/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68549365/usa_today_10342575.0.jpg)
Michigan State has accepted the written letters of intent from 17 high school seniors over the past two days, and added two transfers as well, and it seemed like the signing day fireworks had all but run their course. However, Friday afternoon the Spartans received another bit of good news as Montvale, New Jersey offensive lineman, Geno VanDeDark, officially joined the Spartans’ 2021 recruiting class.
Geno VanDeMark | @GenoVanDeMark ✍️#21BuiltStrong | #RELENTLESS pic.twitter.com/H1IWWN9VUu
— Mel Tucker (@Coach_mtucker) December 18, 2020
VanDeMark is listed a three-star recruit by 247 Sports (he was recently bumped down from a four-star there for some reason) and as a four-star recruit by Rivals. In either case, Geno is regarded as one of the top five players in the 2021 Spartan class. It was originally rumored that VanDeMark was going to wait until the February signing period to make his pledge to the Spartans official, but that plan seems to have changed over the past 48 hours.
With Geno’s commitment, only two verbally committed players on the current Spartan Christmas list remain unsigned: Oak Park, Michigan defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny and Montvale, New Jersey running back Audric Estime, who also happens to be a high school teammate of VanDeMark at St Joseph Regional High School. Benny and Estime are also two of the three highest ranked players on MSU’s current commitment list.
While Benny’s commitment to the Spartans is expected to be firm, a recent offer from Notre Dame seems to be turned the tide away from the Spartans for Estime’s services next year. Audric was also originally planning to wait for the late signing period, but now indicates that he will also be signing a letter of intent today.
Stay tuned to The Only Colors for continuing Spartan recruiting news as it happens.