Michigan State football: Recapping visits from top 2019 Spartan targets

Michigan State football hosted many of their top recruiting targets on campus July 31 and had the chance to build an even stronger bond with the players.

Michigan State football coaches hosted many of their top targets, and most of 2019 commits on the July 21 for a pre-camp recruiting visit. The visit allowed the recruits to see the current Spartans workout and go through team meetings, tour the facilities and speak to the academic staff, followed by a lunch. It also gave the visitors a chance to interact with the coaches and Michigan State players.

The Michigan State 2019 recruiting class was well represented as 11 out of the 16 commits were on campus Tuesday. Jase Bowen was unable to attend because he’s down in Alabama playing baseball at the east coast pro for the Royals. Brandon Wright, JD Duplain, Nick Samac and Damon Kaylor all had practice for their respective high school teams.

The commits used the visit to get to know each other even better, as well as the current Michigan State football players. A lot of the committed players also used it as a time to help recruit other players to join them. There was a strong showing of uncommitted class of 2019 prospects on campus.

Darius Robinson, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman from Canton, Michigan is one of the top remaining targets for the Michigan State coaches. Robinson told me the Spartan coaches let him know, “their class is going to be around 20, and they really want him to be a part of it.” Their message to him was he’s their guy, “they want me bad, and they want to win games together.”

The Michigan State coaches who Robinson speaks with the most are coach Burton and coach Samuel. They tell him they want him to play defensive tackle, “especially in pass rushing situations so they can get him, Adam (Berghorst) and (Michael) Fletcher on the field at same time, but he could flex outside and play defensive end too.”

He knows a ton of the commits already, “the 2019 guys are a good group of guys overall.” I asked him which commits are after him the most, he said almost all of them. “Tre, Adam, Julian, Dobbs, Lewis, Fletcher and Spencer were recruiting me really hard while I was there.” Robinson already has plans to be in East Lansing for the Michigan game, and possibly others. He has talked about a December decision, but let me know that wasn’t set in stone. He wants to take his official visits, but whenever it is that he and his family feel it’s time, he will commit.

Sam Saxton a 6-foot-5, 195-pound quarterback from Texas came up for an unofficial visit. Saxton has been identified by the Michigan State football coaches as a signal caller who could run the Spartan offense. Saxton is a pro-style quarterback who shows great pocket presence and a quick release. He has really good accuracy, and enough arm strength to make all the necessary throws.

Saxton also has the ability to extend plays or tuck the ball and run if needed, at 6-foot-5 he runs a 4.5 forty. Saxton did not receive an offer from Michigan State while on campus, but he told me that quarterback coach Brad Salem let him know that he is the top quarterback on the Spartans board.

A couple other 2019 recruits that were present were Tyrece Woods and Brock Horne. Woods is a 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive lineman from Bellville High School. He currently doesn’t have an offer from Michigan State, but is a player who could earn one down the road. Woods has a very strong pass rush, and shuts down the run as well. Horne is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker from Romeo High School. Horne is a very under the radar player who has great tape. Horne doesn’t have an offer yet, but is a player firmly on the Michigan State football coaches radar.