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BREAKING: Another MSU Linebacker Target Commits To Oregon Over Spartans

The Ducks have been a thorn in the side of the Spartans on the recruiting trail...
Matthew Lounsberry|
BREAKING: Another MSU Linebacker Target Commits To Oregon Over Spartans
BREAKING: Another MSU Linebacker Target Commits To Oregon Over Spartans

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Michigan State Spartans

For the second time in four days, Oregon has beaten Michigan State on the recruiting trail for a 2024 linebacker target from California.

On Friday, it was four-star Long Beach (Calif.) Poly's Dylan Williams who chose the Ducks. On Tuesday, four-star Los Alamitos (Calif.) linebacker Kamar Mothudi committed to Oregon as well amongst a 'Top 5' that also included Michigan State, Washington, Utah and Texas.

Mothudi took an official visit to East Lansing over the weekend of June 9, and by all accounts MSU linebacker coach Scottie Hazelton, head coach Mel Tucker and the Spartans' support staff did an excellent job in selling their program to the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder. Mothudi said Michigan State "shattered" his expectations following the visit.

However, that wasn't enough to sway the West Coast kid away from Oregon, which Mothudi visited on June 23. Mothudi and Williams were two players who were linked as potentially playing together at the collegiate level, and for now both are committed to the Ducks. It's believed that Michigan State will continue to pursue one or both players up until National Signing Day.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Mothudi is considered the No. 206 overall player, No. 18 linebacker and No. 20 player from the state of California in the 2024 recruiting class. He's reported 14 scholarship offers including Michigan, UCLA, Nebraska, Arizona, California, Arizona State and Oregon State in addition to his 'Top 5'.

In addition to Mothudi and Williams, Michigan State hosted two other four-star linebackers for official visits this past June — Kristopher Jones out of Fairfax (Va.) and Jeremiah Beasley out of Belleville (Mich.). Beasley committed to in-state rival Michigan on June 28, and Georgia is the current favorite to land Jones. With Mothudi and Williams both committing to Oregon, it appears the Spartans will have to reset their recruiting board in terms of linebacker targets.

Michigan State extended a scholarship offer to Boston College safety commit Kemori Dixon in late June, and its been reported that the Spartans view him as a linebacker prospect. Beyond Dixon, it's currently unclear where MSU will turn for other 2024 linebacker targets. As mentioned above, however, Hazelton will continue working on Williams and Mothudi until signing day.

Despite these recent misses on the trail, the Spartans have built a lot of recruiting momentum over the past several weeks. Since the start of June, the Spartans have landed 10 verbal commitments including four-star wide receiver Nick Marsh, four-star running back Anthony Carrie, three-star quarterback Henry Hasselbeck, three-star defensive backs Reggie Powers, Justin Denson, Syair Torrence and Camren Campbell, and three-star offensive linemen Mercer and Charlton Luniewski.

Michigan State had previously earned pledges from three-star cornerback Jaylen Thompson three-star offensive linemen Andrew Dennis and Logan Barnett, bringing its 2024 class up to 12 commitments. The Spartans' 2024 class currently ranks No. 48 in the country and No. 12 in the Big Ten.

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Matthew Lounsberry
MATTHEW LOUNSBERRY

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