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Dantonio Steps Down at Michigan State the Day Before National Signing Day

The college football world received unexpected news Tuesday as Mark Dantonio stepped down at Michigan State. The immediate fallout will be most felt by the recruits he had worked to get to the program over the last several weeks.

John Garcia, Jr.

Out of seemingly left field, the college football world was put on notice Tuesday. Mark Dantonio, after 13 seasons and a trio of Big Ten championships, is out at Michigan State. 

The veteran coach, 67, announced his retirement from the program via Twitter in the afternoon. It would come less than 24 hours before several MSU verbal commitments were expected to sign a Letter of Intent for the program as part of the traditional National Signing Day window. 

Now, who knows?

The Spartans signed 19 prospects as part of the Early Signing Period, with seven already enrolled in East Lansing. That leaves a clean dozen having signed to a program changing head coaches weeks later. Recent history tells us the NCAA would more than likely allow for some of those signees, which includes nine from outside state of Michigan lines, to have the ability to attempt to play elsewhere should they ask for a release of the binding agreement. 

As for the trio of verbal commitments left unsigned -- running backs Jordon Simmons and Donovan Eaglin along with defensive end Jasiyah Robinson -- one would wonder how secure their future looks with the Big Ten program.

 Will all three receive an LOI to sign from interim coach Mike Tressel? 

Would other programs attempt a last-minute flip? 

Would any delay finalizing the process all together?

SI All-American has reached out to all three and two did not wish to go on the record regarding the breaking news. 

Eaglin, who verbally committed just last week, did confirm his plan remains the same.

“It was a surprise,” he said of the news. “I was shocked but I will still be signing (with) Michigan State tomorrow.”

Robinson jumped on board the week before Eaglin, on January 22. 

Simmons is a more long-tenured pledge, having picked MSU over several options in October. Coming out of Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern, a state power not far from Atlanta, one would think his inbox may be the busiest over the last several hours. 

"It was shocking," Simmons told SI All-American before expanding via Twitter. "I have to sit down with my family and discuss the whole situation."

The Peach State talent has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons with a combined 33 rushing scores to his name. Six more came through the air for the prospect who clocked a verified 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash last spring to go along with a 39-plus inch vertical leap and 4.24-second shuttle. 

More than 20 programs offered Simmons throughout the recruiting process, from LSU to Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Oregon and several in between. It would be naive to think each of these programs has a scholarship available, much less at the running back position, with a mere hours remaining in between finalizing their own classes. In January he did admit other programs were attempting to be in touch with him. 

[Related: Simmons recaps Michigan State official visit]

Should one school have a spot or create one with an existing commitment -- just one of the potential ripple effects from this news may be felt in the recruiting world.  

Stay tuned to SI's MSU channel Spartan Nation and SI All-American for the latest on Michigan State's National Signing Day. 

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John Garcia, Jr.
JOHN GARCIA, JR.

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