Michigan State football: Summer official visit deep dive

The 2025 recruiting class for Michigan State football is just getting started and here’s what official visit season looks like.

Spring ball has come to a close and at the end of this week, we are going to start hitting the summer recruiting windows. Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith has been very busy this spring with filling out his roster with transfer portal players getting everything systematically in place. They have also hit the recruiting trail hard putting in a lot of work to prospective 2025 recruits.

With official visit season starting in less than two weeks, let’s take a dive into who will be coming to campus during this period and where the 2025 class stands heading into it.

Recruiting calendar timeline

First let’s breakdown the calendar. Currently, the NCAA is in a contact period where teams can reach out to players and family. They are also able to visit high schools and recruits in home as well as scouting players at events. The contact period we are currently in lasts until May 25.

From May 26-29, a dead period is in effect meaning teams can not contact any perspective recruits or staff. Nothing on campus, off campus, or by phone. Most teams will use this time to take stock of where their roster is at, who is coming to campus for official visits in the future, and begin to plan upcoming visits.

After May 29, we will enter what is know as the spring quiet period for teams. This means that teams can visit with recruits but only on campus. Over this span (May 30 through June 23) teams will be hosting as many recruits as possible on official visits (or some unofficial visits) to campus.

An official visit is where teams are allow to pay for a trip for a prospect to come check out campus. Usually these visits are over a couple day span where the team can really roll out the red carpet for a player and show them any and every aspect of the university that may help convince them that this is home. Unofficial visits are visits that a player can take to a campus, but has to be funded by the player specifically. Teams are not allowed to pay for travel costs, lodging, or any other accommodations like they would be on an official visit.

Players are only allowed to take one official visit to each school during their recruitment. The number of schools they can visit officially was recently changed from five to unlimited, so players are able to visit any school officially that they may like. Unofficially, players can visit a school as many times as they’d like. Since the travel expenses are paid for by the recruit or his family, if players want to visit campus multiple times, that’s their prerogative.

What does MSU’s current 2025 class look like pre-summer visits?

Currently, Michigan State football sits at No. 51 in the nation in class of 2025 rankings, per 247Sports. Smith has done a good job so far in hitting the ground running in the state of Michigan as far as recruiting goes. Building a great foundation through Michigan high school players is something Smith emphasized when taking over.

So far, it looks like he and his staff are starting there. I also want to caution that class rankings change dramatically at this time of the year. Once early signing day comes around this December, the class rankings will look dramatically different.

Currently, the class consists of five players verbally committed. Those players are as followed:

• Leo Hannan: 3-star QB from Anaheim, Calif.
• Di’Mari Malone: 3-star LB from Macomb, Mich.
• Jace Clarizio: 3-star RB from East Lansing, Mich.
• Charles White: 3-star LB from Orchard Lake, Mich.
• Emmett Bork: 3-star TE from Oconomowoc, Wisc.

All five commits plan on taking official visits over the next few weeks to help recruiting overall and spend additional time on campus with the staff. I also want to emphasize that these players are only verbally committed. This does not always mean that they will sign their letters of intent with Michigan State football come signing day. This simply means the plan as of right now is that they will attend MSU.

Who is taking official visits to East Lansing this summer?

Overall, there are 38 players currently slated to take official visits to East Lansing between May 31 and June 21. Let’s take a look at the schedule and discuss who is coming to campus as of May 21.


Weekend of May 31

• Jeff Exinor Jr., 4-star ATH — Owings Mills, Md.

Jeff Exinor Jr. is the 210th ranked player in the nation, according to 247Sports. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds. He currently holds 19 offers. He will likely play wide receiver or tight end at the college level. His an above-average pass-catcher with good hands and a good feel for the position. Exinor could be a big, physical target for MSU in the future.

• Darius Afalava, 3-star OL — Lehi, Utah

Darius Afalava is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman that will project to play on the interior in college. He holds a total of 23 offers currently. He also has official visits lined up with UCLA, Utah, Tennessee, and Washington. Afalava has major potential to be a force on up front in the future. Jim Michalczik would be a great fit to work and build up his skills.

• LaRue Zamorano, 3-star CB — Corona Calif.

LaRue Zamorano is a big cornerback prospect who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 175 pounds. He would certainly benefit from adding some muscle weight, but he has this skills to really be effective at the major college football level. He currently holds 18 offers and is being heavily pursued by USC. Many national recruiting experts expect him to land with the Trojans. Can Smith and Demetrice Martin make up some ground and persuade him to join the green and white? It will be interesting to see. He also plans on taking another official to Washington.

