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Michigan State Recruiting: 5 reasons Antjuan Simmons will commit

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A helmet is raised in celebration after the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A helmet is raised in celebration after the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; dMichigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) celebrates fumble recovery during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; dMichigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) celebrates fumble recovery during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The opportunity to play early

Michigan State offers what no other school in his final four, other than potentially Arizona, could promise him: early playing time. While the Spartans can’t guarantee he avoids the redshirt, there’s a good chance he could find a spot in the linebacker rotation, especially with Ed Davis and Riley Bullough leaving and Jon Reschke battling injuries.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: 10 ideal football targets for National Signing Day

The Spartans have a need at the position and he could fill it immediately. Dantonio loves athletic, physical linebackers and Simmons has a little Denicos Allen to him. He plays hard and aggressive and it’s afraid to lay the lumber on the ball-carrier.

At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, he is the ideal size for a linebacker and could afford to add a couple of pounds in the offseason, but he’d fit right in. Not many recruits have the type of tenacity and work ethic that Simmons does and that’s what makes him seem like a Spartan already.

Simmons is one of the hardest hitters I’ve seen in the 2017 class and he loves to hurt opponents with his ‘no fear’ mentality and his speed in the middle of the defense is unique.

Related Story: MSU Recruiting: 5 bold predictions for January

Antjuan Simmons could very well become a star linebacker for Michigan State early on and join the likes of Andrew Dowell and Brandon Randle as some of the most athletic players at the position in the conference.

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