Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Grading the Spartans’ 2018 recruiting class

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Running back LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans high-steps into the end zone to score against the Indiana Hoosiers on an 18-yard run during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Running back LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans high-steps into the end zone to score against the Indiana Hoosiers on an 18-yard run during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a diving second half touchdown catch while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a diving second half touchdown catch while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Receivers/Tight Ends: B+

The Michigan State receiving corps may just be the best in the Big Ten heading into the 2018 season, led by Felton Davis III, Darrel Stewart Jr. and Cody White. Although the Spartans lost a couple of guys to transfers, they’ll be bringing in some impressive prospects.

Julian Major is one of a handful of early enrollees as a three-star wide receiver. The Pittsburgh, Penn., native stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds. He may not jump out on film, but he has strong hands and runs crisp routes. He’s ranked the No. 135 receiver in the class.

One of the more intriguing signees in 2018 has to be Javez Alexander. The three-star athlete was actually a dual-threat quarterback at the high school level, but the Spartans recruited him to play receiver. He’s got a strong frame at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and is shifty in the open field. He could be a good replacement for Trishton Jackson.

The last signee in the receiving corps was three-star slot-type Jalen Nailor from Las Vegas. He picked the Spartans just before National Signing Days and was the high school teammate of lineman signee Jacob Isaia. He could be a good replacement for Hunter Rison.

Michigan State only landed one tight end in this class, and it happened to make a splash. Four-star Trenton Gillison is the lone tight end signee and while he might not see much of the field as a true freshman behind Matt Dotson and Matt Sokol, he could fight for snaps in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. He’s too talented to waste a year of eligibility on by playing sparingly, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him emerge in 2018.

Home/Recruiting