• Houston Kaahaaina-Torres, 3-star OL — Honolulu, Hawaii

Houston Kaahaaina-Torres is another interior offensive lineman who Michalczik would be perfect for. He currently stands 6-foor-3 and weighs 265 points. While that’s smaller than some at the position, Houston has a very strong frame and excellent potential. He has worked out at all five positions along the line for schools and I could see him working at multiple spots. If I had to pick where’d he play with Michigan State football, my guess would be center but I think he could help everywhere. He currently holds 19 offers and has multiple officials set up.

• Jayden Savoury, 3-star TE — Orchard Lake, Mich.

Our first Michigan product on the list, Jayden Savoury is a big target for the staff. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds. He is really athletic and is a big-bodied tight end prospect that would be a great fit for the Spartans’ offense and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. Savoury currently holds 18 offers.

• Brad Fitzgibbon, 3-star OL — Chicago, Ill.

There’s a theme to this list of players. Another interior offensive line prospect for Michalczik to potentially cultivate and develop. MSU’s staff has made it clear their plan is to develop through the trenches and that plan is certainly showing in the visitor list. Fitzgibbon stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 280 pounds. He currently holds offers from 19 schools. Iowa, MSU, Kansas, and Wisconsin appear to be out to a slight lead in his recruitment.

• Mykah Newton, 3-star EDGE — Newberry, Fla.

Mykah Newton is a 6-foot-2 edge rusher that was under-recruited to start. He holds a total of 12 offers so far, but Michigan State football was one of the first Power Four schools to offer him. He has since set up visits with NC State, Tulane, and Georgia Tech. The productive defensive lineman could be a good fit for defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa.

• Bradley Gompers, Unranked LB — Pittsburgh, Penn.

Speaking of under-recruited, Bradley Gompers would certainly fit that mold. He is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker out of Pittsburgh who holds six offers. Major schools are starting to take notice of him however. His six offers are from Duke, Boston College, MSU, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and West Virginia. Getting in early on his recruitment could pay major dividends for Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi.

• Braylon Collier, 3-star WR — Sandusky, Ohio.

Braylon Collier is a talent receiver from Ohio who stands 6-foot-1 and currently weighs about 170 pounds. He currently holds 15 offers. He is a multi-sport athlete at Perkins High School and is extremely athletic. Courtney Hawkins would have a lot to work with here if Braylon chooses Michigan State football. His natural athleticism could be big for the Spartans.

• George Mullins, 3-star CB — Bushnell, Fla.

Last but certainly not least for the May 31 visitors, we have George Mullins. He is a tall cornerback, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing about 170 pounds. He is another super athletic, multi-sport athlete and has good speed. He currently holds offers from 20 total schools. However, no other visits besides MSU have been planned yet.

Weekend of June 7

• Rowan Byrne, 3-star OT — Rochelle, N.Y.

Rowan Byrne is a offensive tackle who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs in around 300 pounds and he has 24 total offers so far. MSU is right in the battle with other major schools such as Florida State and Penn State. Michalczik would able to do wonders with Byrne should he choose the Spartans. He has the size and skills to be a major part of an offensive line room in the future.

• Cyrus Polu, 3-star LB — Saint George, Utah.

Cyrus Polu is another West Coast product that Smith is going after. He lists as a linebacker that stands about 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds. He holds 13 total offers and Michigan State football is in the running along with Utah, Washington, and BYU, among others.

• Charles White, 3-star LB — Orchard Lake, Mich. (MSU commit)

As I mentioned above, Charles White is one of the five current verbal commits of Michigan State’s 2025 class. He will be in town on June 7 to help build relationships with the staff and also serve as potential recruiting assistant. You love to see players coming to campus to meet prospective recruits and try to get more people to come to MSU.

• Di’Mari Malone, 3-star LB — Macomb, Mich. (MSU commit)

Another current MSU commit coming to spend more time in East Lansing. Di’Mari Malone will join White on campus this weekend.

• Abu Tarawallie, 3-star DL — Osseo, Minn.

Abu Tarawallie is a defensive line prospect who currently holds just eight offers but some major ones nevertheless. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 275 pounds. Currently MSU, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Oklahoma are major schools vying for Tarawallie’s services. He also has officials set with Minnesota and Wisconsin after he visits East Lansing.

• Leo Hannan, 3-star QB — Anaheim, Calif. (MSU commit)

The last of Michigan State’s commits for the weekend of June 7 is none other than Leo Hannan. The quarterback prospect is a major one for Smith and Co. and he held 16 total offers before committing to the Spartans. Smith loves the traits that Hannan possesses and the staff was really excited to get a commitment from him. He will join White and Malone and hopefully help land a few more commits for the class.

