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Michigan State Recruiting: Top remaining 2017 football targets

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio leads his team onto the field for the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio leads his team onto the field for the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Luckily for the Spartans, they have gotten in early on Deron Irving-Bey. Even before the Southwestern Commencement Academy star was ranked by any recruiting services, the Spartans proved that they wanted him to be part of their 2017 class, offering him a scholarship.

The Flint-native defensive end is a solid 6-foot-5, 271 pounds of pure strength and raw talent. Not many schools have taken notice of him, but Dantonio and his staff can spot a diamond in the rough from a mile away.

Must Read: Michigan State Recruiting: 5 needs to address in 2017 football class

Irving-Bey holds just over a dozen offers, but not many from power conference schools. His top offers include Indiana, Michigan, Syracuse and Tennessee. The Spartans offered him a scholarship before both Michigan and Tennessee, which could work wonders in the long run.

Michigan State put together one of the best defensive line classes in school history in 2016 with Josh King, Mike Panasiuk, Naquan Jones and Auston Robertson and could look to build on that with another solid group, headlined by Irving-Bey.

Deron is ranked the No. 287 overall prospect as well as the 13th-best strong-side defensive end and seventh-best Michigan recruit, according to 247Sports. Since fellow in-state target Corey Malone-Hatcher seems like a Michigan or Alabama lock, Irving-Bey could be the Spartans’ prospect to lose.

Next: 10. Jeff Thomas

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