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Michigan State Football: 5 early signees who’ll have instant impact in 2019

By Connor Muldowney

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans walks on the field with the team before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans walks on the field with the team before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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The early signing day is here and Michigan State football finished with a solid group of signees. Which five players will have an instant impact?

Although early signing day for the 2019 class didn’t exactly close the way Mark Dantonio and Michigan State would have hoped, the Spartans still have plenty to look forward to with this group.

Only two of the already-committed players didn’t sign with the Spartans on Wednesday as Alante Brown is waiting until February (and he claims he’s 100 percent committed still) and Aaron Young flipped to Rutgers to play college ball with his brother.

Other than that, the Spartans signed everyone but missed out on three targets in Cavon Butler, Jordan Huff and Keith Randolph. The finish could have been better, but the Spartans have some signees who could contend for some time immediately.

Which five signees will impact the Spartans right away in 2019?

As we found out during the 2018 season, you can never have too many punters. Jake Hartbarger went down against Arizona State and missed the rest of the season and backup punter Tyler Hunt also went down with an injury, leaving the starting duties to guys who weren’t even expecting to see the field this year.

Hartbarger will be back for another season in East Lansing, getting a medical redshirt, but that doesn’t mean Jack Bouwmeester won’t be important or see some action.

Bouwmeester, a native of Australia, has a heck of a leg and will likely get some time in 2019 despite Hartbarger getting another season in East Lansing. Special teams took a big hit this season as the punting game was less than average.

The early signee is listed as the No. 6 punter in the 2019 class and the second-best prospect to come out of Australia, per 247Sports.

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