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Michigan State Football: Spartans gaining steam for 3-star OT Karsen Barnhart?

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans leads his team onto the field before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans leads his team onto the field before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Once thought to be a lock for Michigan, three-star offensive tackle Karsen Barnhart from Paw Paw, Mich., is looking seriously at Michigan State.

When Karsen Barnhart revealed that he’d be making a college decision by the end of the week, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that the choice would be Michigan.

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The three-star offensive tackle from Paw Paw, Mich., had been high on the Wolverines and his recent visit to Ann Arbor seemed to put Michigan on top for good. However, plans have changed as he’s delayed his decision, which can only be a good sign for the Spartans.

In fact, he told Michigan recruiting insider Sam Webb of 247Sports that he was no longer ready to make a decision on Friday, as originally planned.

That’s bad news for the Wolverines who were expecting to land the state’s eighth-best recruit in the class of 2018 and No. 379 prospect overall, per 247Sports. This could have something to do with the fact that Michigan State is trending with in-state recruits lately and his relationship with offensive line coach Mark Staten is likely the main reason MSU made his top three.

Although he was likely to commit to Michigan, some type of recent interaction changed his mind and he now looks like a kid who could shock everyone and pick the green and white.

Standing 6-foot-4 and 282 pounds, Barnhart is one of the top offensive line targets in Michigan State’s 2018 class, up there with Devontae Dobbs of Belleville (Mich.) and Adam Berhorst of Zeeland (Mich.) East.

Next: MSU Basketball: 5 must-have 2019 targets

Don’t be surprised to see Barnhart visit his three top schools (Michigan, MSU and Indiana) before making his decision, but with no timeline on a new decision date in the works, the Spartans have to feel good about their chances.

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