Michigan State football: Recent WR commit Jaylan Brown gets huge ratings bump

Jonathan Smith, Courtney Hawkins, and Michigan State football found a gem in Jaylan Brown. He is nearly in four-star territory at 247Sports.

With the 2024 recruiting cycle coming to a close in the next week, a lot of recruiting services are wrapping up the season with their last ratings update. That is the case at 247Sports, and their last bump is turning some heads. Jaylan Brown, receiver out of Texas with three FBS offers, is now just shy of being a four-star player. Brown committed Michigan State football on Jan. 28 after visiting over the weekend.

Jaylan Brown is yet another Courtney Hawkins-found gem

Brown was a player that had very little hype before a monster senior season for Nacogdoches High School in Texas. In fact, Brown’s recruiting profile still lists his position as a cornerback despite 247Sports classifying and ranking him as a receiver. In 2022, Brown recorded two touchdowns and 202 yards on 11 catches, but contributed three interceptions on the other side of the ball. Despite the promising showing, he held no offers before his senior season.

That changed a few weeks into the season, as East Central and Southern University came calling in September. The next month, as Brown racked up numbers, North Texas and Washington State also came calling. However, that would be it. Brown held only two FBS offers, despite putting up 900 yards in the richest high school football state in the country.

In an effort to bolster their recruiting after a frenzied first three weeks of prospect flipping and signing, Jonathan Smith had Courtney Hawkins comb through the receivers for hidden gems. Given Hawkins’ track record, there was bound to be a gem somewhere. Sure enough, there was a 6-foot-3 receiver that put up 11 touchdowns this season with only two offers. Smith and Co. brought in Brown for an official visit, and he was blown away by the experience.

Now, he will be looking to join Michigan State football in the summer.

Where does Brown rank?

When looking over the tapes, 247Sports saw what Hawkins and Smith saw, too. They have him ranked as the No. 66 receiver in the 2024 class. In that class, there are 56 four or five-star receivers. Hence, they have him as one of their best three-stars in the country.

Brown is also the No. 60 ranked Texas prospect in the class, with the top 57 being four or five-stars. He just barely missed the cut to be the fifth Michigan State football commit with four stars on a recruiting service. I have to say, that is much better than what the composite believes. It has Brown No. 1,115 nationally, No. 154 as a receiver, and No. 169 in Texas prospects.

All I have to say to that is please, give the talented receiver a chip on his shoulder.

Michigan State football receiver room preview

Brown joins Nick Marsh and Austin Clay as prospects brought in during the 2024 cycle. Additionally, the Spartans brought in Purdue wideout TJ Sheffield via the transfer portal. They lose Christian Fitzpatrick (Marshall), Tyrell Henry (Wisconsin), and Sebastian Brown (undecided) to the portal. Additionally, Tre Mosley graduates and Alante Brown is potentially gone, as Marsh has been working out in No. 0 gear.

I think Aidan Chiles has a very good weapon coming up to East Lansing in the fall which is looking more exciting as the last updates for recruits roll out. In case you missed it, two more Spartans also became composite four stars this update, including an early enrollee.