Signing Day commits could secure top-10 class for MSU

EAST LANSING – Mark Dantonio ranks ‘em when they’re done.

“You look at guys that have come here and developed into guys that are currently playing in the NFL and currently working in businesses or jobs all over this country, so all I can tell you is the record sort of speaks for itself in terms of what we’ve been able to do,” the Michigan State coach said recently. “You can evaluate a recruiting class somewhat in terms of, subjectively, but (we) evaluate the recruiting class at the end of their senior year. And for the last three years our seniors have won more games than the previous senior class, which is more than anybody’s ever won at Michigan State. So there’s been a high level of results.”

But college football has two seasons, and Wednesday is the annual national holiday for the one that never really ends – recruiting season. The Spartans typically aren’t darlings on National Signing Day, which is why the Sporting News this week ranked MSU the No. 1 “overachieving program” in terms of recruiting rankings vs. on-field results.

MSU football signing day at a glance

But it looks like MSU might score an imaginary victory Wednesday as well, for whatever that’s worth. Depending on late movement, Dantonio’s 10th recruiting class could end up his first ranked in the national top 10, which would make it MSU’s first since 2000.

And with more high-profile recruits coming in, to a program that has finished No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 in the national rankings the past three seasons – after winning the Rose, winning the Cotton and losing to Alabama in the College Football Playoff – the results aren’t expected to wane.

“I can see that it’s starting to roll into ‘We need to win national championships here,’” said Donnie Corley, a Detroit King receiver/cornerback who is the jewel of the class and who has enrolled early this semester.

“Our goal is to get back there,” incoming linebacker Joe Bachie said of the playoff. “They set the stage for us.”

MSU's Donnie Corley & father a gridiron dream team

And the 38-0 loss to Alabama also demonstrated that the Spartans aren’t all the way to where they want to be.

“It told me that we have a lot of work to do and that I need to be ready to strap it up when I get here,” incoming offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa said. “But I thought we had a great season and it’s just time to get to work again and make another run for it.”

Dantonio and his staff are still making a run at a few prospects in the late stages. MSU gave Detroit Cass Tech lineman and long-time U-M commitment Michael Onwenu a late offer and got him to visit, making him at least consider the Spartans and set a Tuesday night announcement.

Dantonio, MSU making final push for top 2016 recruits

Detroit King cornerback Lavert Hill will decide today between MSU, U-M and Penn State. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy defensive end/offensive tackle Prince Sammons will choose between MSU and Auburn. Philadelphia Charter Prep defensive end Karamo Dioubate has MSU, Temple, Ohio State and South Carolina in pursuit.

And MSU this week offered Canton High defensive end/linebacker/tight end Jalen Cochran. That gives him four finalists, the others being Arizona, Iowa State and Miami (Ohio).