To say Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football have been on a heater lately would be a massive understatement on the recruiting trail.
After flipping yet another target, four-star receiver Tyren Wortham from UCF, Michigan State jumped to No. 23 in the national recruiting rankings and the Spartans continue to climb. Since June 1, they have landed 15 commitments and a couple of those have been Big 12 flips.
Now, Michigan State is looking to add a big-time in-state receiver who is being pursued by Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.
Michigan State hasn't had a ton of luck against DeBoer over the years on the gridiron, so seeing him getting involved with a top recruit from Michigan State's own backyard is bad news. Fortunately for the Spartans, however, the three-star pass-catcher is trending toward Michigan State.
According to On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), Michigan State has surged into the lead for three-star Catholic Central (Mich.) wideout Samson Gash over Alabama.
Gash, the No. 4 prospect from the state of Michigan in the 2026 class, is receiving plenty of interest from DeBoer and Alabama, but Michigan State's recent surge has it in the lead with a commitment possible at any moment. He visited the Spartans on June 13 and doesn't have a trip to Alabama currently on the books.
Per the On3 RPM, Michigan State has a 94.3% chance of landing Gash while Alabama has slithered back under a one percent chance. Cincinnati is now the second favorite to land Gash.
If Michigan State can secure this commitment from Gash, it gives the Spartans another recruiting win over Alabama and some serious momentum heading into the month of July.