Michigan State football a candidate to flip 4-star USC LB Ma’a Gaoteote

Recruiting has been quiet for Michigan State football, but that could change with the potential flip of four-star USC linebacker commit Ma’a Gaoteote.

For over two years, Ma’a Gaoteote has been committed to USC. The Trojans landed one of the top linebackers in the 2021 class and Clay Helton’s job seemed relatively safe.

Fast forward to 2020 and we’re looking at Gaoteote as a potential flip candidate with the future of USC and Helton up in the air.

While a kid from California may have been an afterthought for Michigan State fans, with Mel Tucker in town, he’s trying to recruit on a national level. He has been in contact with Gaoteote and he could be trying to sway the four-star linebacker from the Trojans.

According to a VIP article from Rivals, Gaoteote is a strong flip candidate.

Not only could he be a strong candidate to flip, but Michigan State is one of the teams reportedly in the running for him, according to SpartanMag.

If that’s the case, Michigan State should be putting the full-court press on him as the rumors of him breaking off his commitment from USC are swirling. Nothing has happened yet, but he is keeping his options open and Tucker is remaining in constant contact, presumably dating back to he was recruiting him at Colorado.

Gaoteote would be the highest-ranked commit in Michigan State’s 2021 class as he’s ranked the No. 133 overall recruit and 11th-best outside linebacker in the nation, according to 247Sports. Plus, he plays at powerhouse St. John Bosco in California, so he sees top competition every year.

This kid would be one heck of a recruiting coup for Tucker and it would win back a lot of doubters after the recent losses of Andrel Anthony and Jamari Buddin.