Michigan State Football Recruiting: Top 5 quarterback targets in 2019 class

Mark Dantonio and Michigan State football are looking for a new quarterback commit in their 2019 class and here are five of the top options.

Michigan State’s 2019 recruiting class took a big hit on Sunday evening as four-star quarterback Dwan Mathis announced he’d be flipping from Michigan State to Ohio State.

The Buckeyes picked up the pledge from Mathis while the Spartans were left confused and looking for a replacement. It won’t be easy to replace Mathis, a top-100 recruit, but there are some top options available.

No, not all the quarterbacks on Michigan State’s board are uncommitted, but that clearly hasn’t stopped other schools from making moves.

Which five quarterbacks, on the market or not (technically), could help replace Mathis?

Mariano Valenti (no relation to Mike Valenti) was actually a quarterback who Michigan State had its eyes on before he transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., heading into his final season. He was a top local quarterback recruit from Birmingham (Mich.) Brother Rice, but wants to develop his game elsewhere.

It’s unclear whether there’s been contact from either side, but an offer could really shake things up for the Northern Illinois quarterback commit.

Toledo, Central Michigan and Kent State are his only other offers, but Michigan State could flip him with an offer and he’d add some decent depth and develop into a guy who could compete for the starting job come 2022.

Valenti is ranked the No. 1,523 player in the class and 26th-best dual-threat, per 247Sports.

Another option here could be Beau Lombardi, redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi’s younger brother who has yet to receive an offer.