Instead of telling recruits about what Michigan State can be, football coach Mark Dantonio now can show them.
Although it ended with a 49-7 drubbing by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl, the Spartans are coming off their best season in decades -- 11 victories, a share of the Big Ten championship, No. 14 in the final polls.
"It's huge," Allen Trieu, a Midwest recruiting analyst for Scout.com, said of Dantonio's tangible proof of his program's progress. "We talk to recruits all the time, and they mention the success Michigan State's having. Kids are still talking about the Notre Dame game (an overtime victory on a fake field goal).
"The season they've had and just the growth in the program that Coach Dantonio has built over the last couple years with steady improvement definitely has not been lost on these recruits and the (high school) coaches and the parents."
With less than two weeks remaining before the Feb. 2 signing day, Michigan State is No. 30 nationally in Scout.com's latest, ever-changing rankings.
Three Big Ten teams are ranked higher: Ohio State at No. 2, newcomer Nebraska at No. 25 and Iowa at No. 28.
"I think they've done a great job," Trieu said of the Michigan State class. "They're in a position now where they don't have to have a lot of guys that will have to come in and play right away. But they're getting a lot of talented kids that they can develop."
Dantonio's first two recruiting classes in 2007 and 2008 were ranked No. 51 and No. 56 by Scout.com. Since then, his classes have been ranked higher each season, from No. 37 in 2009 to No. 32 last year and now a potential top-30 finish.
Lawrence Thomas, a linebacker from Detroit Renaissance High School, is the five-star jewel out of MSU's 18 verbal commitments.
"The question on him is exactly what is he?" Trieu said. "Here's a kid who is 6-foot-4, now in the 250s, playing middle linebacker (in high school). A lot of people think his future might be as an outside guy, as a SAM (strong-side linebacker) or as a defensive end.
"I think settling the position for him will determine how quickly he can play. I think once he gets into a college strength and conditioning program, he'll drop some pounds and stay at outside linebacker. That question on position may hold him back for a year. But he certainly has the athletic ability to contribute right off the bat."
Although Thomas is the headliner, Trieu believes there are others who can make an impact.
Three four-star recruits -- defensive end Joel Heath (Cincinnati), offensive guard Donavon Clark (Cincinnati) and running back Onaje Miller (Lansing Sexton) -- have made commitments.
"Heath could contribute right away in passing situations just because he's such an athletic pass rusher," Trieu said of the 6-6, 255-pounder.
Roger Williamson (Dayton, Ohio) is a three-star player who could be somewhat of a sleeper as a 6-2, 180-pound defensive back.
"He's built like a college player already," Trieu said. "Physically, he can play corner or safety. I wouldn't be surprised if he saw the field as a freshman."
The Spartans, meanwhile, recently moved into contention for Jake Fisher, a 6-7, 273-pound offensive tackle from Traverse City West. He has a four-star rating and is No. 25 nationally at his position.
Fisher had committed to Michigan but reopened his recruitment after Rich Rodriguez was fired. Michigan is still a possibility, but Fisher visited Michigan State last weekend and has trips to Florida and Oregon planned for the next two weekends.
Trieu also has been impressed by how some other quality recruits have expressed interest in Michigan State, even if they don't end up there.
Two players from Port St. Lucie, Fla. made visits to East Lansing last weekend despite having made soft verbal commitments to Florida State, which has the third-best class in the nation.
Both are safeties with good size. Keelin Smith is 6-2, 185 pounds, Lamarcus Brutus 6-foot, 185. They are still considering their options before confirming whether they'll indeed sign with Florida State.
"That would have been unheard of at Michigan State five years ago," Trieu said of the interest from Smith and Brutus. "It shows how much that program has grown. Not only the kids that have committed right now, but the kids that are still interested in them. Times are changing. It's pretty good to get two kids like that on campus this late in the game."
Click here for a complete list of Michigan State's commitments from Scout.com.
Jan. 20, 2011
