Are Mark Dantonio and the Spartans Closing in on Another DE?

As Spartan Nation reported last week Current South Carolina commit Justice Cunningham is considering changing his commitment to another school listing Michigan State as one of his possible destinations should he decide to leave the Gamecocks. Spartan Nation has learned the things are looking up for the Spartans as Cunningham has scheduled an official visit for the weekend of January 24th, the weekend after he makes his official visit to South Carolina.

 

The Pageland High School (SC) product checks in at 6’3” and 241-pounds and projects to either side of the ball. The versatile Cunningham lists only three offers (South Carolina, North Carolina State and MSU) but each school would use him differently to fit their individual schemes. While Cunningham would play Tight End for “The ole’ ball coach” Steve Spurrier at South Carolina or Jim O’Brien at NC State, the Spartan staff has taken a different approach in his recruitment telling Cunningham he would play Defensive End for the Spartans instead of Tight End.

 

Cunningham has the athletic ability to play either position at the next level (he runs a 4.78 40-yard dash) but due in part to the logjam at Tight End created by Brain Linthicum’s transfer from Clemson to MSU, Cunningham would be moved to Coach Pat Narduzzi’s side of the ball should he call East Lansing his home. He hasn’t indicated a positional preference but it is obvious that the Spartan staff likes what they have seen from him coming off the edge as opposed to catching the ball in the flat.

 

Another aspect that more than likely caught the eye of Coach Dantonio’s staff is the fact the Cunnignham is not only great on the field as a player but also off it as a student. It has been said over and over that MSU will not take recruits just for the sake of taking them. Any possible future Spartans would have to be a just as solid a person as they are a player. No exceptions. Cunningham fits that mold to the tee coupling his 250-pound bench and 385-pound squat ability with his 3.8 GPA.

 

It is obvious what the MSU coaches are looking for in their players and Cunningham fits the bill. If he enjoys his trip to MSU don’t be surprised to see yet another young gun from the Palmetto State make the long trip up north for his college career. In a world full of crime and hate maybe, just maybe, there will finally be ‘Justice’ in East Lansing.

 

Stay posted to SpartanNation.com for recruiting updates all the way up through national Signing day February 4th!