Michigan State fans are hoping for some in-state recruiting success like we haven’t seen since the Mark Dantonio era under Pat Fitzgerald. It’s not going to be easy with how well the Wolverines are currently recruiting, but the first-year head coach is locked in on his top targets.
Official visits will begin at the end of the month and several top in-state targets are getting set to embark on East Lansing to check out the program under new control.
Fitzgerald has a staff in place that I believe will help turn the program around and that includes plus recruiters like Courtney Hawkins, Max Bullough, and Winston DeLattiboudere III. All of those guys are going to need to work in unison to land some of these top recruits over the summer.
Who are the top targets? Here are who I believe should be Michigan State’s top five in-state targets in the 2027 class.
5. Drew Aagesen, 3-star OL/DL (Goodrich, Mich.)
Drew Aagesen is one of the newest Spartan in-state targets in the 2027 class, receiving his offer from Michigan State on May 8. He immediately locked in an official visit and admitted that he grew up a Spartan fan which only has to help Fitzgerald and Co. He’s listed as a defensive lineman, but judging by the fact that he’s being recruited by Nick Tabacca, Michigan State may see him as an offensive lineman. Iowa State, Virginia, and Pitt are battling MSU for Michigan’s No. 20 recruit.
4. Don Spillers, 3-star WR (Detroit, Mich.)
Michigan State started out with several in-state receiver targets like Charles Britton and Dakota Guerrant, but the Spartans are seemingly prioritizing three-star Detroit wideout Don Spillers. The No. 848 recruit in the 2027 class and 13th-best prospect in Michigan has three official visits locked in to Michigan State, Illinois, and Louisville and he holds a Michigan offer. I’d bet that Hawkins will try to shut this one down over the weekend of May 29 during his visit.
3. Anthony Cartwright, 4-star TE (Franklin, Mich.)
Anthony Cartwright is a legacy recruit whose dad played basketball at Michigan State a few decades ago. He’s the top tight end target in the class and he has the frame and athleticism to be a problem for opposing defenses. Give Brian Wozniak a new toy like this and watch him work. Cartwright is also being pursued by Miami, Oregon, Michigan, and Alabama, among others. He recently listed Michigan State among his top schools. Fitzgerald has dad on his side, though.
2. Myles Smith, 4-star EDGE (Farmington, Mich.)
I’m not quite sure where Michigan State stands with Myles Smith, but I do know that he must be a top target for the Spartans considering how talented he is. Fitzgerald can’t let him go without a fight and it looks like he’s getting one. After initially setting up an official visit to Michigan State for May 29, it looks like Oklahoma took that spot on 247Sports. Does this eliminate Michigan State? Hopefully not, but the more teams getting involved will make this even tougher.
1. Gideon Gash, 4-star DB (Novi, Mich.)
The Big 12 and SEC are calling Gideon Gash’s name and he’s set up official visits with Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Alabama so far, but he’s hinted at locking one in with Michigan State, too. His older brothers are currently Spartans so that has to help, but a recent skyrocket up the recruiting rankings has caused more schools to get into the mix. Gash is the No. 70 prospect in the class and he has to be Fitzgerald’s top priority.
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