The 2027 recruiting class is now center stage until spring ball officially begins, but even then, Michigan State football will be focused on recruiting with some priority targets from the next couple of classes planning visits.
Spring is the perfect time to get 2027 recruits on campus for unofficial visits and then make a strong enough impression that they return for officials in the fall. This is the perfect opportunity for Pat Fitzgerald to get off to a strong start to his 2027 class, especially with some of the names that will be on campus over the next couple of months.
The 2028 class will be important to start working on, too. Fitzgerald getting some elite 2028 prospects to campus this spring is a good sign for future recruiting success.
Michigan State will be hosting some elite targets from around the country, but the in-state recruiting battles are what matter the most to Fitzgerald and the Spartans.
Luckily, there are going to be some priority targets from the state on campus this spring.
The best players in Michigan go to… Michigan State?
One of those priority targets is four-star offensive lineman Antijuan Wilkes Jr. from Detroit Cass Tech. He just announced this weekend that he’s going to be on campus on March 28 for a spring practice visit. The Spartans kick off spring practice on March 17.
I will be at MICHIGAN STATE March 28th for spring practice @AllenTrieu @alex_pallone @MichFBFrenzy @MIexposure @CoachDaws_ @CoachRush_CTFB @GregSmithRivals pic.twitter.com/rpYFHPo7kC
— Antijuan Dishun Wilkes jr (@AntijuanDishun) February 20, 2026
Wilkes is going to be one of the top targets for Fitzgerald and Nick Tabacca. He holds offers from Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin. Winning this recruiting battle isn’t going to be easy, but getting him to East Lansing to continue to develop that relationship with the new staff is critical. These spring in-state visits are huge.
The four-star lineman is ranked the No. 174 prospect in the 2028 class as well as the nation’s 13th-best offensive tackle, per the 247Sports Composite. Wilkes is also Michigan’s No. 6 prospect.
Although 2028 is still a little ways away, it’s important for Fitzgerald to get in early on some of these guys that will surely be at the top of the recruiting board for several elite programs. Wilkes is a guy that Michigan will push hard for, too, so Fitzgerald needs to make a strong early impression.