SpartanMag LIVE! Detailing the Michigan State d-line recruiting picture, past and present
East Lansing, Mich. – In the latest edition of SpartanMag LIVE!, SpartanMag publisher Jim Comparoni takes three questions from Michigan State fans via The Underground Bunker mailbag.
The questions tackled include:
1. General comments on the process which led to Michigan State’s hiring of Jonathan Smith last October.
2. General thoughts on the first two weeks of the Moneyball Pro Am league, with Comparoni commending on Jeremy Fears, Frankie Fidler, Kur Teng, Szymon Zapala and more.
3. Comparoni’s take on Michigan State’s defensive line recruiting, taking a look back at the Spartans’ recent recruiting classes, and the hits and misses at the DE and DT positions, plus thoughts on incoming freshmen Kekai Burnett and Mikeshun Beeler and the Spartans’ two d-line June commitments for the 2025 recruiting class, Derrick Simmons of Frankenmuth, and Cal Thrush of Columbus, Ohio.
Comparoni attempts to go short and quick with a 3&Out style podcast, but didn’t quite deliver the target time of 25 minutes. Maybe next time.
As for the defensive line recruiting picture, Comparoni touches on incoming transfers D’Quan Douse of Georgia Tech, Quindarius Dunnigan of Middle Tennessee State, Ben Roberts of Oregon, Ru’Quan Buckley of Nebraska and Tyler Gillison of Cincinnati.
Comparoni also touches on the 2023 d-line recruiting class of Bai Jobe, Andrew DePaepe and Jalen Thompson, with Thompson turning out to be the true prize of the bunch. Jobe is now at Kansas and DePaepe is at Indiana. Plus a look back at last year’s hit-and-miss defensive line transfer class of Tunmise Adeleye, Dre Butler, Ken Talley, Jarrett Jackson and Jalen Sami.
And finally, the 2022 defensive line class of DT Alex VanSumeren, DE James Schott, DE Zion Young (now at Missouri) and DE Chase Carter.
There’s more. What about the 2021 d-line class of Derrick Harmon, Tyson Watson and Alex Okelo. Remember those last two guys? If you don’t, we understand. Comparoni gives a brief refresher.
And the 2020 class is still having an impact on the current roster, barely. Simeon Barrow transferred to Miami. Reserve defensive end Avery Dunn is still on the roster and a candidate for a role in the playing group this fall. Jeff Pietrowski transferred to Wisconsin two years ago, signaling a red flag in Comparoni’s opinion. Greenfield, Ind.’s Kyle King was Comparoni’s pick as an underrated prospect back in 2020. Where is he now? Ball State, as a solid contributor.
