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Michigan State Recruiting: Which elite prospects will be at spring game?

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty on field prior to a game against Western MIchigan at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty on field prior to a game against Western MIchigan at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) signals possession during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) signals possession during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Another elite in-state prospect that seems to be leaning toward Michigan is four-star 2017 defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher from St. Joseph. The Spartans haven’t been very high on his list through his recruiting process thus far, but he could be giving them a serious look now that this will be his second visit in three weeks.

This is really going to take everything Dantonio has to try and keep Malone-Hatcher away from Michigan, but at this point, it might be a lost cause. It’s already been rumored a couple of times that he’s close to committing, but if he’s making his way to East Lansing again, there must be something about the green and white that he likes.

Malone-Hatcher has a solid frame for a weak-side defensive end, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing about 245 pounds. He’s currently ranked the No. 168 prospect in the 2017 class as well as the 13th-best weak-side end and fifth-best Michigan recruit.

There are plenty of elite Michigan recruits who’ll be on campus this weekend and it’s crucial for Dantonio to make an impression on them so he can continue to keep the top talent in the state in East Lansing instead of letting it slip to Ann Arbor or even Columbus, Ohio.

The junior defensive end is also receiving interest from the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

Next: 5. L'Christian Smith

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