messiah deWeaver, the four-star prospect from Huber Heights (Ohio).

A couple weeks before deWeaver made his verbal commitment on April 22, a few days prior to the MSU spring game, the rising senior requested for a few photos to be made of him, including the image of an MSU player with his name on the player's back.

deWeaver was so impressed with the photos that he wanted the same to be made for every recruit that committed to MSU. In a span of less than three months, 20 have received customized photos from a single source.

That person responsible is also the creator of Spartan Designs, a twitter account that has been a major component to the rising popularity of the 2016 recruiting class, arguably the most talented class in head coach Mark Dantonio's tenure since arriving in East Lansing back in 2007.

The class is currently ranked eighth nationally and fourth in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports, which features seven four-star prospects, three of whom play on the defensive line.

Spartan Designs, who is an upcoming sophomore at a California high school, couldn't recall the first interaction he had with a Michigan State player, but his presence on social media since middle school has allowed him to get in contact with many high profile names.

"I've been on Instagram for about 3 years now, and I can remember talking to a lot of guys," he said. "I used to talk to Malik Henry and Jake Zembiec a lot a couple years ago. Messiah really helped me connect with a bunch of other guys."

With both parents holding degrees from Michigan State, Spartan Designs has supported the football and basketball programs ever since he was little. The account was first created back in January of this year, but has really put a full commitment into it in early May.

What drove him to creating the account? It's an easy way to connect with recruits.

"It's also easier to share and syndicate my work," he said.

The main software programs that are used to create the photos are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Topaz Labs. The sophomore uttered that because each photo has to be detailed and appealing to the recruit, most tend to take four hours before completion.

There's a couple memorable moments that stand out to Spartan Designs when it comes to interactions with future and current players. But it's 2016 four-star wide receiver Cam Chambers, the first prospect to commit among the class back in August of last year, that always stands out to him.

"He's got to be the funniest, most humble guy I've talked to," Spartan Designs said.

Headlining Spartan Design's followers include defensive line coach Ron Burton, incoming freshmen Tyriq Thompson (Detroit King, MI) and Felton Davis (Highland Springs, VA), and recruiting coordinator Curtis Blackwell II.

"It means a lot to receive the feedback I have amongst the players and coaches," Spartan Designs said. "It's cool to see that they appreciate my work enough to share it with others."

The impact Spartan Designs has had for Michigan State recruiting in a few short months has caught the attention of several programs nationally. Missouri, Oregon State, Texas Tech, and Miami are some of the more recent teams that have inquired him for his services.

"I've actually had a dozen coaches from major schools across the country reach out to hire me, but I've turned them all down," Spartan Designs said. "I enjoy what I do too much to leave it behind for pay."

As the account continues to be a well documented name in the MSU community, the student hopes to improve his skill set and learn new techniques in order to come up with fresh material for future recruits. He also hopes that the account has an impact on future recruiting classes, similar to the class of 2016.

When asked if graphic designing is a career Spartan Designs hopes to pursue in school, he's keeping his options open when it comes to his future.

"It's something that I would love to explore," he said. "I still have three more years of high school, so a lot can happen between now and then."