With the 2025 class starting to make its way to campus this semester (the early enrollees) and the transfer class being sewn up until spring most likely, Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football can turn their attention to the 2026 recruiting class.
It's still early, but the Spartans had zero commitments in the class heading into the new year and were looking like they would be at zero with about a year until 2026 National Signing Day.
That changed on Friday afternoon as three-star athlete Joey Caudill committed.
And one recruiting expert has spoken very highly of the three-star from Mansfield, Ohio.
247Sports Midwest Recruiting Expert Allen Trieu weighs in on MSU TE commit Joey Caudill, a prospect he has routinely spoken highly of on the Shaw Law VIP Board: https://t.co/qwFL3kUtww pic.twitter.com/0ahh4DD4P2
— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) January 24, 2025
Allen Trieu is really good with evaluations and he basically said that Caudill is a really good athlete who plays quarterback for his high school but is going to make the transition to tight end and he shouldn't have much of a problem in doing so. He is athletic enough to run crisp routes and has the frame (6-5, 215 pounds) to make that seamless transition to tight end.
Trieu also stated that 247Sports gave him the 86 rating before his junior season and before anyone knew what position he would translate to at the next level. I'd expect that rating to rise.
It feels like Smith and Co. got yet another diamond in the rough here by getting in early on Caudill. His only other offers, per 247Sports, were Toledo, Western Michigan, and Miami (OH).
I wouldn't be shocked to see his rating climb this summer and flirt with four-star status by the start of his senior season.