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Michigan State Football: Spartans make 4-star RB Jaren Mangham’s short list

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio prior to the start of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio prior to the start of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State is looking to land a local star in four-star Detroit Cass Tech running back Jaren Mangham. The Spartans made his short list.

If there’s one thing Mark Dantonio has been great at since taking over in East Lansing, it’s developing lightly-recruited prospects into NFL players. That goes for the just about every single position on the team, especially running back.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 takeaways from 2018 spring game

On Monday, Chris Nelson of the Detroit Free Press revealed a top list of schools for a local prospect who could see Dantonio’s development as the right move for his college career. Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech star Jaren Mangham has narrowed his list of top schools to nine, and Michigan State is the lone Big Ten program to make it.

That list includes Michigan State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and TCU.

Seeing as the Spartans are the only Midwestern program to make his list, it’s safe to say that Dantonio and the Spartans have made quite the impression on him. He wants to make a move outside of the Midwest, but Michigan State is the only thing keeping him here.

It doesn’t hurt that Kalon Gervin, one of Mangham’s closest friends, talks to him all the time about the program and Dantonio.

"“I always talk to Kalon,” he said. “He tells me what the program has to offer and everything like that. Of course, he wants me to come to Michigan State.”"

The Spartans are hoping to land their first running back in the class and someone who could potentially ease the pain of losing LJ Scott after the 2018 season — although Connor Heyward and Weston Bridges can fill that void, too.

Next: MSU Basketball: 5 must-have 2019 targets

Mangham is ranked the No. 281 player and 23rd-best running back in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports.

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