Michigan State Football’s June 2024 is better than 2023

The Michigan State Spartans are coming off a good season on the recruiting trail to start the Jonathan Smith era. In June, the Spartans brought in eight recruits, nine if you count long snapper Jack Wills. A year ago, the Spartans were in a similar position under former head coach Mel Tucker.

Last year, the Spartans entered July with seven June commits. Tucker’s firing caused a large portion of those commitments to be abandoned.

The Spartans had four-star running back Anthony Carrie, who would eventually retire in November to commit to Georgia Tech. Three-star quarterback Henry Hasselbeck would eventually quit and now works at UCLA. Offensive linemen Mercer and Charlton Luniewski remained loyal and on campus, even helping host recruits from the 2025 class on official visits.

Reggie Powers III was a promising safety prospect, but now he’s an Oklahoma Sooner. Cornerback Syair Torrence, who transferred from Syracuse, retired in October and is committed to Boston College. Cornerback Camren Campbell left for USF.

A year later, under Smith, the Spartans appear to be in a better place. Yes, technically they have two more recruits in June, just like they did with Tucker last summer. But the vision is also clearer. Smith has made it a point to re-establish the Spartans’ presence on the recruiting circuit in the Midwest and especially in the state of Michigan.

He proved both, with in-state June commits like the No. 1 tight end in the state, Jayden Savory, and offensive tackle Justin Bell, and the Midwest as a whole – Savory, Bell, wide receiver Braylon Collier and edge rusher Cal Thrush .

Smith has also maintained his pipeline west, securing offensive lineman Drew Nichols and wide receiver Charles Taplin. He even made up for it in the East with cornerbacks Aydan West and George Mullins.

What’s notable is that the Spartans’ recruiting class ranks 44th nationally, according to 247Sports. Last year it was number 52 at this point.

Importantly, the month is not over for Smith. The top targets in offensive lineman Darius Afalava and Houston Kaahaaina-Torres will be announced on June 28 and June 30, respectively. The Spartans are in the top four for both. Edge rusher Sherrod Henderson, a priority target who has the Spartans in his top three, will also announce the 30th.

After June, cornerback LaRue Zamorano really likes Michigan State and will announce this in July, as will top linebacker Grant Beerman, who I also like for the Spartans. Beerman told me he planned to commit after official visits, around the end of the month or early July.

The Spartans look better at this point on the recruiting trail than they did last year. A steady, consistent stream of recruits joining Smith’s program, all aligned with the long-term vision of a new era.

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s recruiting beat writer at Michigan State and covers all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Be sure to follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

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