• Tyler Kielmeyer, 3-star TE — Westerville, Ohio

Tyler Kielmeyer is another big-bodied tight end prospect coming to East Lansing. He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 235 pounds. Currently, he holds offers from 19 schools but it appears Michigan State football has jumped out to an early lead in his recruitment. Hopefully the staff can convince him to commit after seeing how amazing campus in East Lansing is.

• Drew Nichols, 3-star OL — Murrieta, Calif.

Drew Nichols is another high-potential interior offensive line prospect that is being heavily-targeted for Michalczik. He is listed at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds and he holds 12 offers. Michigan State, Arizona, Minnesota, Miami, Arkansas, and UCLA are some of the major schools offering Nichols. It appears MSU has opened a slight early lead though early would be the key phrase here. Let’s see what kind of work the staff can put in with him while on campus.

• Charles Taplin, Unranked WR — Red Oak, Texas

The final piece to the list of June 7 visitors is Charles Taplin. He is an under-recruited wideout from Texas and he stands 6-foot-1 and is very athletic. Currently, he holds 10 offers from programs like MSU, Arizona, Washington State, and San Diego State. Smith and Hawkins are in early with Taplin and hope that may pay off in their favor.

Weekend of June 14

• Tariq Hayer, 4-star CB — Washington, D.C.

One of the most talented players on MSU’s board overall, Tariq Hayer is a cornerback out of our nation’s capital who is a top 150 in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs about 190 pounds. His offer list currently sits at 30 with major schools like MSU, Auburn, Cincinnati, Maryland, Rutgers, and Notre Dame interested in his services. It appears Cincinnati, MSU, Maryland, and Rutgers are the current leaders. They are the only ones with official visits currently scheduled. Martin and Blue Adams are pushing hard to try to land Hayer. His skillset is elite and he would be a welcome sight in the secondary in East Lansing.

• Bobby Kanka, 3-star DL — Howell, Mich. (Michigan commit)

Well, here we have our first recruit who is currently committed elsewhere. Bobby Kanka is a strong, high-motor defensive lineman from Michigan. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs close to 260 pounds. He has been committed to the school down the road since August of 2023 but rumblings of him potentially wanting to decommit have been surfacing. So far. Michigan State football and Tennessee have landed official visits from him in the upcoming month. Realistically, it is possible he could be flipped away from Michigan. Can the coaching staff flip its first prospect? A lot could ride on this visit doing so.

• Grant Beerman, 3-star LB — West Chester, Ohio

Grant Beerman is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker from Ohio who possesses some great potential at the position. He currently holds of 29 offers and MSU looks to be the only visit scheduled right now but more could come as schools are starting to notice. Beerman currently ranks as a top 400 player in the country in the 247Sports Composite.

• Terrance Edwards, 3-star ATH — Richmond, Va.

Terrance Edwards is another top 500 player in the country making the trip to East Lansing this June. He is expected by most to be heading to Virginia Tech, but Martin and Blue are making a last-ditch effort to change that. He would most likely play cornerback should he pick Michigan State football. He holds 25 offers. Virginia Tech, MSU, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Tennessee are among teams gunning for his commitment.

• Chris McCorkle, 4-star DB — Sarasota, Fla. (Indiana commit)

Another current potential flip candidate, next up we have Chris McCorkle from Florida. He is one of my favorite prospects MSU is targeting in this cycle. He is currently ranked as a top 500 player in the nation by 247Sports’ composite rankings. The current Hoosier commit stands 6-foot-1 and weighs about 170 pounds. His athletic background is off the charts. Original from West Virginia, He also plays basketball and he played receiver this past year at Cardinal Mooney. McCorkle could be a really talented player at the next level and look for MSU’s staff to push hard to flip him.

• Nolan Davenport, 3-star OT — Massillon, Ohio

Nolan Davenport is a tall offensive tackle prospect from Ohio. Currently standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing close to 260 pounds, he has some rare athletic traits and he holds 30 offers. Davenport also plays baseball and formerly played tight end on the gridiron. He has great hand strength and traits and could be a great piece for Michigan State football

• Tyrone Burrus Jr., 3-star EDGE — Indianapolis, Ind.

The Midwest recruiting prioritization continues with Tyrone Burrus Jr. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds and holds a total of 18 offers. Also a track star in high school, Burrus is an impressive athlete. Michigan State, Indiana, and Louisville are currently set up for his official visit list. Illinois and Kansas also seem really interested as well.

• Cal Thrush, 3-star EDGE — Columbus, Ohio

Another big Midwestern edge rusher, Cal Thrush is listed at 6-foot-4 and about 230 pounds. He could stand to add some weight overall, but his potential is quite high. He currently holds 16 total offers and would be a nice pickup for the Spartans. Overall, it appears Michigan State football is out to an early lead in his race. Let’s see if the staff can lock him down while he’s on campus.

