MSU Offers 3-Star Defensive Lineman a Scholarship

Michigan State has officially offered a scholarship to three-star defensive lineman Tommy Rupley, the second highest ranked player from the state of Massachusetts.

Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith, center, sits with his family, from left, Charles, / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA

The Michigan State Spartans have made it a point to find the best recruits possible while also going after players who MSU realistically has a chance to sign and keep.

The current state of recruiting in college football is much different than it used to be. Based on a few offers MSU has extended so far and visits it has set up, it seems that new Spartans coach Jonathan Smith understands that.

MSU has officially extended a scholarship offer to defensive lineman Tommy Rupley. The Belmont, Massachusetts native announced the offer on social media on Monday. Rupley is a three-star athlete in the 2025 recruiting class. 

“After a great conversation with @DLCoachLegi [MSU defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa] I am extremely blessed to earn an offer from Michigan State University,” Rupley said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Rupley is the 66th-ranked defensive lineman and the 738th overall prospect in the country, according to 247Sports’ class of 2025 rankings. More impressively, Rupley is the second-highest ranked player from the state of Massachusetts, according to 247Sports.

The three-star defensive lineman has received over a dozen offers from different schools around the country. Michigan State is competing against Penn State, Northwestern and Rutgers, among many others. 

Coach Smith hit the ground running and has done his best to attack the recruiting trail. The 6’3, 250-pound Rupley would be an excellent addition to a Spartans program looking to turn things around on the field. He plans on visiting East Lansing some time in the future.

While Rupley’s three-star rating may not seem like much, given MSU's position on the national college football landscape, three-star players can easily become quality additions to a roster in need of an infusion of talent. 

The beauty of college sports is that the incoming athletes are still young. Their minds and bodies are still growing and moldable. A three-star athlete could develop into a household name if they are under the proper leadership.

In this day and age of recruiting in college football, mid-level teams like MSU need all the talent they can get. MSU is unlikely to have a legitimate shot of signing many four- and five-star athletes. While it may still be looking for top-tier talent, Smith and MSU plan on signing three-stars and developing them into even better athletes, which could be the Spartans’ best option for the time being.

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