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Michigan State football recruiting roundup: Week 4

By Connor Muldowney

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While Michigan State fans are entrenched in the college football season right now, there are still happenings outside of Spartan Stadium for this program. Mark Dantonio has become one of the top recruiters in the Big Ten and his 2016 and 2017 commits have been dominating the high school ranks while other targets have been showing off as well.

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With that being said, let’s take a look at this week’s edition of the Michigan State football recruiting roundup. Some guys have not posted stats from their week four games, but mid-season highlight videos will have you not caring about their stats on paper.

The film speaks for itself.

Starting off, I had a chance to cover the Detroit Cass Tech vs. Detroit Renaissance rivalry game on Friday and the Technicians had plenty of top talent in which Michigan State is interested in. First of all, 2016 four-star safety commit Demetric Vance played well on defense, but his best play was a 39-yard touchdown catch in the second half from Rodney Hall.

Hall, an underrated 2017 quarterback target, had quite the game himself, racking up 370 total yards of offense and six total touchdowns. Over the past two games, he has recorded 11 total touchdowns, absolutely torching opponents.

Cass Tech five-star 2017 receiver target Donovan Peoples-Jones had one 30-yard catch as well as a crucial 39-yard punt return for a touchdown that swayed the momentum of the game.

I’m going to try and start with the 2016 commits and targets.

Top four-star defensive tackle commit, Naquan Jones, had some solid highlights to post from his first few games.

Possibly the leader of the 2016 class, four-star quarterback Messiah deWeaver helped Huber Heights Wayns (Ohio) to a big 49-7 victory, but he played only one half. In that one half, deWeaver completed 10-of-12 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

Must Read: Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Week 4

As we know, the class of 2016 is loaded with elite talent at the wide receiver position. Four-star Justin Layne had arguably his best game of the young season, catching five passes for 101 yards and a score. He also added a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Four-star wide out Cam Chambers, the 2016 class’ first commit, had eight catches for 105 yards in his team’s second game of the year.

Lastly, four-star receiver, but high school QB, Trishton Jackson had two touchdown passes and a touchdown catch for West Bloomfield (Mich.) in a win.

One target at wide receiver for the Spartans, four-star 2016 Detroit King star, Donnie Corley did more on the defensive side of the ball, snagging an interception and returning it for a TD. He also has his own mid-season highlight film.

Three-star 2016 running back Abdul Adams posted his mid-season highlights as well, and it’s really hard to believe this kid is just a three-star. I mean, just watch. Unbelievable video game-like moves.

Through four games, Adams has 76 carries for 556 yards and 10 catches for 101 yards. Hard to believe he hasn’t received a bump in his rankings.

Kenney Lyke, a four-star safety commit, has been putting together a great season for Fremd (Ill.). The senior safety recorded 200 total yards on offense and scored three touchdowns while also recording six tackles. He’s as underrated as any commit in the 2016 class.

Brandon Randle, a newly-anointed 2016 four-star linebacker, has been tearing it up so far this season and earning very high praise. He had a fumble return for a touchdown this week and became the latest MSU commit to be invited to the Army All-American game.

Three-star 2016 cornerback commit Austin Andrews is also quietly having a great season, scoring a touchdown in a win for his school. He had 227 yards and three total touchdowns last week.

Josh King and Joe Bachie round out the 2016 class commits who made an impression in week four. Bachie, a three-star linebacker, scored two touchdowns for his squad in a win while King, a highly-touted four-star defensive end, recorded three sacks, three tackles for loss and two solos.

Two more guys who have posted mid-season highlight videos from this week are the lone 2017 commit, four-star receiver commit Hunter Rison, and underrated and under-respected 2017 three-star linebacker Antjuan Simmons from Ann Arbor Pioneer (Mich.).

Here’s Rison’s:

And here is Simmons’:

More notable stats:

  • K.J. Hamler, 4-star 2017 WR target: 4 catches for 80 yards; 170 all-purpose yards
  • Jairus Grissom, 3-star 2017 QB target: 374 passing yards, 5 total TDs
  • Cody White, NR 2017 WR target: 166 receiving yards, 2 TDs
  • Allen Stritzinger, 3-star 2017 RB target: ankle injury against Brother Rice
  • Todd Sibley, 4-star 2017 RB target: 9 rushes for 109 yards and 2 TDs
  • Jaelen Gill, 5-star 2018 RB target: 28 carries for 302 yards and 5 TDs

Next: Big Ten Heisman Contenders: Week 4 edition

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