I was asked on my opinion on what I felt about Michigan States 2009 recruiting class and where it measures up with the rest of the Big Ten.  Right now MSU is ranked #3 in the big ten and #17overall in the nation.  Those numbers do not lie, but then again, rivals.com has made mistakes on their ratings of certain players.  For example Steven Threat who committed to G Tech in 2006. and is now at U-M.  He was ranked a 4/5 star recruit and was the #12 dual  threat QB in the nation.  As you can tell, Threat is not fast and so far has not lived up to his 4 star billing, right now I would put him as a 2 star recruit.  Rankings are not everything, highlight films make differences as how certain prospects show during that schools campus.  I know that Dantonio likes to have the future of Michigan State to be at his camps so himself and his coaching staff can see each individual in person.

     Anyways here is my thoughts on where Michigan State stacks up against other conferences in recruiting.  Only USC in the pac-10 has a better recruiting class than Michigan state.  MSU would have the #1 recruiting class in the Big East, Conf USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and the WAC, if they were in those conferences respectively.  Michigan State would be ranked #4 in the ACC if they were in that conference and ranked #8 in the SEC.  I feel that Michigan State is doing VERY WELL in recruiting compared to other conferences.

     During the past years I have not been impressed with John L Smiths evaluation on recruiting.  I never liked seeing a player sign with MSU when they other schools that offered the player were only M.A.C schools.  Yes, the MAC has proven that they can beat the big ten, but as a fan and avid recruiter analyst *underground* I wanted better.  I waited for better, and waited, and waited, and now that time has come.  In order for a football program to compete nationally, they have to go head to head with other school for big time recruits, and win.  MSU has not done that well in the past but that has changed since Dantonio has stepped onto MSU's campus.

     Ringer is a John L recruit, as is Brian Hoyer, so I will give John L credit for the recruitment of those two players.  Ringer was offered by USC.  Michigan wanted Fred Smith, Larry Caper and Chris Norman badly.  David Barrent could have went anywhere in the nation.  Edwin Baker had offers from Tenn, Fla and Texas!!!!!  You will see a better MSU team overall once you see Michigan State beat out the Notre Dames, OU, Michigan,  PSU and Ohio State even for kids.

     Michigan State is beating its counterparts for big time recruits for 2009.    I have not seen Michigan State start off this fast and successful with recruiting since Nick Saban was in East Lansing in 1999/2000 season.  During those  two years, Michigan State received the nations #1 recruit overall in Charles Rogers and T.J Duckett.

       Also what is important is that Mark Dantonio is not getting Junior College or Prep College players.  He is getting High School seniors.  That is key, so those players will be in the system longer and at a younger age, they have a better attention discipline.   I feel that Michigan States 2009 recruiting class is a top 10 class.  Especially if they end up getting Dion Sims.  Now remember this, Ohio State has 24 commitments, as U-M has more commitments than Michigan State right now.  The last school to end up in the top 15 overall with less than 20 commitments in a class was USC.  Anytime Michigan State can be compared to a program like USC, I will gladley smile and take it.  Michigan State has 16 commitments right now and word has it that they only have three more scholarships left to give.  I feel MSU stacks up nicely with any school in the nation as far as the 2009 recruiting season is going. 

Note:  There are other school who also have the same number of commitments as MSU, but MSU only has 3 more to give out as those other schools will have 9 ore more.

     If MSU fans are excited about 2009 class, just wait and see what MSU will do for the 2010/2011 class!      

  Side note:  All 3 of  these players had MSU as runnerup, so think of how Michigan State COULD be if these three stayed home.   I know this is bad to wish that a kid would not get accepted to a school, but I did hope  that Nick Perry, Detroit, MI ( USC) * #2 DE in 2007 overall and top 50 recruit nationally, #1 player in the state of Michigan* would have not qualified at USC.  Based on that he was going to transfer to Michigan State, but his grades did end up goingthrough the clearinghouse.  He is the state of Michigan's all time sack leader with Tyler Hoover is #2.  Same as I wished Ron Johnson, Muskegon (USC) would have came to MSU and Joseph Barksdale *Detroit Cass Tech* who starts at OT for LSU