GREEN & WHITE FOOTBALL

Spartans land two Florida defensive ends for 2017 class

Chris Solari
Lansing State Journal
MSU now has 11 recruits for its 2017 class after landing a pair of defensive ends from Florida on Monday night, Lashawn Paulino-Bell and Donovan Winters.

Much was made about Michigan’s foray into Florida over spring break.

It’s Michigan State, however, that’s making waves in the Sunshine State this summer.

MSU landed a pair of defensive ends from Florida on Monday night, Lashawn Paulino-Bell from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Donovan Winter from Orlando Bishop Moore Catholic, to continue a strong month on the recruiting circuit.

They join a class of 11 that also includes future tight end Jack Camper from IMG Academy in Bradenton, which coincidentally was the prep school where the Wolverines held part of their spring practices in April.

Paulino-Bell and Winter also are the second and third defensive end recruits in the class, joining Jacub Panasiuk from Illinois. MSU’s other 2017 recruits are running back Weston Bridges, offensive lineman Matt Carrick, linebacker Darien Clemons, offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis, quarterback Rocky Lombardi, receiver Hunter Rison and receiver Cody White.

Paulino-Bell is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and Scout.com. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder chose the Spartans over Illinois, Indiana, Notre Dame, Georgia and Mississippi State, among others.

Winter is a two-star recruit according to Scout.com but unranked by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. However, the 6-4, 238-pounder has picked up a bevy of interest on the summer camp circuit, reportedly landing offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Tennessee, among others.

Both Paulino-Bell and Winter announced their commitments via Twitter.

MSU also reportedly could be in the mix to add another graduate transfer for this season, defensive end Gabe Sherrod. Sherrod initially had agreed to transfer to Syracuse once he finishes his mathematics degree at Delaware State, but Sherrod told Syracuse.com on Sunday that Orange coaches are no longer accepting the commitment of the 6-4, 255-pounder from Havre de Grace, Maryland.

Sherrod made 64 tackles, 25 of them for a loss and eight of them sacks, last season for the Hornets, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision.