When it comes to recruiting for Michigan State football, the program has always had to go up against juggernauts on the recruiting trail: Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.
While the Spartans, especially under Mark Dantonio, have made a name for themselves by finding diamonds in the rough and turning under-recruited players into stars, they have had some great recruiting talent come through East Lansing over the years.
Below, we look at the Mount Rushmore of Michigan State recruits in the modern recruiting era (the class of 2000 forward), starting with honorable mentions…
More Mount Rushmore’s from the College Wire Network:
Bama / Aub / Fla / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC
Next: Let the debate begin with the honorable mentions
Honorable Mentions
Lawrence Thomas (linebacker): Thomas was a high school All-American, a four-star recruit, and one of the best recruits of the Mark Dantonio era. Coming out of high school, he was ranked the No. 3 defensive end in the country by 247Sports and he played a few seasons at the next level with the New York Jets.
Devontae Dobbs (offensive guard): The Devontae Dobbs story at Michigan State hasn’t really been written yet, but he was an undeniable recruit coming out of Belleville High School (Belleville, Michigan) and ranked as the No. 1 offensive guard in the country in the class of 2019. He hasn’t been able to find extensive playing time yet, but he has as much raw talent as anyone in the program.
LJ Scott (running back): LJ Scott’s career at MSU may have ended in a slightly disappointing fashion due to an ankle injury, but he came out of the gates hot as one of the more iconic running backs in school history. He was the sixth-ranked running back in the country out of high school, and it was a major win for Dantonio to land his services given he was the No. 2 ranked player in Ohio.
Roland Martin (offensive guard): By 247Sports rankings, Martin is the fifth highest-ranked recruit to come to Michigan State in the last two decades. He had a strong career with the Spartans and was a major force behind the success of Javon Ringer and Brian Hoyer at MSU.
Next: introducing our mount Rushmore
Malik McDowell
Malik McDowell has had a bumpy post-MSU career, but coming into school he was one of the highest-ranked recruits in school history and a bona fide five-star recruit. Coming out of Southfield High School, McDowell was the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan and the No. 31 ranked player in the country in the 2014 class. McDowell had a dominant run at Michigan State, where he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten twice before getting selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
McDowell would be the best defensive line recruit in recent school history, if not for the next Spartan…
Next: Coach Dantonio’s top recruit
William Gholston
Like McDowell, William Gholston was the top player in Michigan for his class (2010) and also played for a Detroit area school in Southeastern. Gholston was the No. 18 ranked player in his class and undoubtedly the best recruiting win in Mark Dantonio’s time with the team.
Kind of quietly, William Gholston has put together a nice career in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Another five-star recruit out of high school, Gholston had an excellent career with the Spartans, with whom he, like McDowell, earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors twice before jumping to the pros.
Next: No. 2 ranked pro-style QB in class of 2000
Jeff Smoker
More seasoned Michigan State fans will remember the legend of Jeff Smoker. Before players such as Connor Cook and Kirk Cousins came to town, there was Jeff Smoker. Smoker was another five-star and the second highest-rated recruit of the last two decades for MSU.
Smoker, who played for Manheim Central High School in Manheim, Pennsylvania, was the No. 15 ranked player in the class of 2000 and the No. 2 ranked pro-style QB in his class. Smoker is also 247Sports‘ No. 330 ranked college recruit of all time.
Smoker set multiple passing records for Michigan State during his time with the program before he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft.
Next: our final player was on the receiving end of a lot of Smoker’s best passes…
Charles Rogers
First, rest in peace to a true Michigan State legend.
One of the highest-rated players in the class of 2000, Rogers is the No. 42 ranked college football recruit since 2000 in the 247Sports rankings. He was the No. 3 ranked player in the class of 2000 coming out of Saginaw.
Rogers came in and set the country on fire for two seasons, accumulating 2,821 yards and 27 touchdowns, which is still a school record. A unanimous All-American, Rogers was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Awards as well as the Paul Warfield Trophy for being the best wide receiver in the country.
He was drafted by his hometown Detroit Lions at the No. 2 pick overall in the 2003 NFL draft.
More Mount Rushmore’s from the College Wire Network:
Bama / Aub / Fla / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC
