Michigan State football trending with 4-star USC LB commit Ma’a Gaoteote

Michigan State football is trending with one of the top linebacker recruits in the 2021 class in USC linebacker commit Ma’a Gaoteote.

When USC junior linebacker Palaie Gaoteote entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon, it had major implications on the future of Michigan State football.

How, you ask?

Well, the former five-star linebacker’s younger brother Ma’a Gaoteote is Michigan State’s top remaining target in the 2021 class and he’s currently committed to USC. That is no longer expected to hold and just about every recruiting expert believes that the Spartans lead in the four star’s recruitment.

Ma’a has been committed to Clay Helton and the Trojans since 2018 so this would be quite the move for the four-star linebacker from Bishop Gorman (Nev.) but it almost seems inevitable at this point that he will wind up in Michigan State’s 2021 class as one of the top-rated commits.

Gaoteote has built a relationship with Mel Tucker dating back to his Colorado days and landing him would be a massive coup for the first-year head coach.

There’s no word on if he wants to team up with his brother, but that would be a huge upgrade to the linebacking corps for the Spartans.

Ma’a is ranked the No. 154 prospect in the 2021 class as well as the 11th-best outside linebacker, per 247Sports. The uncertainty with the USC coaching staff has to be playing a factor into this development and Michigan State’s class will get a big bump with a commitment.

Right now, the Spartans have the No. 41 class in the country and a flip of Gaoteote would undoubtedly put them in the top 40 and close to No. 35.