3&Out: Michigan State football recruiting end of summer storylines

The Michigan State recruiting scene has been a bit less active over the past month, as we are currently in a recruiting calendar dead period until Sept. 1. The Spartan 2026 recruiting class currently holds 22 commitments, as the focus starts to shift to the class of 2027.

In this article, SpartanMag.com will break down three storylines to follow as we head into the fall.

1. Four-star ‘27 in-state legacy OL to visit for key non-conference matchup

We are well over a year away from signing day for the class of 2027, but a high priority in-state target has emerged for Michigan State in Kalamazoo (Mich.) Central High School offensive lineman Dewey Young. The four-star tells SpartanMag.com he will visit East Lansing for the Sept. 6 home game against Boston College.

Young (6-5, 285) is ranked a four-star, the No. 287 overall recruit in the 2027 Rivals Industry Rankings. He is also ranked the No. 24 offensive tackle and the No. 4 recruit in Michigan. His profile only continues to rise, with recent offers from Florida State, North Carolina, Auburn, Missouri, and others.

Michigan State offered Young back in May after a spring practice. His other offers include Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, and more. Young also earned all state for baseball as a sophomore as well.

The Spartans have a legacy connection to the recruitment, as Young’s father Duane, along with his older brother DJ both played for the program. Duane had a six year NFL career after spending four seasons in East Lansing. His brother DJ was the starting 23 games at left tackle for the Spartans (2008-2010). He will also make early season unofficial visits to Kanas (Aug. 23), Penn State (Aug. 30), and Indiana (Sept. 20). He visited UCLA, Notre Dame, Penn State, and more during the spring for practice.

Michigan State will have as good of a shot as anyone in the early recruitment, with a strong season on the field in the fall remaining a key factor in the Spartans pursuit. Penn State and Notre Dame are two programs who have not offered as of now, but could play a big factor in the recruitment down the line.

2. Michigan State will continue to grind to hold on to 2026 commitments

Michigan State exceeded expectations landing 18 new commitments to their recruiting class during the month of June, meaning a total of 22 current members in the class. With such a large group in the fold early on, the Spartan staff will continue to recruit each pledge ahead of the December signing period.

Last cycle Michigan State was able to hold off pushes from Alabama (for Jace Clarizio) and Ohio State (for Aydan West), respectively. The strong track record of keeping commitments in the fold is worth noting for Jonathan Smith and his staff, stretching back to his tenure with Oregon State.

SpartanMag.com will keep a close eye on the recruitments of four-star Michigan State wide receiver commitment Tyren Wortham, of Sarasota (Fla.) Booker High School, along with defensive end Chris Addison, of Winnsboro (LA) Franklin Parish, and cornerback TJ Umenyiora, of Roswell (GA) Blessed Trinity High School.

None of the three commitments listed above have shown any sign of wavering from their pledge as of now. Wortham (6-0, 185) chose the Spartans after official visits to Georgia, Kansas State, and Central Florida, where he had previously been committed since the spring. He announced an offer from Auburn via social media following his Spartan commitment, but has not publicly announced any visit plans.

As for Addison (6-3, 245), he chose the Spartans in June after visits to Florida State and UCLA. The rush end also received an offer from North Carolina shortly before his commitment. Addison is one to keep an eye on, as SpartanMag.com expects a competitive recruitment until the end.

Umenyiora (6-1, 185) was offered by Auburn just before his commitment to the Spartans, with Kentucky, Mississippi State, and others also extending offers of their own. The talented cornerback is in the heart of SEC country, expecting a strong senior season after transferring to the respected Atlanta area high school in Blessed Trinity. Umenyiora is the son of former NFL defensive end Osi, as the family has connections to many coaching staffs across the country.

3. Keep an eye on ’27 safety Elijah Goins this fall

Michigan State has yet to offer talented in-state safety Elijah Goins of Macomb (Mich.) Dakota High School, and that could change in the near future. Goins (6-1, 160) is ranked a three-star by Rivals, the No. 8 recruit in Michigan for his class. He currently holds offers from USC, Tennessee, Missouri, Maryland, Boston College, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, and more.

The Spartan staff, led by safeties coach James Adams have built a strong bond with the in-state recruit, making several visits to the school in the last year. Goins tallied two interceptions and five pass deflections as a sophomore. He is the former teammate of a pair of current Spartan true freshman in linebacker Di’Mari Malone, and offensive lineman Justin Bell.

The safety has yet to fully grow into his frame, but with some added weight this off-season, it may only take a few games of junior film for the Spartans and Adams to pull the trigger with an offer. Goins tells SpartanMag.com he will visit campus for the Michigan State home opening matchup against Western Michigan.