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Michigan State Football: 3-star LB Marcel Lewis fits Spartan mold

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio enters the stadium 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 enters the stadium 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 football added yet another 2019 pledge on Wednesday afternoon as three-star linebacker Marcel Lewis committed.

Over the course of the past few years, we’ve heard experts claiming that certain recruiting classes could be Mark Dantonio’s “best ever” — I’ve been guilty of that proclamation myself. However, the 2019 group is shaping up to take the cake.

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

On Wednesday afternoon, the Spartans added another gem to its class in three-star linebacker Marcel Lewis from Clinton Township (Mich.) Chippewa Valley.

https://twitter.com/marcel1lewis/status/986670083232673797

Lewis has long been on the Spartans’ radar, but he finally earned an offer from Michigan State back in January during an unofficial visit. He fits Michigan State’s system at linebacker and already has decent size at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. He could afford to add some muscle, but he fits the mold.

What do I mean by fitting the mold? Lewis possesses athleticism at the linebacker position that has had success in East Lansing. Guys like Greg Jones, Denicos Allen, Chris Frey, Andrew Dowell and most recently Antjuan Simmons have had, or will have, bright futures in the green and white thanks to athleticism and aggressiveness mixed into one.

As you can tell from Lewis’ highlight reel, he loves the big hit, but he’s also quite the athlete. He can play both sides of the ball and he showcases an ability to read opposing quarterbacks’ eyes while keeping his feet moving, sometimes resulting in interceptions that typical linebackers cannot make.

The football IQ is high for Lewis, too, and he could be one of those hard-nosed prospects who realizes his spot on the depth chart is earned and not handed to him.

Next: MSU Basketball: 5 must-have 2019 targets

What makes this even sweeter for the Spartans is the fact that he picked Michigan State over in-state rival Michigan. Lewis is ranked the No. 636 prospect and 23rd-best inside linebacker in the class as well as the 15th-best in-state recruit, per 247Sports.

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