NEW: Michigan State O-line coach Jim Michalczik lands first Spartan commitment

MSU has added to its 2024 recruiting class in bunches over the past week, and new Spartans O-line coach Jim Michalczik is now in on the action...

Author:
Matthew Lounsberry
Publish date:
Dec 19, 2023 3:42 PM EST

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Michigan State Spartans

Over the past week, Michigan State football has added numerous verbal commitments for its 2024 recruiting class and new offensive line coach Jim Michalczik is now in on the action.

On Tuesday, the Spartans received a pledge from three-star Kelso (Wash.) offensive tackle Payton Stewart, the first commitment that Michalczik has landed at MSU since joining head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State.

At 6-foot-7, Stewart has the frame to add weight to his current 270 pounds and develop into a strong offensive tackle prospect for the Spartans. Considered the No. 884 overall prospect, No. 64 offensive tackle and No. 13 player from the state of Washington in the 2024 class (according to 247Sports composite rankings), Stewart is the highest-ranked recruit that Michigan State has landed since Smith was hired on November 25. He had offers from Oregon, Washington, Northwestern, Washington State, Arizona State and Duke, among others.

Like many of MSU's recent additions to their class, Stewart was once committed to Michalczik and Smith at Oregon State. The Washington native reopened his recruitment the same day Michigan State hired Smith, and drew a scholarship offer from the Spartans on December 9. Stewart took an official visit to East Lansing this past weekend, and that was enough to lock him in with MSU.

Over the past six days, Michigan State has now landed seven verbal pledges in this current recruiting cycle. Smith and his staff have done an excellent job rebuilding what they can of the Spartans' 2024 class ahead of tomorrow's National Signing Day. Stewart ranks at the top of the new additions with three-star running backs Mahki Frazier and Brandon Tullis, three-star tight end Wyatt Hook, three-star athlete Andrew Brinson IV and three-star quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.

Prior to this string of pledges, the Spartans' 2024 class had shrunk to just seven commitments and the class ranked in the 100s nationally. With the addition of Stewart, MSU's class is now up to 14 commitments ranks No. 59 in the country according to 247Sports' team rankings.

Michigan State Verbal Commitments, Class of 2024

Four-star WR Nick Marsh; River Rouge High School; River Rouge, Mich.; No. 116 nationally, No. 20 Wide Receiver, No. 3 in state of Michigan
Three-star CB Jaylen Thompson; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 632 nationally, No. 54 Cornerback, No. 15 in state of Tennessee
Three-star OT Mercer Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 709 nationally, No. 52 Offensive Tackle, No. 28 in state of Ohio
Three-star CB Justin Denson; La Salle Academy; Providence, R.I.; No. 745 nationally, No. 59 Cornerback, No. 20 in state of Pennsylvania
Three-star OT Payton Stewart; Kelso High School; Kelso, Wash.; No. 884 nationally, No. 64 Offensive Tackle, No. 13 in state of Washington
Three-star ATH Andrew Brinson IV; Gaither High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 1019 nationally, No. 88 Athlete, No. 137 in state of Florida
Three-star LB Jadyn Walker; Portage Northern High School; Portage, Mich.; No. 1069 nationally, No. 93 Linebacker, No. 17 in state of Michigan
Three-star QB Alessio Milivojevic; St. Francis High School, Wheaton, Ill.; No. 1161 natonally, No. 67 Quarterback, No. 25 in state of Illinois
Three-star IOL Charlton Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 1373 nationally, No. 111 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 54 in state of Ohio
Three-star TE Wyatt Hook; Homestead High School; Cupertino, Calif.; No. 1416 nationally, No. 72 Tight End, No. 102 in state of California
Three-star RB Brandon Tullis; Memorial High School, Frisco, Texas; No. 1504 nationally, No. 112 Running Back, No. 218 in state of Texas
Three-star ATH Keshawn Williams; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 1566 nationally, No. 141 Athlete, No. 50 in state of Tennessee
Three-star RB Makhi Frazier; McKinney High School; McKinney, Texas; No. 1589 nationally, No. 120 Running Back, No. 226 in state of Texas
Three-star WR Austin Clay; Midpark High School; Cleveland, Ohio; No. 1749 nationally, No. 208 Wide Receiver, No. 75 in state of Ohio