Michigan State football adds massive need to 2024 class in 4-star CB

The last time Jamari Howard was in East Lansing, Michigan State football was running up the score on Akron 52-0 and he witnessed as the defense picked up its first shutout in a few years.

Fast forward to Monday and Michigan State is coming off two straight losses in which the defense couldn’t stop anyone and the secondary reverted to its 2021 ways.

That didn’t stop the 2024 four-star cornerback from Florida from committing to the Spartans.

Howard picked Michigan State over the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Miami, and Texas A&M.

Michigan State football picks up a massive need

Watching Michael Penix Jr. pick apart the defense two weeks ago and then Tanner Morgan do the same this past Saturday, it was never more evident that Michigan State needs defensive back help.

Sure, hitting the transfer portal for a cornerback is a quick fix and it’s a temporary band-aid on a much larger problem, but picking up talent at the position on the recruiting trail is how the group is going to improve — well, that and coaching on that side of the ball.

Howard is the ideal pickup in the 2024 class as he has already gotten looks from coaches like Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher and he’s ranked the No. 171 overall recruit and 16th-best cornerback in the class, per 247Sports. He’s going to get much more attention as the 2023 class signs and all sights are turned to 2024, but early playing time will be there for Howard.

Tucker has to be selling early playing time to these top defensive back prospects and that’s one way to continue to win on the recruiting trail despite having an on-field slump.