Spartan Nation

BREAKING: Michigan State lands highest-rated recruit of Jonathan Smith era

The Spartans add an offensive tackle from the Hawaiian Islands to their 2024 recruiting class...

Matthew Lounsberry

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Just one day ahead of National Signing Day, Michigan State football continues to add key pieces to its 2024 recruiting classes as the clock continues to wind down.

On Tuesday, the Spartans received a commitment from Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis offensive tackle Rustin Young, the highest-rated high school prospect MSU has landed since new head coach Jonathan Smith was hired. Unless something unexpected happens, this should conclude what has been an active day on the recruiting trail for the Spartans.

Young is the five verbal commitment, third offensive line pledge and second player from the Hawaiian Islands to commit to Michigan State today. He joins three-star offensive tackle Payton Stewart, three-star interior offensive lineman Rakeem Johnson, three-star edge rusher and fellow Honolulu native Kekai Burnett and three-star linebacker Carter Enyard.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Young is a three-star prospect ranked No. 656 overall, the No. 51 offensive tackle and No. 3 player from the state of Hawaii in the class of 2024. However, there is dissension amongst the various recruiting platforms in regards to the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder. Both 247Sports and ESPN list Young as a four-star prospect and consider him a Top 300 player in the country. Meanwhile, On3 and Rivals list the Hawaii native much lower as a three-star prospect.

Regardless of his recruiting ranking, this is another big land for Michigan State and its new coaching staff, which has done an excellent job over the last two weeks adding to a once-depleted 2024 recruiting class for the Spartans.

Like many of MSU's recent commitments, Young was once committed to Oregon State. New Michigan State offensive line coach Jim Michalczik earned a commitment from Young as part of the Beavers' staff this past summer, and used that pre-existing relationship bring Young to East Lansing. Young chose the Spartans over offers from Utah, Auburn, Boise State, California, BYU and 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. With Young in the fold, Michigan State's class is up to 17 verbal pledges and has surged up to No. 52 in the country.

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 Rustin Young; St. Louis High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 656 nationally, No. 51 offensive tackle, No. 3 in state of Hawaii
  • 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 in 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

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Matthew Lounsberry
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