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Michigan State Recruiting: Predicting where National Signing Day targets land

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio leads his team onto the field prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio leads his team onto the field prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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8. Lionel Cummings, 3-star LB (Bartow, Fla.)

One of the newest offers the Michigan State staff sent out was to three-star linebacker/defensive end Lionel Cummings from Bartow, Fla. He wasn’t even a name those following Michigan State recruiting were familiar with until last week as the staff offered him on Jan. 19. The Spartans were hoping to make one final push before signing day.

Michigan State’s linebacker class isn’t as strong as the staff hoped it would be. Antjuan Simmons was a surprise get after he de-committed from Ohio State and both Darien Clemons and Connor Heyward aren’t exactly ideal linebackers — Clemons was a high school running back coming off a knee injury and Heyward was listed as an athlete.

Cummings could come in and play the position with athleticism. He played a little defensive end in high school and fired off the ball with quickness and explosiveness. He’s ranked the No. 1,124 recruit and 80th-best outside linebacker in the class, according to 247Sports.

Although Michigan State seemed like the favorite right after the offer, the recent trend, especially after his official visit, is in favor of Central Florida. I would be shocked if this kid picked the Spartans over the hometown Knights.

Pick: Central Florida (Second: Michigan State)

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