Michigan State is one of the top contenders in a recruiting battle that would put a big feather in Mel Tucker’s cap.
Rivals recruiting writer Josh Helmholdt ranks Michigan State as a close second to Penn State in the recruitment of four-star Belleville linebacker Jamari Buddin. Buddin, one of the top 2021 prospects in the state of Michigan, has been a top target for Tucker and his staff as they look to make inroads in southeast Michigan recruiting. Michigan is ranked third among the contenders and Minnesota is fourth.
Of MSU’s chances Helmholdt writes, “The team that has gained the most ground over the last three months is Michigan State. First-year head coach Mel Tucker has brought a renewed energy to the program, and put a strong focus on recruiting in-state talent. Buddin is a focus on that in-state attention, and has reacted very positively to the new staff. I have Penn State with the best shot right now, but there’s another month to go and if the Spartans keep building on this momentum they will get this one done.”
Recruiting Detroit and the surrounding areas has been a primary focus of Tucker’s since he was hired in February. It’s a region in which the previous regime under Dantonio struggled some in the later years after having a strong presence during the mid-2010s.
Buddin is currently predicted on the 247Sports crystal ball to go to Penn State, however all of the PSU predictions on the site are in the “low” confidence rating. It seems all recruiting experts agree that this one is still very much up for grabs.
