Defense sells four-star safety Kenney Lyke on MSU

Spring continues to be the perfect time of year for Michigan State football recruiting as the Spartans added their 13th commitment for the 2016 class on Friday when Palatine (Ill.) Fremd safety Kenney Lyke announced he would attend Michigan State.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound four-star prospect had narrowed his list to Michigan State, Notre Dame, Baylor and Oregon before choosing the Spartans, who have now landed 11 commitments since just before the spring game in late April.

"Once I got down to East Lansing in the fall I knew it was the place for me," Lyke said. "Once all the other guys started flowing in and I just was talking to them I knew it was time to make it official."

Lyke's commitment moves Michigan State up to No. 7 overall on Scout and No. 8 overall on Rivals. Lyke said the fact the Spartans were one of the first major programs to offer him a scholarship played a big role in his decision.

He also loves the fact Michigan State's defense — its secondary in particular — has become one of the best of the nation, seeing defensive backs Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes each going in the first round the past two years.

"That was actually a big part of it," Lyke said. "To have a top-10 defense in college football the last four years and sending DBs to the league and being very defensive oriented makes it a lot easier for a DB to want to come to the school."

Lyke is ranked the No. 17 safety in the nation and No. 9 recruit in the state of Illinois according to 247sports.com. It also keeps Michigan State firmly in the top 10 recruiting classes in the nation.

And he fully intends to join in the recruiting of other top prospects that have yet to make their decisions. It's been an active role for those who have committed, led by quarterback Messiah deWeaver and comes complete with a Twitter account — DreamTeam2016.

"I've been in it with them for a while now," Lyke said of the recruiting efforts. "For like a month I've been talking to other guys to get them coming. I've seen it work so I knew it was just time for me to make my decision."

A few big decisions remain for Michigan State, including that of Detroit King receiver Donnie Corley, as well a group of solid defensive players.

Defensive tackle Naquan Jones of Evanston, Ill., will announce his choice on June 5 while defensive end Josh King of Darien, Ill., follows on June 6 and defensive end Auston Robertson of Fort Wayne, Ind., reveals his choice on June 7.

All are being recruited by top teams in the nation and Lyke has already been working on them.

"I have conversations with them almost every day," he said. "All I've got to say is, 'Stay tuned.' "