Trieu: MSU spring game produces recruiting windfall
Michigan State's spring game weekend produced four commitments for the Spartans -- Berea (Ohio) linebacker Joe Bachie, Washington (D.C.) Wilson running back Abdul Adams, Cleveland Benedictine wide receiver Justin Layne and Cincinnati St. Xavier tight end Noah Davis.
"I think recruiting has sort of taken off a little bit this week and that's a positive," Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio said. "We've been on guys and we've had a lot of them up here at numerous times. A lot of these football players are very good players with opportunities elsewhere obviously -- that goes without saying. We're excited about the movement with that. I guess that's all I'm allowed to say."
Adams (5-11, 175 pounds) committing was no surprise. He was committed to East Carolina when he visited Michigan State last fall and landed an offer. He decommitted from the Pirates shortly after and the Spartans stayed at the top of his list from that moment.
"I have a great relationship with Coach Dantonio and the coaching staff," he said.
While new offers have continued to come in from Miami (Fla.) and Purdue in the days following his commitment, Adams has maintained that he is solid with his decision.
Bachie (6-2, 220 pounds) was previously committed to Western Michigan, but decommitted from the Broncos two weeks before his visit to Michigan State. When the Spartans offered on Saturday, he took it immediately.
"I decided before I visited if they offered me I was going to take it on the spot," he told Scout's Bill Greene. "Michigan State fits me so well, and I love the coaches and the facilities. Everyone up there just treated me so well."
Layne (6-3, 185 pounds), a four-star prospect and one of the top recruits in Ohio, was a major pickup for the Spartans, especially because his verbal comes on the heels of highly-touted quarterback Messiah deWeaver's commitment.
"The campus is great, and so are the coaches," Layne said. "I love everything about Michigan State, to be honest. Everything is so positive. The coaches all welcomed me to the family."
Davis, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect who had additional offers from Iowa, Boston College and more, was offered on Saturday and after taking a day to discuss his options with his family, committed to Michigan State on Sunday.
The success of Spartan tight ends like Josiah Price had a lot to do with it.
"Michigan State uses their tight ends the best in the country," Davis said to Scout's Dave Berk. "They always have a tight end on the field and more often than not, have two tight ends on. So it was a big deal for me to always see a tight end on the field as I want to be in a pro-style offense and an offense that not only has their tight end blocking, but also in the passing scheme, as well."
Michigan State's 2016 class now has seven commitments.
Ohio athlete offered
Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban junior Jonah Morris was offered on Wednesday night. A 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide receiver and safety, the Spartans will battle Pittsburgh, Kentucky and others for his Signing Day signature. He says he plans to visit soon.
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Allen Trieu began covering the state of Michigan for Scout.com in 2005 and began managing the entire Midwest in 2009. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.