Michigan State Flips 2024 Specialist From Oregon State

MSU head coach Jonathan Smith continues to pull from his previously assembled 2024 recruiting class at Oregon State...

Author:
Matthew Lounsberry
Publish date:
Jan 22, 2024 3:23 PM EST

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With just over two weeks before the second signing period of the 2024 recruiting cycle, Michigan State football has added to its class.

On Monday, Meridian (Idaho) Mountain View two-star kicker Martin Connington flipped his verbal commitment from Oregon State to Michigan State, becoming the latest 2024 prospect to follow head coach Jonathan Smith from the Beavers to the Spartans.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Connington is considered the No. 13 kicker in the class of 2024. MSU running backs coach and co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha played a major roll in flipping Connington's commitment. Bhonapha was the primary recruiter for Connington at Oregon State, and once the high school senior took an official visit to East Lansing this past weekend, this battle was a wrap. Connington will likely take a redshirt year in 2024, as Michigan State returns kicker Jonathan Kim this fall.

With Connington in the fold, Michigan State's 2024 recruiting class — ranked No. 46 in the country — has grown to 20 high school prospects, 18 of which signed with the Spartans during the December signing period. Nine of those signees have early-enrolled and are currently participating in winter conditioning with the program. Three-star Portage (Mich.) Northern linebacker Jadyn Walker was the only verbal commit who did not sign with the Spartans during the December signing period. USC is working hard to flip Walker from MSU.

Michigan State Verbal Commitments & Signees, Class of 2024

Four-star WR Nick Marsh; River Rouge High School; River Rouge, Mich.; No. 115 nationally, No. 21 Wide Receiver, No. 2 in state of Michigan
Three-star OT Rustin Young; St. Louis High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 661 nationally, No. 51 offensive tackle, No. 3 in state of Hawaii
Three-star LB Brady Pretzlaff; Gaylord High School; Gaylord, Mich.; No. 675 nationally, No. 60 Linebacker, No. 14 in state of Michigan
Three-star OT Mercer Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 715 nationally, No. 53 Offensive Tackle, No. 27 in state of Ohio
Three-star CB Justin Denson; La Salle Academy; Providence, R.I.; No. 753 nationally, No. 64 Cornerback, No. 20 in state of Pennsylvania
Three-star CB Jaylen Thompson; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 761 nationally, No. 65 Cornerback, No. 21 in state of Tennessee
Three-star OT Payton Stewart; Kelso High School; Kelso, Wash.; No. 905 nationally, No. 65 Offensive Tackle, No. 13 in state of Washington
Three-star ATH Andrew Brinson IV; Gaither High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 1037 nationally, No. 84 Athlete, No. 142 in state of Florida
Three-star LB Jadyn Walker; Portage Northern High School; Portage, Mich.; No. 1086 nationally, No. 93 Linebacker, No. 17 in state of Michigan
Three-star QB Alessio Milivojevic; St. Francis High School, Wheaton, Ill.; No. 1113 natonally, No. 63 Quarterback, No. 24 in state of Illinois
Three-star IOL Rakeem Johnson; Bishop Kelly High School; Boise, Idaho; No. 1274 nationally, No. 100 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in state of Idaho
Three-star EDGE Kekai Burnett; Punahou High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 1303 nationally, No. 90 Edge Rusher, No. 6 in state of Hawaii
Three-star WR Austin Clay; Midpark High School; Cleveland, Ohio; No. 1328 nationally, No. 174 Wide Receiver, No. 50 in state of Ohio
Three-star TE Wyatt Hook; Homestead High School; Cupertino, Calif.; No. 1331 nationally, No. 71 Tight End, No. 98 in state of California
Three-star IOL Charlton Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 1393 nationally, No. 110 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 55 in state of Ohio
Three-star RB Brandon Tullis; Memorial High School, Frisco, Texas; No. 1529 nationally, No. 115 Running Back, No. 221 in state of Texas
Three-star ATH Keshawn Williams; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 1591 nationally, No. 146 Athlete, No. 50 in state of Tennessee
Three-star RB Makhi Frazier; McKinney High School; McKinney, Texas; No. 1607 nationally, No. 120 Running Back, No. 228 in state of Texas
Three-star QB Ryland Jessee; Helix High School; La Mesa, Calif.; No. 1791 nationally, No. 100 Quarterback, No. 147 in state of California
Two-star K Martin Connington; Mountain View High School; Meridian, Idaho; No. 2462 nationally, No. 13 Kicker, No. 6 in state of Idaho