Michigan State Trending For Top DB Target From Ohio
Michigan State has only three high school prospects committed to its 2024 recruiting class, but that number could grow soon.
On Sunday, crystal ball predictions came pouring in for the Spartans to land three-star Dayton (Ohio) Centerville safety Reggie Powers, who visited East Lansing this past weekend. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder posted several pictures from his visit to Michigan State on Instagram.
Prior to Powers visit to East Lansing, he was considered an Ohio State lean. However, the Buckeyes have not put on a full-court press to land the native of Dayton. That opened the door for MSU secondary coach Harlon Barnett to make serious progress for the Spartans in this recruitment, and it appears Michigan State has done just that this past weekend.
In total there were five crystal ball predictions in MSU's favor for Powers, including 247Sports' director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong, national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu, Spartan Tailgate's Justin Thind and Corey Robinson, and Bucknuts' beat reporter Bill Kurellc.
Powers is considered the No. 580 overall prospect, No. 57 safety and the No. 19 player from Ohio in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings. The Ohio native's offer sheet suggests he's underrated as a prospect however, as Powers has garnered 29 offers including Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Louisville, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia, Iowa State, Boston College and others.
Michigan State was included in Powers' Top 5 alongside Ohio State, Cincinnati, Northwestern and Pittsburgh back on May 25th. His parents travelled with him to East Lansing this past weekend, and it appears MSU made an impression on them as well.
The state of Ohio might be becoming more of a priority for head coach Mel Tucker and his staff. In addition to Powers, Michigan State also hosted three-star Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods wide receiver Tra'Mar Harris over the weekend as well. Harris is ranked No. 784 overall and the No. 26 player from the Buckeye State.
During the Mark Dantonio era, recruiting Ohio was a staple of Michigan State’s program. Many of the stars from the 2010 through 2015 teams were from the Buckeye state, and these players had a built-in competitive desire to beat Ohio State and Michigan after being overlooked by those programs. However, in Tucker’s three recruiting classes, Michigan State has signed just two prospects from Ohio — 2021 safeties A.J. Kirk and Michael Gravely Jr. — both of whom have since transferred out of the program. In the last two recruiting classes, the Spartans have not signed a single player from Ohio.
Michigan State hopes to change that during this recruiting cycle with Powers and Harris.
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