Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State Recruiting: 5 ideal additions to 2017 football class

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio walks the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State recruiting’s 2017 football class isn’t filled just yet and here are the ideal remaining potential additions.

It’s December already with the dead period getting underway, meaning that Michigan State recruiting could be very quiet over the next month, or so. There very well might be commitments during that time, but the coaching staff won’t have the ability to contact recruits to give them a final pitch.

The staff, including Mark Dantonio, did put in plenty of work in the past couple of weeks regarding recruiting and even had some big names on campus before the dead period.

With the next month likely filled with speculation and finger crossing, let’s take a look at the five ideal additions to the 2017 football class after missing on guys such as KJ Hamler and Ambry Thomas.

5. Naytron Culpepper, 4-star DB

Not many people really know where Naytron Culpepper stands in his recruitment. There’s reason to believe he’s high on the Spartans since he’s taking an official in January, but there might be other schools, such as South Carolina, that lead for him.

This spot in my list could have been any number of defensive backs who remain uncommitted and targeted by the Spartans. I was going to put Yusuf Corker here since the momentum is trending in MSU’s favor for him, but the three-star defensive back is more of a safety, at least in his own words.

While the Spartans need safeties, obviously, the cornerback position is important after missing on Ambry Thomas. Culpepper is listed as a safety, but is athletic enough to play corner as well.

Culpepper would be a perfect addition to the class and would ease the pain of missing on Thomas. The Miami-native ranks as the No. 280 overall prospect and 24th-best safety in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports.

Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; dMichigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) celebrates fumble recovery during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Antjuan Simmons, 4-star LB

There was a point in time that Antjuan Simmons looked like a future Spartan. I don’t believe he was ever leaning Michigan State, but he definitely thought highly of the program and it looked like the Spartans and Notre Dame would be fighting it out until the end for the four-star linebacker.

However, Simmons committed to Ohio State and kind of left everyone speechless. The Ann Arbor-native released a top schools list right before that which had teams like Notre Dame, OSU and Michigan State, but no Michigan. He left them out since they jumped in to the process too late.

Just last week, he re-opened his recruitment and de-committed from Ohio State and a couple days later, the Buckeyes took in a commitment from a five-star linebacker. Essentially, any reunion for Simmons and the Buckeyes seemed to be crushed right then and there.

Over the past week, his recruitment has heated up a bit and he even took a visit to Michigan State before de-committing from Ohio State. The Spartans are right there in the running for him, but the Fighting Irish seem to lead. Arizona also might be in the mix.

Simmons is ranked as the No. 320 overall prospect and 20th-best outside linebacker, according to the 247Sports‘ composite.

Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Demetrius Cooper (98) gestures to the sideline during the second half against the Furman Paladins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. Deron Irving-Bey, 4-star DE

This is another one of those spots on the list that could go to a couple of guys, but Deron Irving-Bey has to be the top remaining in-state target but a guy like Tyler Johnson would also be a nice fit. Johnson is listed as a tight end, but the staff might be recruiting him on the defensive line.

Irving-Bey looks the part of one of the country’s top targets at the position and he won’t be announcing his choice until the Army All-American Game. It’s likely down to Michigan and Michigan State at this point, but anything is possible.

Right now, the Wolverines have some momentum on the recruiting trail and there’s a slight trend in that direction, but the Spartans were one of the first programs to recruit him and offer a scholarship, which resonates with kids. He has spoken very highly of the staff and he has to realize that there’s a major need for him in East Lansing.

The defensive line was extremely young this year and now that Malik McDowell is heading to the NFL and Demetrius Cooper is going to be a senior with Kevin Williams and Gabe Sherrod also leaving, the Spartans need some depth.

The Flint-native is ranked the No. 290 overall recruit and 12th-best strong-side defensive end in the class, according to 247Sports.

Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Felton Davis III (18) makes a catch in front of Furman Paladins cornerback Nick Miller (1) to score a touchdown during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jaylen Harris, 4-star WR

There’s no doubt about it, Michigan State needs to look the way of a receiver now that KJ Hamler has committed to Penn State. The Nittany Lions did a fantastic job of closing the deal on the former top target for the Spartans and now Michigan State is left looking for a wide out.

Hamler and Jaylen Harris are two completely different types of receiver, but adding some depth to the position to close out the class is imperative. The four-star recruit from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was just on campus this past weekend for an official visit and named the Spartans in his top five over the summer.

That list of top schools also includes Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State. I’d say Penn State is probably out after taking Hamler, Tennessee has been rumored to have a toxic locker room and Alabama and Ohio State could be top competitors. If he wants to play early and often, Michigan State might be the place for him.

Harris is one of those impressive receivers who has a combination of size, speed and hands that you don’t often see. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs about 210 pounds, making him an ideal red zone target for whomever the next quarterback happens to be.

The Ohio-native also ranks as the No. 165 overall recruit and 26th-best receiver in the 2017 class.

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan State 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

1. Lynn Bowden, 4-star ATH

I’m not sure what to think with Lynn Bowden’s recruitment. He has rumored to be interested in playing quarterback at the next level and that leads me to believe Michigan State is cooling on him a bit since the Spartans already have Rocky Lombardi and they think Bowden could be an explosive athlete at a different position.

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Whether the staff has cool on him or they haven’t, it’d still be an ideal situation to add a playmaker like Bowden to the roster. With R.J. Shelton leaving and Donnie Corley likely to step up as the main weapon in the pass game, Bowden could act like an R.J. Shelton-type who could take end arounds as well.

Imagine the trick plays involving Bowden as well. Being a high school quarterback who believes he can play the position at the next level, the four-star athlete could take some reverses and toss touchdown passes against unsuspecting defenses.

Don’t worry about how late Michigan State waited to offer him, the Spartans have been in contact with Bowden for a while. He seems to be a kid they are high on, but it all depends on where he sees himself.

The Youngstown-native ranks as the No. 120 overall prospect in the class and the fifth-best athlete, according to 247Sports.