Michigan State football had best possible Early Signing Day

The doubters of Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football have been out in full force lately, and deservedly so. The Spartans went 5-7 after a 3-0 start to the year and missed a bowl game for a third straight season. On top of that, they lost Jace Clarizio to Alabama, LaRue Zamorano to a decommitment, Demetrice Martin to UCLA, and Aydan West was being courted by Ohio State.

The offseason was off to a horrid start.

So when Early Signing Day rolled around on Wednesday, no one truly knew what to expect. Would Martin’s departure cause more commits to flip or would Michigan State be able to sign a relatively underwhelming class?

Well, Smith worked all through the night to make sure signing day finished with the best possible result. The Spartans flipped 2023 Oregon State linebacker signee Leonard Ah You who has spent the last two years on a mission. They also flipped high three-star running back Jace Clarizio back from Alabama and held on to Aydan West despite the Ohio State push.

Flipping a former high three-star linebacker and a high three-star running back who flipped to Alabama last week? That’s a resounding success. Holding off Ohio State for a top cornerback commit? Another massive win.

All things considered, this is a solid class that may not rank highly (No. 58 nationally) but it has some true diamonds like Clarizio, Derrick Simmons, and Charles White. All of those guys signed in the early period and there’s just one Spartan in the class who is waiting until February to sign: Bryson Williams.

This was the best possible result for signing day outside of flipping some four and five-stars from other programs. Michigan State was able to keep all of its guys, flipped two recruits from Oregon State and Alabama, and held off Ohio State.

Considering the bowl-less season and Martin departure, this was a successful signing day. Now time to hit the portal.