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Four-star corner Jaylon Braxton commits to Michigan State

The product from Texas joins an already impressive 2023 class for the Spartans...

Lone Star (Frisco, Tex.) 2023 cornerback Jaylon Braxton committed to Mel Tucker and Michigan State on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the 10th commitment already in the class. 

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect is the third highest rated commitment in the Spartans' class, coming in as the No. 245 player nationally and the No. 27 cornerback prospect in the country. Braxton is ranked No. 44 in the talent-rich state of Texas.

Braxton chose the Spartans over 27 other offers including Arkansas, Baylor, California and LSU, who were each finalists for the talented defensive back.

The commitment comes just over a week after the corner took an official visit to East Lansing, where he was able to connect with the coaches and other recruits and get an inside look at the program.

After his weekend spent at Michigan State, Braxton swung over to Waco, Texas to visit Baylor, who was considered the Spartans' main competition in this recruitment. Two days after his visit with the Bears, Braxton pulled the trigger on Michigan State.

Secondary coach Harlon Barnett was the primary recruiter of Braxton, and he continued his strong 2023 cycle, which also includes commitments from corners Chance Rucker and Eddie Pleasant III.

Braxton also had visits set up to Arkansas and California, which he has now canceled. Instead, the four-star cornerback will begin to help recruit others in the 2023 class to join him in East Lansing.

Official visits in the month of June have proven fertile for the Spartans on the recruiting trail, as Braxton become the fourth four-star prospect to commit to Michigan State in the last seven days. In all, MSU now has seven four-stars committed in the Class of 2023.

After hitting the state of Georgia hard for the 2022 class, Tucker and his staff have made Texas a priority in this cycle, as Braxton is the fourth prospect from the Lone Star State to commit to Michigan State joining Rucker, running back Kedrick Reescano and quarterback Bo Edmundson.

The Spartans signed five four-stars in the class of 2022, which was more than Michigan State's three previous recruiting classes combined.

The Spartans have not signed more than five four-stars in one class since 2016, when former head coach Mark Dantonio used the momentum of his third Big Ten Championship to sign nine four-star prospects.

With Braxton's commitment, Michigan State's 2023 class moves up to No. 12 in the country, according to the 247Sports' Team Rankings.

Michigan State verbal commitments, Class of 2023

  • Four-star DL Andrew Depaepe; Pleasant Valley High School; Bettendorf, Iowa; No. 161 nationally, No. 23 Defensive Lineman, No. 2 in state of Iowa
  • Four-star LB Jordan Hall; IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.; No. 197 nationally, No. 14 Linebacker, No. 39 in state of Florida
  • Four-star CB Jaylon Braxton; Lone Star High School; Frisco, Texas; No. 245 nationally, No. 27 Cornerback; No. 44 in the state of Texas
  • Four-star TE Brennan Parachek; Dexter High School; Dexter, Mich.; No. 330 nationally, No. 18 tight end, No. 6 in state of Michigan
  • Four-star CB Chance Rucker; Ryan High School; Denton, Texas; No. 334 nationally, No. 33 cornerback; No. 57 in state of Texas
  • Four-star WR Demitrius Bell; Blackman High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 346 nationally, No. 22 Wide Receiver; No. 8 in state of Tennessee
  • Four-star RB Kedrick Reescano; New Caney High School; New Caney, Texas; No. 347 nationally, No. 23 running back; No. 61 in state of Texas
  • Three-star IOL Johnathan Slack; Martin Luther King High School; Detroit, Mich.; No. 523 nationally, No. 35 interior offensive lineman, No. 12 in state of Michigan
  • Three-star QB Bo Edmundson; Lake Travis High School; Austin, Texas; No. 707 nationally, No. 36 quarterback, No. 126 in state of Texas
  • Three-star CB Eddie Pleasant III; Carrollwood Day High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 823 nationally, No. 71 cornerback; No. 117 in state of Florida

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