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Michigan State Football: Grading the Spartans’ 2022 recruiting class

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts after a play against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts after a play against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State football’s 2022 recruiting class is all sewn up and the Spartans finished with the No. 22 group in the nation. How do they grade out?

Mel Tucker’s second official National Signing Day as Michigan State football’s head coach is officially in the books and the Spartans didn’t have any big surprises in 2022 like they did in 2021.

It feels like a lifetime ago that Rayshaun Benny flipped from Michigan State to Michigan on signing day, but Tucker has only gotten stronger. After an 11-2 season, he has plenty to sell to recruits, including a New Year’s Six win, and that’s going to pay off on the recruiting trail.

Michigan State didn’t lose any commits on signing day this year and even ended up flipping a few players in the class in Germie Bernard from Washington, Katin Houser from Boise State, Caleb Coley from Vanderbilt, Jack Nickel from Notre Dame (sort of), Malcolm Jones from Virginia Tech, and Alex VanSumeren from Michigan (sort of).

These flips and the official class of 23 signees equate to the No. 22 class in the nation and fifth-best in the Big Ten.

What grade does Michigan State football’s 2022 class get?

Looking at the Spartans’ 2022 class, they filled some obvious needs such as the defensive backfield as well as adding a plethora of playmakers.

By position, I’ll give grades and then finish it off with an overall grade to the class.

Quarterback: A
Running back: Incomplete
Receiver/tight end: A
Offensive line: B-
Defensive line: B+
Linebackers: Incomplete
Defensive backs: A-

Overall grade: B+

I like this class a lot and the strengths have to be quarterback with Katin Houser, the receivers and tight ends, and defensive backs. There are future stars in each of these position groups and guys who can compete right away.

I am giving this class a B+ because the Spartans didn’t address the running backs or linebackers outside of the portal (which I’m not including here). There are some solid linemen, but missing Kiyaunta Goodwin definitely hurt. The defensive line isn’t that deep, either, but Alex VanSumeren saved the grade there.

Tucker’s second class is a success and I have a feeling his future classes will be in that ‘A’ range.

Next. 3 takeaways from MSU's tight win at Maryland. dark

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