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Michigan State Recruiting: 5 priority recruits for 2018 football class

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during a time-out against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during a time-out against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during a time-out against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during a time-out against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State recruiting will soon have its sights set on the 2018 football class and here are five priority targets.

National Signing Day is just a week away, but the 2017 recruiting class isn’t the only one on Mark Dantonio’s radar at this point. In fact, the head coach has been extending offers to 2018 prospects all while trying to secure the last few spots in his 2017 group.

People have been knocking Dantonio and his staff for their inability to recruit well in 2017, but the fact of the matter is, he’s secured a top-30, and top-20 according to Scout, recruiting class after a 3-9 season which should be a win based on the circumstances. Not many coaches can go 3-9 and still reel in a few four-stars and not have any de-commitments.

There are still some big names left on the board, but for the most part, the 2017 class is all sewn up and it’s about time to look toward the future.

Four-star wide out Joseph Scates and four-star athlete Xavier Henderson have already committed for 2018, getting the class off to a red-hot start. There’s plenty to be excited about for next year’s cycle and here are five guys who could put the Spartans’ 2018 class over the top. Here are the top-five priorities for the next cycle (obviously subject to change over the next year).

5. Marquan McCall, 4-star OG (Oak Park, Mich.)

If there’s one player from the state of Michigan who the Spartans should make a serious push for in the 2018 class, it’s Marquan McCall.

Sure, there are kids like DeAndre Square and Kalon Gervin who should also be priorities, but for the future of the offensive line, McCall needs to be the main target. The Oak Park-native is the No. 3 offensive guard in the nation, according to 247Sports, and the top prospect in Michigan. The four-star is also ranked the No. 77 overall prospect.

It’s not going to be easy to keep him away from Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, but Michigan State has been heavily recruiting him over the past year. He took a visit to East Lansing back in April and the Spartans offered him in August. The staff visited him just a few days ago as well.

Michigan State needs to make sure McCall doesn’t go to Michigan without a fight.

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