The second football kicks off every year, it becomes flip season. Michigan State football has fallen victim to some flips in the past, but the Spartans have also flipped some of their own targets.
Jonathan Smith wants to be the flipper, and not the flippee.
For that to happen, he needs to remain focused on his 2026 recruiting class, because keeping it intact with some of the late-risers won't be easy.
One of those coveted late-risers is three-star linebacker Braylon Hodge from Englewood, Colo., who recently picked up an offer from Michigan and said he was "excited" and "speechless".
Michigan is pushing to flip Michigan State LB commit Braylon Hodge, according to @SWiltfong_ 👀
— Rivals (@Rivals) September 10, 2025
Intel: https://t.co/kL3GFJGCyU pic.twitter.com/YdM3q9Z0Mt
Not only did Michigan just offer Hodge on Sept. 10, but Texas, too, offered the three-star from Colorado, and he just took a trip to Boulder over the weekend to see the team he grew up rooting for and dreaming to play for.
Michigan State LB commit Braylon Hodge visited Colorado over the weekend, via @SWiltfong_🦬
— Rivals (@Rivals) September 10, 2025
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for CU.”
Read: https://t.co/72jTrlhZdL pic.twitter.com/KEANvWOVma
Obviously these aren't the developments you want to see regarding one of the top recruits in Michigan State's 2026 class, but Hodge is highly-regarded, and that shows that Jonathan Smith and Co. have an eye for talent. He committed to Michigan State on June 1 and his stock has risen drastically since.
Smith is going to have a tough time trying to keep Hodge committed, especially with all of this new interest, but winning big games like he did over the weekend is only going to help.
Hodge is ranked the No. 626 overall recruit in the class and he's Colorado's ninth-best prospect. It's going to take a lot of winning by the Spartans to keep him in the class.
But seeing Jordan Hall become a star should help the Spartans' chances.