• Jace Clarizio, 3-star RB — East Lansing, Mich. (MSU commit)

The last two players committed to Michigan State so far will be on campus this weekend. Jace Clarizio is up first. The hometown product is a top-10 player overall in the state of Michigan. He is a quick, all-purpose back who could be a nice piece to add to the future Spartan backfield. Look for him and Emmett Bork to help recruit additional players this weekend as well.

• Emmett Bork, 3-star TE — Oconomowoc, Wisc. (MSU commit)

Speaking of Bork, he is also coming to campus. The Wisconsin area tight end is a great piece for the Michigan State football offense. The coaching staff raves about his potential and it’s great to see him coming home to spend more time on campus this weekend.

• N’Kye Wynn, 3-star OL — Muskegon, Mich.

N’Kye Wynn is a major offensive line target for the Spartans this cycle. He is listed at 6-foot-5, 277 pounds and he holds 24 total offers. Michigan State, Pitt, Rutgers, and Wisconsin are on his upcoming official visit schedule. Look for the Spartans to make a big push to keep him in the state. He currently ranks as the 15th-best player in Michigan.

• Chase Collier, 3-star WR — Jacksonville, Fla.

Chase Collier is a speedy receiver prospect from Florida who is being really prioritized by the staff. He holds 19 offers so far but it appears that Kansas and Michigan State football are the top two programs as he has official visits with both scheduled. Collier also runs track in high school and flashes top-end speed. He has posted five runs under the 11-second mark in the 100-meter dash.

• Myles Kendrick, Unranked WR — Jacksonville, Fla.

Another speedy receiver product from Jacksonville, Myles Kendrick holds 20 offers so far but is being a little under-recruited. Michigan State football has made its presence felt in this recruiting race and appears to be the front-runner. Hawkins can make the final efforts to land Kendrick. He could be another nice piece for the wide receiver in the future.

Weekend of June 21

If you’re still here reading, I appreciate it. We are almost done with the list. Michigan State will close the official visit window with six more prospects. They are as follows:

• Gerritt Kemp, 3-star WR — Dacula, Ga.

Gerritt Kemp is a tall wide receiver prospect hailing from Georgia. He currently stands at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. As his frame continues to grow, he could really become a big, physical target for the Spartan offense. He is a top 450 prospect in the country. Currently, Kemp holds offers from 19 other schools. Ole Miss, NC State, Duke, and Michigan State are the programs listed on his official visit schedule. Michigan State having the last visit on his schedule gives Hawkins and the Spartans a chance to make a lasting impression.

• Bryson Williams, 3-star ATH — Orchard Lake, Mich.

A teammate of MSU commit Charles White, Bryson Williams is the next Orchard Lake St Mary’s product to visit East Lansing. Williams is listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and he holds 20 offers. He projects to play wide receiver at the next level. Michigan State, Kansas, and Harvard appear to be the top schools in his recruitment thus far. Official visits are scheduled with those three schools.

• Josh Tuchek, 3-star CB — Long Beach, Calif.

Josh is a corner from the West Coach that both Coach Meat and Coach Smith seem to be really high on. He has 13 total offers so far. MSU seems to be leading for his services currently. Arizona, Cal, Washington, and Minnesota, also have all offered him. He stands 6;1 and weighs about 175 pounds.

• Cameran Dickson, Unranked WR — Corpus Christi, Texas

Cameran Dickson is a receiver prospect who hails from Texas. He’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds. He holds eight offers. Michigan State football is the only program outside of the state of Texas to offer him. Houston and TCU are other major schools interested in his services.

• Trey Jones, Unranked WR — Chesapeake, Va.

Trey Jones is another lesser-known wideout prospect that hails from Virginia. He stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 175 pounds. The speedy wideout holds 10 offers including MSU, Duke, Virginia Tech, Indiana, and Penn State.

• Quante Gillians, Unranked DL — Rochester, N.Y.

Quante Gillians is a sizable defensive line prospect from New York, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 250 pounds. He holds 13 offers. Pitt, Minnesota, Boston College, and West Virginia all are among those recruiting him. He has visits scheduled with all of those schools with the exception West Virginia.

Overall, there is a ton of talent stepping foot on campus over the next month. Once official visits end, most recruits will take some time to evaluate. The NCAA will impose a dead period after June 24 until July 24. After that, students enter back into a quiet period and more official visits can be taken, however, not as many will happen. Most kids do like to at least have a good idea in mind of where they want to go prior to their senior year of high school starting.

With that in mind, it’s likely we will know the fates of a lot of these prospects after the summer. Let’s hope Smith and Michigan State football knock these visits out of the park.