Spartan Nation

NEW: MSU Football Adds 2024 Edge Rusher From Hawaii

Verbal commitments continue to pour in for the Spartans ahead of National Signing Day tommorrow!

Matthew Lounsberry

In this story:

A highly-productive day on the recruiting trail continues for Michigan State football, which just landed its first defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle.

Three-star Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou edge rusher Kekai Burnett is the latest to give a verbal pledge to the Spartans, who have now reeled in four commitments on the eve of National Signing Day. Michigan State also landed pledges from three-star offensive tackle Payton Stewart, three-star interior offensive lineman Rakeem Johnson, and three-star linebacker Carter Enyard on Tuesday.

Burnett is the first recruiting win for new defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa at MSU since following head coach Jonathan Smith from his previous job at Oregon State. Burnett committed to the Beavers this past summer, but reopened his recruitment due to the coaching changes and now ends up at Michigan State.

At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Burnett is considered the No. 1278 overall prospect, No. 87 edge rusher and No. 6 player from the state of Hawaii in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports composite rankings. He chose the Spartans over offers from Arizona, BYU, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State, California and various others.

In the past week, Michigan State has landed nine verbal pledges in this current recruiting cycle. Smith and his staff have done an excellent job rebuilding what they can of the Spartans' 2024 class ahead of the start of the early signing period tomorrow. In addition to today's developments, MSU has received pledges from three-star running backs Mahki Frazier and Brandon Tullis, three-star tight end Wyatt Hook, three-star athlete Andrew Brinson IV and three-star quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, among others.

Prior to this string of pledges, the Spartans' 2024 class had shrunk to just seven commitments and the class ranked in the 100s nationally. MSU's class is now up to 15 commitments ranks No. 55 in the country according to 247Sports' team rankings.

Michigan State Verbal Commitments, Class of 2024

  • Four-star WR Nick Marsh; River Rouge High School; River Rouge, Mich.; No. 116 nationally, No. 20 Wide Receiver, No. 3 in state of Michigan
  • Three-star CB Jaylen Thompson; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 632 nationally, No. 54 Cornerback, No. 15 in state of Tennessee
  • Three-star OT Mercer Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 709 nationally, No. 52 Offensive Tackle, No. 28 in state of Ohio
  • Three-star CB Justin Denson; La Salle Academy; Providence, R.I.; No. 745 nationally, No. 59 Cornerback, No. 20 in state of Pennsylvania
  • Three-star OT Payton Stewart; Kelso High School; Kelso, Wash.; No. 884 nationally, No. 64 Offensive Tackle, No. 13 in state of Washington
  • Three-star ATH Andrew Brinson IV; Gaither High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 1019 nationally, No. 88 Athlete, No. 137 in state of Florida
  • Three-star LB Jadyn Walker; Portage Northern High School; Portage, Mich.; No. 1069 nationally, No. 93 Linebacker, No. 17 in state of Michigan
  • Three-star QB Alessio Milivojevic; St. Francis High School, Wheaton, Ill.; No. 1161 natonally, No. 67 Quarterback, No. 25 in state of Illinois
  • Three-star IOL Rakeem Johnson; Bishop Kelly High School; Boise, Idaho; No. 1254 nationally, No. 101 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in state of Idaho
  • Three-star EDGE Kekai Burnett; Punahou High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 1278 nationally, No. 87 Edge Rusher, No. 6 player from state of Hawaii
  • Three-star IOL Charlton Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 1373 nationally, No. 111 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 54 in state of Ohio
  • Three-star TE Wyatt Hook; Homestead High School; Cupertino, Calif.; No. 1416 nationally, No. 72 Tight End, No. 102 in state of California
  • Three-star RB Brandon Tullis; Memorial High School, Frisco, Texas; No. 1504 nationally, No. 112 Running Back, No. 218 in state of Texas
  • Three-star ATH Keshawn Williams; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 1566 nationally, No. 141 Athlete, No. 50 in state of Tennessee
  • Three-star RB Makhi Frazier; McKinney High School; McKinney, Texas; No. 1589 nationally, No. 120 Running Back, No. 226 in state of Texas
  • Three-star WR Austin Clay; Midpark High School; Cleveland, Ohio; No. 1749 nationally, No. 208 Wide Receiver, No. 75 in state of Ohio

For more coverage of Michigan State Athletics:

Published
Matthew Lounsberry
MATTHEW LOUNSBERRY

Home/Football