Michigan State football gets first official visit for priority blue-chip TE

Michigan State football is getting the first — and currently only — scheduled official visit from priority four-star tight end Jelani Thurman.

It’s no secret at this point that Jay Johnson values tight ends probably more than most positions on the offensive side of the ball, once even referring to it as the “MVP” of the offense.

Michigan State football has responded to Johnson’s desires by targeting some of the top tight ends in the 2023 class just one cycle after landing Jack Nickel.

One big name that seems to sit atop the Spartans’ board for 2023 is four-star Jelani Thurman, a top-100 recruit in the class who is high on Michigan State as well. He’s reportedly taking a visit to East Lansing on June 3 to kick off the official visit schedule. This is his first — and currently only — scheduled visit which is huge for Mel Tucker and Johnson.

Thurman is also receiving interest from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, and USC. Landing him would be a massive recruiting victory for the staff and getting his first visit is telling of his interest level.

The Spartans already have a four-star tight end committed in the 2023 class in Brennan Parachek, but it’s clear that the staff wants to double down and pick up two elite players at the position.

Thurman would be just that.

Both of Thurman’s parents attended Georgia and played sports there so it would make sense that the Georgia-native would be leaning that way, but he has yet to receive an offer from the Bulldogs, surprisingly.

Michigan State is in a good position here for the No. 65 overall recruit and third-best tight end in the class, per 247Sports.