Michigan State is in the middle of its biggest recruiting weekend of the Pat Fitzgerald era and we’re still hearing about new targets on the trail.
Fitzgerald is hosting over a dozen targets this weekend, including a couple of last-minute four-stars added to the list. Gideon Gash and Deontay Malone scheduled visits to East Lansing after relatively quiet recruitments in terms of Michigan State interest.
Another supposed visitor this week was Canada-based defensive lineman Franklin Ibelo who’s a massive 6-foot-7, 340-pounder from the University of Calgary. Now the Spartans are apparently going after his fellow defensive lineman brother, Sylvester, who also plays for the University of Calgary.
Considering the Spartans are involved with both, I’d assume that they’ll want to be a package deal wherever they go. Michigan State is going to have to beat out some big-time programs.
The market for DL Sylvester Ibelo is heating up, per his reps @AlecEaston and @KuhnTristen of @nilsonsports.
— Michael Salvo (@michaelsalvo) May 27, 2026
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive tackle from Calgary has received five D1 offers and is generating significant power conference interest. 2 years of eligibility… pic.twitter.com/9Xg9rPXz4G
Sylvester is hearing from Ole Miss, Auburn, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida State, and Oklahoma State are all involved. If the visit with Franklin did happen this week, I’d feel really good about landing both but there was nothing posted about it so I’m uncertain that he even made it to campus.
Fitzgerald wouldn’t be reaching out to his brother if he wasn’t planning on gunning for both. Maybe getting them on campus at the same time would be much more ideal.
Sylvester has 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks over the past two seasons with Calgary. He and his brother would add ideal size.
Michigan State could use the defensive line help
Obviously the size would be a welcomed addition, but Michigan State needs the depth. Although Winston DeLattiboudere III and Fitzgerald have been working overtime to address needs on the defensive line in the 2027 class, they need help as soon as this upcoming season and adding the duo of Franklin and Sylvester would be ideal.
Switching back to the 2027 class, though, it’s good to see the Spartans in on a number of talented defensive linemen. A couple of them did cancel visits for this weekend like Marvin Nguetsop and Myles Smith, but Reinaldo Perez and Ohimai Ozolua will be on campus next weekend.
The Spartans haven’t had an effective defensive line in years and that has to change. It feels like the Mark Dantonio was ages ago and that was the last time the defense was elite.
Fitzgerald is bringing the defense back.
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