Michigan State Football: 3-star LB Carson Casteel on why he committed

Just before signing day, former Troy commit Carson Casteel flipped to Michigan State football. He talks about why he ended up picking the Spartans.

Just three days after Michigan State offered class of 2021 three-star linebacker Carson Casteel, he committed to the Spartans. He chose Michigan State over Troy, who he was previously committed to.

It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“Playing in front of Spartan Nation is what is most exciting,” Casteel said. “Michigan State has a great fan base and coaching staff. I’m looking forward to everything Michigan State has to offer.”

Casteel, a product of Florence, Ala., is listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, and plays with the Spartan Dawg mentality. In high school, he played mostly in the slot linebacker position and he was constantly making big plays for his team.

“I’d say that I’m a student of the game and that I have good football instincts,” he said. “I love putting in the work to become the best player I can be. I will do anything for my team.”

Casteel is a talented player, but he is still looking to improve his game, so he can be as sharp as possible.

“I think I can improve in all aspects of the game. I’m always wanting to improve,” he said

When making a decision to pick a school, a simple Zoom call is what sealed the deal for Michigan State.

“I’m mainly (in contact with) Coach (Ross) Els. I had a zoom meeting with Coach Tucker and the defensive staff and (I) decided it was the perfect fit,” Casteel said.

Even though he loves Michigan State, leaving Troy behind wasn’t easy.

“(It was) very tough. I loved that coaching staff. They were a great group of coaches,” Casteel said.

Mel Tucker has made a big impression on Casteel, as his coaching style and plans for building Michigan State is something he really noticed.

“I think (Tucker) is building a great program. I think everyone can get behind what he is trying to accomplish. His coaching speaks for itself,” he said.

With the commitment from Casteel, Michigan State now has two linebacker commits in the 2021 class. The early signing period is on Dec. 16, look for Michigan State to add more talent in these final two weeks,