Michigan State Football: Will RB Audric Estime be Mel Tucker’s first big win?

First-year Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker could land his first big fish in four-star running back Audric Estime soon.

There was a month-long stretch in the month of April until May when Mel Tucker caught fire and landed 10-plus commitments. His class went from the bottom of the Big Ten with zero commitments to top 25 in the nation.

Things have since slowed down for the Spartans with other programs picking up the slack and Michigan State is back toward the bottom of the conference for 2021 recruiting.

Nationally, Michigan State is barely in the top 75.

Things could soon change as the Spartans made the top six of four-star running back Audric Estime.

There’s a strong feeling that the New Jersey-native is a Michigan State lean and the Spartans could beat out Arizona State, Rutgers, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech for Tucker’s first composite four-star recruit.

Estime would be a perfect fit for Michigan State because the Spartans have flourished with big running backs over the years and he stands 6-foot-1.5 and 215 pounds. This kid is a load to bring down.

Looking back over the years, Michigan State flourished with guys like Javon Ringer, Edwin Baker, TJ Duckett, Jehuu Caulcrick, LJ Scott, Le’Veon Bell and now Elijah Collins who have been bigger backs who run downhill. Estime fits that same mold and that seems to be why he’s so interested in the Spartans — well, that and Tucker.

Estime is ranked the No. 343 overall player and 18th-best running back in the 2021 class, according to the 247Sports composite.

Tucker is looking like he’s about to win his first major recruiting battle and this could also help win over Estime’s teammate Geno VanDeMark.

It seems like only a matter of time before Tucker makes a recruiting splash. This could be it.