BREAKING: Michigan State flips 2023 defensive back commit from Arizona

Mel Tucker and the Michigan State Spartans have gotten hot again on the recruiting trail just at the right time.

After the Spartans' 2023 class had dwindled down to just 10 commitments with a little over a week before National Signing Day, things looked dire for MSU. However, Tucker and his staff had already planted the seeds for the next wave of high school players who were ready to don the Green and White.

On Friday, that wave continued when three-star Simi Valley (Calif.) High School cornerback Sean Brown flipped his commitment from Arizona to Michigan State. Prior to his commitment the Wildcats, Brown also considered Colorado, Washington State and BYU as possible destinations, among others.

The California kid gave his verbal pledge to Arizona back in June, but received a late offer from the Spartans and took an official visit to MSU last week. That, plus one of Brown's closest friends recently committing to Michigan State, was enough for the lengthy corner to pull the trigger on the flip to MSU.

East, Lansing Michigan📍
Glad to be a Spartan #GoGreen #RELENTLESS #Committed @MSU_Football @Coach_mtucker pic.twitter.com/ElYdU1lIha
— Sean Brown (@_SeanBrown1) December 16, 2022

At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Brown has the type of height and length that is coveted in modern day defensive backs. In addition to that excellent frame, the California native changes direction well in coverage and has shown good ball skills and deep ball judgement as well.

The 247Sports composite rankings list Brown as the No. 935 overall player in the 2023 class, and the No. 91-ranked cornerback. He's also ranked the No. 83 player out of the state of California. While those numbers won't 'wow' the recruiting 'star-gazers' there are some in the industry who consider Brown to be an underrated prospect.

Give credit to MSU secondary coach Harlon Barnett for executing the flip on this long-tenured Arizona commit.

The West Coast has been kind to Michigan State this week. On Wednesday, the Spartans landed a commitment from three-star West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade High School athlete Jaelon Barbarin, who was teammates with Brown at Simi Valley before transferring to Chaminade. Barbarin and Brown remain close friends, and Barbarin's commitment to MSU surely added the Spartans' attempts in landing Brown.

Barbarin has run a 10.37 in the 100-meter dash, and is expected to play running back for MSU.

However, the California speedster wasn't the only West Coast kid to spurn his commitment of a Pac-12 school in favor of East Lansing. On Thursday, four-star West Linn (Ore.) High quarterback Sam Leavitt flipped to Michigan State less than 24 hours after decommitting from Washington State, giving the Spartans their 2023 QB.

Additionally, Michigan State also received a commitment Wednesday from three-star Richmond (Va.) Thomas Jefferson High School athlete Aziah Johnson, who is expected to play wide receiver.

The recent flurry of verbal pledges have the Spartans back inside the Top 25 recruiting classes in the country for the 2023 cycle with 14 prospects committed. Nine of the 14 are listed as four-stars, which would tie Michigan State's program record for the most a single recruiting class should all nine sign with the Spartans on National Signing Day (Dec. 21)

Michigan State verbal commitments, Class of 2023

Four-star EDGE Bai Jobe; Community Christian School; Norman, Okla.; No. 82 nationally, No. 14 EDGE, No. 1 in state of Oklahoma
Four-star DL Andrew Depaepe; Pleasant Valley High School; Bettendorf, Iowa; No. 137 nationally, No. 16 Defensive Lineman, No. 2 in state of Iowa
Four-star LB Jordan Hall; IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.; No. 179 nationally, No. 16 Linebacker, No. 41 in state of Florida
Four-star DL Jalen Thompson; Cass Technical High School; Detroit, Mich.; No. 219 nationally, No. 32 Defensive Lineman, No. 3 in state of Michigan
Four-star OT Stanton Ramil; Thompson High School; Alabaster, Ala.; No. 222 nationally, No. 20 Offensive Tackle, No. 17 in the state of Alabama
Four-star TE Brennan Parachek; Dexter High School; Dexter, Mich.; No. 326 nationally, No. 18 Tight End, No. 6 in state of Michigan
Four-star QB Sam Leavitt; West Linn High School; West Linn, Ore.; No. 373 nationally, No. 23 Quarterback, No. 1 in state of Oregon
Four-star LB Jayvant Brown; St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; No. 393 nationally, No. 31 Linebacker, No. 73 in state of Florida
Four-star IOL Cole Dellinger; Clarkston High School; Clarkston, Mich.; No. 403 nationally, No. 26 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 7 in state of Michigan
Three-star CB Chance Rucker; Ryan High School; Denton, Texas; No. 436 nationally, No. 42 Cornerback; No. 70 in state of Texas
Three-star CB Eddie Pleasant III; Carrollwood Day High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 859 nationally, No. 84 Cornerback; No. 126 in state of Florida
Three-star CB Sean Brown; Simi Valley High School; Simi Valley, Calif.; No. 935 nationally, No. 91 Cornerback, No. 83 in state of California
Three-star ATH Aziah Johnson; Thomas Jefferson High School; Richmond, Va.; No. 1020 nationally, No. 82 Athlete, No. 28 in state of Virginia
Three-star ATH Jaelon Barbarin; Chaminade High School; Simi Valley, Calif.; No. 1121 nationally, No. 93 Athlete, No. 99 in state of California